STANDISH, ME – The Saint Joseph's baseball team figures to contend for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) championship once again this spring under the guidance of 20th-year Head Coach Will Sanborn '86.

The Monks, selected as the conference favorite according to a pair of preseason polls, have won three of the last four GNAC titles and six of the last seven crowns dating back to the 2005 campaign. St. Joe's played as a member of the North Atlantic Conference for three seasons, and earned three titles, prior to joining the GNAC in 2008.

In 2011, Saint Joseph's posted a 32-15 record overall and played to a 12-2 mark versus GNAC opponents and advanced to the NCAA DIII New England Regional Tournament for the fifth time in the last six seasons. The Monks experienced great success as the Royal Blue, seeded sixth out of eight teams, topped #3 Wheaton College in the opening round and, after a setback at the hands of eventual champion Western New England, knocked #1 Tufts University out of the tourney with a thrilling 4-3 victory in 11 innings.

With extended stays in the regional tourney in each of the last two seasons, Coach Sanborn's Monks have earned a seat at the table with the upper echelon of the New England region. Only two programs in New England – past regional champions Wheaton and Western New England – have notched as many NCAA Tournament wins (5) over the last two years and no team outside this trifecta has captured six conference crowns over the last seven seasons.

Since 2005, just three New England programs have posted more wins (222) and only four have notched a better winning percentage (.709). No team has made more New England Regional appearances (5) since 2006 and just two programs (Eastern Connecticut and Wheaton) have notched more 30-win seasons over the past seven years.

Coach Sanborn is about to enter his 20th season as the Monks' skipper and ranks as the most successful leader in program history with a 503-288-5 (.636) record. He needs just two wins to become the winningest head coach in SJC Athletics history. 

If the Monks are to reach their lofty goals this spring they will be doing so without the help of a talented six-player graduating class that combined to post a 126-59 (.681) record during their four years. Todd Keneborus '11, Chris Campbell '11 and Ian Lee '11 posted a collective batting average of .392 (595-1518) with 365 runs, 102 doubles, 24 homers and 353 RBI during their career. Pitchers Mason Roberge '11, Kevin Chamberlain '11 and Chris Dion '11 combined to post a 28-16 record with a 4.60 ERA in 137 total appearances with 260 strikeouts and only 94 walks in 354.1 innings over four seasons.

PITCHING

If the 2012 SJC pitching staff lives up to its potential it may be remembered as one of the best in the 42-year history of the baseball program. The Monks return several key cogs from the 2011 group, including junior righthander Chad Rafferty (Keene, N.H.), who emerged as the staff ace while posting a 6-1 record with a 1.87 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 62.2 innings as a sophomore. The 2011 NEIBA Second Team All-New England honoree honed his skills in the Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League last summer and, with the help of the Monks' strenuous offseason conditioning program, looks to be even better this spring.

Sophomore righty Joe Gruntkosky (Peabody, Mass.), who pitched in the prestigious New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) over the summer, made 15 appearances with three starts last season and looks to settle in as one of the Monks' top starting pitchers in 2012. As a freshman, Gruntkosky went 4-3 with a 3.34 ERA and 35 K's in 37.2 innings. Senior southpaw Sam Murray (Walpole, Mass.), the 2010 GNAC Pitcher of the Year, battled through an injury-plagued campaign but was dominant when healthy. He went 2-1 with a 4.59 ERA and posted 17 K's against just three walks in 33.1 innings in 2011 and looks to close out his career with his finest season to date.

Junior Tyler Laverriere (Biddeford, Maine), who tossed a five-inning no-hitter versus Norwich University on April 23rd, showed flashes of brilliance in 2011 when he recorded a 3-1 record along with a 5.40 ERA and 34 punch-outs in 33.1 frames. Sophomore righty Nick Whittaker (Yarmouth, Maine) was exceptional in limited duty as a rookie, posting a 1.88 ERA with a 3-1 record and 19 K's in 24 frames, and looks ready to assume a much larger role this season.

