2009 Spartan Baseball Season Summary

The 2009 Spartans began their season with high hopes and expectations. Having won the East Coast Conference Regular Season in 2008 and with many of the core players returning, there was reason for optimism. After beginning the season with a 2-3 record in two series against PACE and New Haven, the team traveled to Florida and was held winless in their first seven games. The only bright spot was a 2-1, 12 inning victory over Franklin Pierce. Unfortunately, following that game the Spartans top pitcher, would be placed on the disabled list and only see one appearance over the next six weeks. Certainly the sunny outlook for the 2009 season had turned stormy.

The problems continued as the Spartans began ECC play by going 0-5 with their offense shutout in four of those losses. The team managed to win two of their next five conference games, but was in danger of going 2-9 and being swept by Bridgeport. Down 2-0 in the 6th inning of a seven inning game, the Spartans pushed across one in the 6th, then tied the game in the 7th on a Matt Smith (Paramus, NJ) lead-off homer, and eventually went ahead on a ten-pitch sacrifice fly from Joe Antenucci (Emerson, NJ). Freshman Nick Barbalato (Mahopac, NY) added two more runs with a 2-run triple. Brian LaMarr (Flushing, NY) finished the bottom of the inning for a complete game 5-2 victory. Clearly this was the defining moment in the season as the Spartans went on a 13-1 tear through their final fourteen conference games. The win streak was the greatest finish since the 2003 team finished with an 11-3 record to grab 3rd place.

The streak was led by outfielders Smith and Barbalato. While Smith received the ECC "Player of the Week" honors during one of the weeks, Barbalato notched "Rookie of the Week" honors three consecutive weeks. Antenucci & Dan McDermott (Levittown, NY) would also be instrumental in sparking the offense, both hitting over .300.   As the offense came alive and found ways to score a couple more runs than the opposition, the pitching staff settled in to groove with multiple consecutive quality starts from LaMarr, Mike Aviles (Suffern, NY), Scott Sadowski (Bethpage, NY), Matt Matkovich (Suffern, NY), & Tyler Savin (Wantagh, NY). Relievers Dave Schwartz (Nanuet, NY) and Matt Marotta (Suffern, NY) were the "go to guys" in the late innings.

On the last day of the regular season the Spartans needed a double header sweep of Concordia. Because of the rain, the game was played at neutral Adelphi, but the Spartan pitchers felt right at home, yielding one unearned in the two game set to win 3-0 & 2-1. Scott Sadowkski and Kevin Ryan (Levittown, NY) combined for 13.1 innings of shutout pitching. The last two wins moved STAC into 3rd place in the standings and secured home field advantage in their first playoff game against #6 Bridgeport.

As expected, Bridgeport with a fully rested pitching staff, would give the Spartans a dogfight. With the score tied 1-1 in the top of the 9th, Bridgeport hit the potential go ahead single into centerfielder. With the season on the line, Matt Smith scooped the ball on one hop and threw a perfect strike to waiting catcher Joe Giustino (Old Bethpage, NY) for the out at the plate. With the Bridgeport rally stymied, the Spartans had new life. With one out Chris Zapata (Stamford, CT) laced a single to right and then stole second and third to put the winning run only ninety feet away. On the very next pitch Matt Marotta would lift a single over the drawn in infield to give the Spartans 2-1 victory sending them to the next round of the ECC tournament.

In the double-elimination round of the tournament the Spartans took on host Molloy College and wasted no time in proving they were the hottest team in the conference. As Mike Aviles kept the ECC's top ranked hitting team silent, STAC unleashed a flurry offense scoring nine runs by the 6th inning to put the game away. Leading the offensive surge was Vin Malzahn (Port Jervis, NY) who doubled and hit a 3-run homer. Dan McDermott had a 2-run triple and Chris Zapata had a pair of doubles and two RBIs.

In game two, the Spartan offense was suffocated by solid Adelphi pitching. None the less, STAC put together a rally in the 9th and with the bases loaded and a 3-2 score freshman Nick Barbalato hit a would be 2-RBI single up the middle, but as the ball was about to leave the infield Adelphi's second baseman made a spectacular diving play to make the force out at 2nd base and end the game. In game two the Spartans would bow out losing 4-2 to Dowling, thus ending another exciting season of Spartan Baseball.

