On the heels of a two-game sweep of Queens College in the ECC Tournament Semifinal last weekend, the St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team has moved up in several regional and national polls, released this week by the NCAA, National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Collegiate Baseball News.
NCAA East Region - 1st
NCBWA East Region - 1st
NCBWA National - 15th
Collegiate Baseball News - 17th
As a result of the postseason victories over the Knights, the Spartans now sit at 25-3 overall and 17-3 in ECC play through 28 games.
Leading the STAC offense is Andrew Jemison (So./IF/Monroe, NY), hitting .365 (38-for-104) with 10 doubles, two triples, a home run, 27 RBI and 34 runs scored in 26 games.
First year players Sean Lynch (C/Highland Mills, NY) and Joseph Scamardella (IF/Staten Island, NY) are also making big impacts in their first seasons with the team. Lynch holds a .426 batting average (20-for-47) with four doubles, a triple, a home run, 19 RBI and 12 runs scored in 17 games. Meanwhile, Scamardella is currently hitting .364 (12-for-33) with three doubles, five RBI and 18 runs scored in 19 games. As a team, STAC is currently hitting .313 and carries a .430 on-base percentage, and a .484 slugging percentage.
STAC pitchers have also kept opposing hitters quiet (.231 Batting Average), as the staff has posted 25 wins in 28 games played, with a 3.76 ERA. In 236.2 innings pitched, maroon and gold hurlers have surrendered 212 hits, 132 runs (99 earned) and have walked 103, while fanning 271. Alex Mack leads all starters with a perfect 7-0 record. Mack holds a 1.15 ERA in 55.0 innings pitched. Closer James Reilly is the team's saves leader, with four.
#1 seed St. Thomas Aquinas now prepares for the upcoming ECC Baseball Tournament Final, which takes place Friday, May 21 and Saturday, May 22. The best-of-three series will take place at Mitchel Field in Uniondale, NY against #2 seed Molloy College. Start times for all championship series games are as follows: Game 1 - May 21/3:00pm, Game 2 - May 22/12pm, Game 3 (If Necessary) - May 22/3pm.
NCBWA East Region Poll - 5/17/21