STANDISH, ME – The Saint Joseph's College Baseball team seems ready to contend for another Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship this spring under the watch of 19th-year Head Coach Will Sanborn '86.
The Monks have high aspirations for the season after closing out the 2010 campaign with a five-game run in the NCAA DIII New England Regional Tournament. St. Joe's, in position to collect the program's third conference crown in four seasons as a GNAC member, returns five starting position players and four top pitchers from last year. Among the returners are GNAC Player of the Year and All-American outfielder Todd Keneborus '11 (Hollis Center, ME/Cheverus) and GNAC Pitcher of the Year Sam Murray '12 (Walpole, MA).
Saint Joseph's looks to play an exciting brand of baseball this spring as the roster is filled with athletes who can run, handle the bat, and hit for power. Pitching and defense, two staples for any winning program, appear to be strengths again this year. In 2010, the Monks led the nation in fewest walks per nine innings (2.38 BB/9IP) and set a team record for double plays turned (45) and the team looks to improve in both areas this season.
The Monks' four senior captains, Keneborus, Ian Lee '11 (Hampden, ME), Chris Campbell '11 (Rochester, NH) and Kevin Chamberlain '11 (Scarborough, ME), have proven to be excellent leaders so far and will accept nothing less than a GNAC title and another trip to the NCAA Regionals this spring. This year's senior class has accumulated a three-year 94-44 (.681) record, including a solid 32-10 (.762) mark in GNAC play, while collecting a pair of conference crowns with two trips to the NCAA Tournament during their time at St. Joe's.
Coach Sanborn, 471-273-6 in 18 seasons as the SJC skipper, needs 29 wins to become the first coach in Saint Joseph's history to reach the 500-win plateau in a single sport. He is 34 shy of surpassing the SJC all-time record for total victories, which is held by recent St. Joe's Hall of Fame inductee Rick Simonds who registered 466 wins in 23 seasons as the men's basketball coach and 38 as an interim softball coach for one year.
Sanborn's assistants, Corey McCarthy (7th season), Jim Cronin (1st) and Greg Souza (1st), bring years of coaching experience to the table and have helped this motivated group improve each day during practice sessions.
Although the 2011 roster is filled with talented players, it may take some time for this team to develop its identity. The Monks lost eight players, all contributors, to graduation last spring, including two-way standout Pat Moran '10 and three-time All-GNAC honoree Ben Grant-Roy '10, the Monks' starting first baseman and clean-up hitter for the past four years. If the Monks' young players can help fill the void created by the departure of the graduating class this team could go even further than the 2010 nine.
CATCHERS
The SJC coaching staff expects a pair of veteran backstops - Lee and Jon Dahms '12 (Gorham, ME) – to log the majority of time behind the dish in 2011. Rookies Alex Lorenc (Nanuet, NY) and Willie Brown (Fayette, ME) are likely to earn innings as well.
Lee looks to bounce back this spring after posting a sub-par year, by his standards, as a junior when he hit .333 (37-111) with 20 runs, six doubles, two homers and 29 RBI in 31 games. His 2010 numbers were a far-cry from his sophomore season when he batted .475 (75-158) with 40 runs, 17 doubles, three jacks and 53 RBI.
It is clear that injuries pulled the plug on what was likely to be another banner season for Lee, who was hurt in the first game of a twinbill with Rivier College on March 27th and did not catch again for the remainder of the season. He missed 11 games before returning to the lineup as the Monks' designated hitter of left fielder and was hitting .431 through 38 games, but his average fell nearly 100 points as he hit just .154 (6-39) over the final month of the season. Lee's ability to return to form will play a pivotal role in the Monks' success this season.
Dahms, the Monks' best defensive backstop, is in line to log plenty of time behind the dish as a junior. He missed the majority of the 2010 season with a freak medical issue but is completely healthy and should be a major contributor this spring.
Lorenc, a hulking 6'2, 260 pound slugger, will also see time behind the plate this year. A heady player who is surprisingly quick for a receiver his size, Lorenc is likely to accumulate plenty of at-bats during his freshman season while catching or serving as one of the team's designated hitter candidates.
Brown could be the most athletic player among the SJC catching corps and adds to the versatility of the group. He could also appear on the mound this spring. Sub-varsity receivers Andrew Cessario '14 (Limerick, ME) and Colin Mello '14 (Windham, ME) have shown improvement during the indoor practice sessions and could gain some time if injuries decimate the team's depth behind the dish.