Other returners include senior righthanders Andrew Devereaux (Hope Valley, R.I.) and Kyle Neagle (Lisbon Falls, Maine), junior Jimmy Kennedy (York, Maine), and sophomore lefty Chris Bryant (Gray, Maine). Devereaux and Neagle, a team tri-captain, combined to fan 35 batters in 36 innings out of the bullpen in 2011 and both hurlers look to take a big step forward in their final collegiate campaign. Kennedy could be the most improved returning pitcher and his worked his way into consideration for some serious innings as a junior. Bryant, an intelligent and crafty southpaw, could serve in a variety of roles as a sophomore.

Additions to the pitching staff include sophomore transfer Lincoln Sanborn (Standish, Maine) and freshmen Alex Valenti (Lawrence, Mass.), Steve Carlberg (Dover, N.H.), Dan Meeken (Marshfield, Mass.), Anthony Zawistowski (Otisville, N.Y.), and Jake Gardiner (Westbrook, Maine). Sanborn, a two-way player as a starter on the hill and at third base, has the ability to throw a handful of pitches for strikes and may wind up near the top of the SJC staff. Valenti, a fierce competitor, has good stuff and looks to work out of the pen and has the potential to make spot starts throughout the season. Carlberg, a deceptive lefty, could be one of the Monks' top relief options and Meeken, a southpaw with nasty stuff, will be a force when healthy. Zawistowski and Gardiner will also work their way into the action with additional development.

CATCHING

Three backstops return as senior tri-captain Jon Dahms (Gorham, Maine) and sophomores Willie Brown (Fayette, Maine) and Andrew Cessario (Limerick, Maine) are back in the fold in 2012. Dahms, an intelligent receiver with a strong arm, leads the SJC catching corps and simply hopes to remain healthy all season. Brown, who performed admirably as the Monks' starter for a spell as a rookie, is in the mix to log plenty of innings and Cessario, a workhorse who brings a litany of intangibles to the team, will also see some time behind the dish in his second season.

Although St. Joe's brings back a solid group of receivers, it is likely that a pair of rookies - Joe Coyne (Duxbury, Mass.) and Nic Lops (South Portland, Maine/Cheverus) – will see most of the innings at the catcher position in 2012. Coyne, a right-handed hitter with the ability to hit for both power and average, shows rare athleticism for a catcher and features a strong, accurate arm. Lops, a left-handed bat, also hits for power and average and may have the best arm among the Monks' catchers. As both are excellent hitters, do not be surprised if the rookies alternate between catcher and designated hitter this spring.

Sophomore Jack Reilly (Worcester, Mass.), a transfer from NCAA DII program American International College, provides the SJC staff with a solid right-handed bat and is also in the mix to see some time in 2012.

INFIELD

Saint Joseph's led all of New England with a program-record .966 fielding percentage in 2011 thanks largely to excellent infield play. The team's defensive anchor, senior shortstop Dan Achorn (Bow, N.H.), recorded just nine errors in 197 chances for a corresponding .954 fielding percentage and led the GNAC with 124 assists last spring. Also a fine hitter, Achorn hit .271 (42-155) with 27 runs, eight doubles, two homers, 14 RBI and three stolen bases during his junior season and has lofty offensive goals for his senior campaign.

Junior first baseman Mike Pratt (Dartmouth, Mass.) emerged as one of the most feared hitters in the conference last season when he hit .385 (60-156) with 24 runs, 23 doubles (SJC and GNAC record), four jacks and 38 RBI. The 2011 First Team All-GNAC and Second Team All-New England selection also played in the HCBL over the summer and is more than ready to continue his assault on the SJC Baseball record book.

Junior Brandon Chase (Naples, Maine), an offensive juggernaut in high school and Franklin Pierce transfer, got off to a slow start last spring and was unable to fully recover while platooning at second base. The cornerstone position is his alone this year as he joins Achorn to form one of the quickest double play combinations in the region. Look for this talented player to rebound with the bat in a big way in 2012.

