On the eve of the start of the 2021 NCAA Division II East Regional Tournament, the St. Thomas Aquinas College Baseball team has garnered several national rankings, released this week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Collegiate Baseball News.
NCBWA National - 18th
Collegiate Baseball News - 17th
Entering their chase for the program's third East Region title, the Spartans now sit at 25-5 overall through 30 games played.
Leading the STAC offense is Andrew Jemison (So./IF/Monroe, NY), hitting .366 (41-for-112) with 11 doubles, two triples, a home run, 27 RBI and 34 runs scored in 28 games. Teammate James Versage (Sr./OF/Cape May Court House, NJ) continues to play outstanding baseball in his final year with the Spartans, hitting .340 with 12 doubles, a triple, five home runs, 35 RBI and 31 runs scored in 30 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 .412 batting average (21-for-51) with four doubles, a triple, a home run, 19 RBI and 13 runs scored in 18 games. Meanwhile, Scamardella is currently hitting .343 (12-for-35) with three doubles, six RBI and 18 runs scored in 20 games. As a team, STAC is currently hitting .308 and carries a .425 on-base percentage, and a .472 slugging percentage.
STAC pitchers have also kept opposing hitters quiet (.231 Batting Average), as the staff has posted 25 wins in 30 games played, with a 3.73 ERA. In 253.2 innings pitched, maroon and gold hurlers have surrendered 226 hits, 138 runs (105 earned) and have walked 107, while fanning 284. Alex Mack leads all starters with a perfect 7-0 record. Mack holds a 148 ERA in 61.0 innings pitched. Closer James Reilly is the team's saves leader, with four.
#2 seed St. Thomas Aquinas (25-5) will begin play in the NCAA Division II East Regional Baseball Tournament on Thursday, May 27 at 11am, when the Spartans take on #5 seed Goldey-Beacom College (20-7). The tournament is being hosted by Franklin Pierce University at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field in Rindge, NH.