INFIELDERS
The Monks' infield corps promises to be one of the most deep and talented groups in the New England Region.
Two-time All-GNAC honoree Chris Campbell, the only player in team history to record back to back 60-hit seasons, headlines the returners and heads into his senior season with the third-highest career batting average (.409, 130-318) in program history. Campbell, who served as the Monks' second baseman in 2009 and was the team's shortstop last spring, has worked primarily at third this winter and will hit somewhere near the top of the lineup this year. He hit .405 (64-158) with a team-high 54 runs during his junior season and could see time at a variety of positions as a senior.
Look for Dan Brown '12 (Portland, ME/Deering) to also push his way into the lineup at third base this season. The sure-handed fielder has worked extremely hard at his game and his efforts have been noticed by the Monks' coaching staff.
Mike Pratt '13 (Dartmouth, MA), the Monks' primary third baseman in 2010, has made a smooth transition to first base during the offseason. Somewhat of a streaky hitter as a freshman, Pratt hit .287 (31-108) with five home runs and 28 RBI in 2010 and looks to break out with a huge offensive effort as a middle-of-the-order threat in 2011. Joe Davis '14 (Standish, ME), an extremely athletic player with a powerful left-handed bat, is also in the mix at first as well as the outfield.
Joe Gruntkosky '14 (Peabody, MA), a gifted hitter who also pitches, will also see some time at first base and designated hitter in 2011.
The Monks' middle infield is the deepest in recent memory. Dan Achorn '12 (Bow, NH), a slick fielder with quick hands who handles the bat, has played 41 games at shortstop over the past two seasons and will see time at short and second this spring. Two first-year players will also vie for time at the cornerstone position as Brandon Chase '13 (Naples, ME) and Jordan Estevez '14 (Salem, NH) look to contribute immediately. Chase, a fine fielder with plenty of pop in his bat and speed to burn on the bases, could emerge as a middle of the order bat this year. The rangy Estevez may be the Monks' fastest infielder and is certain to work his way into the lineup at both second base and shortstop this season.
John Swasey '12 (South Berwick, ME), who played in 23 games as a freshman in 2008, returns to the team after taking the last two years off and looks to be at or near the top of the shortstop depth chart. Matt Consigli '14 (Northbridge, MA), a smooth fielder with a strong arm, will push Swasey for time as a freshman and is a natural at either middle position. Two of the fastest players in the program, Swasey and Consigli have the ability to hit for average and power.
First-year players Sam Stauber '14 (Cumberland, ME) and Shayne Curtis '14 (New Gloucester, ME) both have worked hard during the indoor practice sessions and could see time during the season if healthy.
OUTFIELDERS
The Monks return four players who patrolled the outfield last year, including Third Team All-American Todd Keneborus, and the group promises to be one of the strongest units in the region this spring.
Keneborus put up epic numbers during his junior season when he hit .464 (77-166) with 52 runs, 15 doubles, a team-record 13 triples, four home runs and 65 RBI. For his efforts he earned GNAC Player of the Year, First Team All-GNAC, All New England, D3baseball.com All-America and ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors. Look for this right-handed slugger to cap his career with another fine season as continues to establish himself as one of the elite players in New England.
Keneborus garners the majority of the attention among the Monks' outfielders – deservedly so, but a pair of sophomore speedsters are likely to gain accolades of their own this spring. Both Nate Martin '13 (Chebeague Island, ME) and Sam Butts '13 (Saco, ME) battled through nagging injuries in 2010 but managed to put up decent numbers in limited time. The athletic Martin hit .347 (17-49) with 18 runs and 13 steals in as many attempts as a rookie center fielder. Butts, the likely starter in left, hit .320 (8-25) and has worked tirelessly to earn a starting spot for the Royal Blue.
Two mid-year transfers, Cody Hadley '14 (Norway, ME) and Alex Markakis '14 (Lynnfield, MA), are in the outfield mix this spring after roaming the infield during their high school careers. The speedy Hadley is able to man all three outfield posts and may even see time on the mound this spring. Markakis, a heady player with a potent bat, is likely to see time in left field and the designated hitter slot for Saint Joseph's.
Jimmy Rouse '13 (Scarborough, ME) and Louie Vigars '14 (Stratham, NH), both excellent outfielders who can handle the bat, will serve important roles this year as well. James Mostone '12 (Pelham, NH), in his third year with the program, adds even more depth as a power bat off the bench.