Senior tri-captain Dan Brown (Portland, Maine/Deering) has steadily improved throughout his four years at Saint Joseph's and figures to play an important role as a utility infielder this season. Brown, a heady veteran who delivered the eventual game-winning hit in the 2011 GNAC Championship, is expected to fill in at third and second base this spring and will likely set career-highs in at bats this season.

Sophomore Alex Markakis (Lynnfield, Mass.) hit .310 (22-71) with eight runs, two doubles and 10 RBI in spot duty last year, certainly deserves to be in the lineup every day and will likely do so by rotating as the Monks' designated hitter, third baseman and left fielder. Markakis came through in the clutch many times as a rookie and has worked hard to become a fixture in the SJC lineup. Expect big things from this rising slugger, he could develop into one of the top hitters in the conference as early this season.

Along with his pitching duties Neagle will serve as the Monks' top pinch-running option and could see time in the middle infield during his senior season. Sophomore Shayne Curtis (New Gloucester, Maine) is working his way through offseason surgery and may become a contributor this spring, as could freshmen infielders Jake Gardiner, Zach Gardiner (Westbrook, Maine), and Corey Lapierre (Augusta, Maine). Jake Gardiner and Lapierre, a lefty-swinging first baseman, both possess the ability to hit for power and Zach Gardiner, a shortstop, has a strong arm and handles the bat.

OUTFIELD

The Monks' outfield will feature a new look this spring. With the graduation of Keneborus, the SJC coaching staff made the decision to play to the strengths of the group by moving junior Nate Martin (Chebeague Island, Maine) to right and junior Sam Butts (Saco, Maine) to center. Sophomore Alex Lorenc (Nanuet, N.Y.), a catcher/designated hitter as a rookie, moves to left to complete the starting trio.

The SJC outfield corps is an underrated one as all three of this season's starters struggled to maintain consistency last year. Look for this trio to improve greatly upon their 2011 numbers and develop into one of the best outfield units in New England as early as this coming year.

Martin turned in a respectable campaign, hitting .298 (31-104) with 27 runs, three doubles, a home run, 12 RBI and eight stolen bases as a sophomore. The strong-armed outfielder led the Monks with a .385 (5-13) batting average in the NCAA tourney and plans to become a mainstay atop the SJC batting order.

Butts cooled after carrying the team with a scorching spring trip but closed out the season with a 3-3 effort versus Wheaton in the New England Regional. The third-year outfielder hit .267 (40-150) with 30 runs, four doubles, two homers, 17 RBI and five steals in 2011 and figures to emerge as a premier table-setter in the Monks' lineup this year.

Lorenc, a Second Team All-GNAC choice as a rookie, hit .257 (36-140) with 18 runs, 11 doubles, two taters and 28 RBI last year. An imposing figure in the middle of the Monks' order, Lorenc is an intelligent player with a solid approach at the plate and surprising quickness on the basepaths.

Other returning outfielders include sophomore Louie Vigars (Stratham, N.H.) and senior James Mostone (Pelham, N.H.). Vigars, an outstanding defender and smart player, may emerge as the team's first outfielder off the bench. Mostone has seen limited at bats during his career but swings a good bat and has improved his defensive skills.

Senior Peter Allain (Salem, N.H.), an excellent hitter and solid defender, also returns after sitting out the last two seasons. Allain will likely see time at the corner outfield posts and could log some DH at bats as well. Sophomore Pat Copp (Cumberland, Maine), a transfer from DII Southern New Hampshire University and lone newcomer to the SJC outfield corps, can swing the stick and figures to see time as well.

Saint Joseph's will kick off the 2012 season with a nine-game slate in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in Winter Haven, Florida, beginning with a twinbill versus Endicott College on March 11th.