Highlights

Feb. 28th @ PACE U. - With a full count, two outs, and the scored tied 2-2 in the top of 7th, Chris Zapata cracks an RBI double off the right field fence scoring George Wargo (Stony Point, NY) all the way from first base to give the Spartans their first win of the season

Mar.  17 @ Santa Luces, Florida - Pitchers Mark Fochesato & Brian LaMarr combine for 12 inning 2-1 victory over top ranked Franklin Pierce. The Win stops an 0-7 skid on the Florida trip.

Mar. 22 (ECC Office) - Mark Fochesato and Vin Malzahn are selected "Pitcher of the Week" and "Player of the Week" respectively.

Mar. 28th @ Molloy - After beginning the ECC schedule going 0-5, Mike Aviles shut downs the strong hitting Molloy 3-1.

April 7th @ Bridgeport - With a conference record of 2-8 and chance of losing their 9th game after being down 2-1 in the last inning, Matt Smith smashes a game tying lead-off home run to tie the game 2-2 and help the Spartans go on to win 5-2.

April 8th (ECC Office) - Matt Smith is selected "Player of the Week" after hitting .429 and hitting safely in all eight games. He collected 15 hits and scored 9 runs.

April 28th - Freshman Tyler Savin defeats C.W. Post for the third time, tossing 22.1 consecutive scoreless innings in the process.

April 29th @ STAC - Pitcher Scott Sadowski, hurls 6.1 innings of shutout ball to lead the Spartans to a 2-0 win over top ranked Dominican College.

May 1st @ STAC - The Spartans score 6 runs in the 1st inning on go on to a 12-1 victory over Concordia, collecting a season high 17 hits. Aviles throws six shutout innings.

May 4th - ECC, Freshman Nick Barbalato collects his third consecutive "Rookie of the Week" after going 25-for-61 (.410). Five Spartans are selected to the All-ECC Team: Kevin Connors (DH), Matt Smith (OF), Dan McDermott (3B), Nick Barbalato (OF), Brian LaMarr (P).

May 5th @ Concordia - Finishes a 3-game sweep of Concordia with a double-header win while notching their 15^th conference win in 16 games. Scott Sadowski wins 4th consecutive game and Dave Schwartz nails down his 6th save.  In game two Kevin Ryan hurls a complete game, striking out five, and walking none. The two wins propel STAC into the #3 conference spot and complete an amazing 13-1 record in their last fourteen ECC games.

May 6th @ STAC - The Spartans defeat Bridgeport 2-1 with some 9th inning heroics: Matt Smith guns down the potential go ahead run for Bridgeport at the plate. In the bottom of the inning, Chris Zapata singles, steals two bases, and scores on a Matt Marotta single

May 8th - ECC Tournament - The Spartans demolish Molloy pitching with an 11-3 first round victory. Dan McDermott hits a 2 RBI triple, Chris Zapata single and doubles with 2 RBIs, and Vin Malzahn doubles and slams a 3-run homer. Mike Aviles dominates, giving up no earned runs through seven innings.

May 9th @ ECC Tournament - The Spartans comeback from a 3-1 deficit, cutting the lead to 3-2 and loading the bases. Nick Barbalato's potential 2-run, go ahead single is snagged by a diving play from the Adelphi second basemen to end the rally. STAC loses 4-2 to Dowling and the season comes to an end. 

STATISTICS

• Go 13-1 to finish ECC regular season
• Finish #3 (15-9) in the ECC & #11(25-23) in the NCBWA Region Poll
• 2nd straight season with 25 wins or more
• Five Spartans make the All-ECC Team (Kevin Connors-DH, Matt Smith-OF, Dan McDermott-3B, Nick Barbalato-OF, Brian LaMarr-P)

PITCHING

• 2nd in ERA (2.99)
• 2nd in saves (10)
• 2nd in throwing runners out at 2nd (31)

OFFENSE

• 2nd in stolen bases (101)
• 2nd in walks (174)
• 3rd in hits (406)

TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS

TOP PITCHERS