PITCHERS
The Monks' pitching staff promises to be one of the team's strengths again this season under the watch of Coach Sanborn, who added pitching coach duties to his litany of roles prior to the 2010 non-traditional season.
Staff ace Sam Murray '12 (Walpole, MA), the 2010 GNAC Pitcher of the Year and All-New England honoree, returns and seems driven to have a banner junior campaign. The southpaw posted a 2.45 ERA with a 7-2 record and 35 K's, against just seven walks, in 58.2 innings and led the nation in fewest walks per nine innings for the better part of the season as a sophomore. Look for Murray to put up even better numbers this year, as his final performance of the 2010 season – a shortened outing against Tufts in the NCAA New England Regional – has given him an edge heading into his third season.
Chamberlain (Scarborough, ME), the staff leader, enjoyed a solid junior campaign and seems poised to close out his career with a stellar effort as a senior. The tall righty went 2-1 with a 3.68 ERA, 27 strikeouts, and just four walks in 29.1 innings in 2010. Mason Roberge '11 (Franklin, NH) moves back into the starting rotation after going 4-1 with a 3.07 ERA and 35 K's in 41 innings as the Monks' top reliever last spring. Roberge, one of the hardest throwers on the staff, thrives in big games and is likely to draw some of the team's toughest opponents during his senior year.
Sophomore right-handers Chad Rafferty (Keene, NH) and Tyler Laverriere (Biddeford, ME) look to play huge roles as members of the starting rotation this spring. Rafferty, who consistently throws five pitches for strikes, showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie hurler and fanned 40 batters in 43.2 innings. Laverriere, a hard-thrower with a sharp breaking ball, saw limited time on the hill during his rookie season when he fanned nine in 5.1 frames of relief duty. If Rafferty and Laverriere can live up to their potential as sophomores, the Monks' starting staff could be one of the best around.
Two hard-throwing rookies, Gruntkosky and Nick Whittaker '14 (Yarmouth, ME), could also see significant time on the mound this season. Gruntkosky has excellent command and really knows how to pitch. Whittaker throws a heavy ball that jumps on hitters and has a bright future. Both have the potential to be staples in the starting staff for four years.
The SJC bullpen corps is both talented and diverse. Andrew Devereaux '12 (Hope Valley, RI), a right-handed sidearm slinger, and Kyle Neagle '12 (Lisbon Falls, ME), a polished, hard-throwing reliever who will also see time as a utility player on the field, look to make their debuts on the hill this year after being rostered as position players in 2010. If their progress during practice is any indication, this junior duo could be dominant in relief this spring.
A trio of returners, Chris Dion '11 (Lawrence, MA), Sean Drake '13 (Lebanon, NH) and Jimmy Kennedy '13 (York, ME), will also work out of the pen in 2011. Dion had an off year as a junior and looks to regain his stuff that made him one of the Monks' top relievers during his first two seasons. The coaching staff has high hopes for Drake, who could develop into a relief ace as a sophomore. Kennedy showed flashes of promise as a freshman and may emerge as a top relief option if he makes the most of his opportunities.
Chris Bryant '14 (Gray, ME), who is in the process of converting to a submarine throwing style, begins his collegiate career as a sub-varsity player, but could see time as a left-handed specialist as early as this season.
OVERVIEW
The Saint Joseph's Baseball tradition is among the strongest in the region. Since 2005, only two New England programs have posted more wins (190) and just three have notched a better winning percentage (.714). St. Joe's is one of three teams in the region to have made four New England Regional appearances in the last five seasons and one of four to notch five 30-win seasons over the last six years.
The 2010 St. Joe's team posted a 35-13 record, captured a conference title for the fifth time in the past six seasons and advanced to the NCAA DIII New England Regional for the fourth time in the last five years. The Monks won three games at the regional and advanced to the final day of the tourney last spring.
St. Joe's baseball followers should have high expectations for the 2011 team. The returners, having been a part of the 2010 trip to the regional tourney, are driven to get back to the NCAA Tournament and take the program to the next level. The newcomers are feeding off the veterans' motivation and seem ready to step in and contribute right away.
The 2011 season begins with a challenging spring trip to Winter Haven, Florida where the Monks will face off against the likes of Curry, Wheaton and Keene State during the week of March 13th – 18th.
