ROCHESTER HURLERS STYMIE SAINTS

Apr. 2: Blair Veenema pitched a one-hitter in game one of a doubleheader and the University of Rochester went on to a sweep of St. Lawrence, winning 10-0 and 4-3 in a Liberty League twinbill at Rochester on Wednesday.

 

Veenema struck out eight and walked four, surrendering only a single to Tim Harris as the Yellowjackets improved to 9-3 overall and 5-0 in the Liberty League with a 10-0 win in game one.

 

Troy Lassial took the loss for the Saints with six Rochester runs coming in the bottom of the fifth inning. Charlie Cannan pitched the sixth and was touched for four unearned runs.

 

The Saints came back from a 3-0 deficit in game two with three in the top of the fourth, but Rochester won it in the bottom of the sixth.

 

Christian Spicer doubled with two outs to start the Saint rally in the fourth. A walk to Chris Donaldson put runners on first and second and Harris singled to plate Spicer. Dan Ludwig and Ryan Duff then walked to force in the second run and Sean Voss also drew a walk to tie the game at 3-3.

 

Blayne Fuke doubled with two out in the bottom of the sixth and Andy Cannon drove him home to score the winning run.

 

The Saints, now 5-7 overall and 1-2 in league play will play Liberty League doubleheaders at Skidmore on Saturday and Sunday. The games were originally scheduled for Canton, but Tom Fay Field has yet to clear of snow.

 

SAINT RALLY WINS LIBERTY LEAGUE OPENER

Mar. 22: The Saint baseball team overcame a 3-0 Union College lead with a four run rally in the bottom of the seventh for a 4-3 win on Saturday for a win in the 2008 Liberty League opener. A scheduled second game was rained out.

 

The Saints finished their Florida trip 5-5 and are scheduled to play a Liberty League series at Rochester Saturday and Sunday March 28-29.

 

Union scored two in the first and added a third run in the top of the seventh, but the Saints came through with four of their seen hits in the game in the bottom of the seventh for the win.

 

Andy Ford singled with one out to start the winning rally and consecutive singles by Joe Shehata and Tim Harris loaded the bases. Dan Ludwig then doubled to right to drive in two runs. Ryan Duff walked and Sean Voss grounded out, but Duff broke up a double play allowing Ludwig and Harris to score to give the Saints the win.

 

Steve Bodnar pitched the win, going seven inning and allowing five hits with three strikeouts. Harris had a pair of hits for the Saints.

SAINT BASEBALL TEAM SWEEPS ST. MICHAEL’S

Mar. 21: St. Lawrence University’s baseball team rapped out 32 hits in a doubleheader sweep of St. Michael’s College on Friday and will take a 4-5 overall record into the start of Liberty League play on Saturday as the Saints will play Union in a doubleheader to end their Florida trip.

 

Freshman Chris Cook pitched a complete game in a 15-5 win over the Purple Knights in game one of Friday’s doubleheader and rookie Matt Skelly went five for the win in a 11-3 Saint decision in game two.

 

Ryan Duff went three for three with two doubles, Sean Voss drove in four runs, Charlie Cannan was three for four and Andrew Ford went two for two with a homer in game one.

 

Matt Carrigg was two for three with a double and four runs driven in, Rob Tole went three for four and drove in two runs and Tim Harris was two for five in game two.

 

 

 

 

SAINTS 2-5 AFTER 6-2 LOSS TO AMHERST

St. Lawrence University’s baseball team will try to regain the win track after sustaining its fifth straight loss on its Florida trip, 6-2 to Amherst on Wednesday.

 

The Saints have an off-day Thursday and will play two against St. Michael’s on Friday before concluding the trip with a doubleheader against Union College in Fort Myers on Saturday.

 

The Saints outhit Amherst on Wednesday, but were hurt by three errors in the 6-2 loss. Mike Root went five innings and was the losing pitcher with Troy Lassial, Steve Bodnar and Dan Ludwig also seeing action.

 

Tim Harris led the Saint offense with a four-for-four performance at the plate while Sean Voss was two for four with a double.

 

TRINITY TOPS SAINTS 15-4

March 18: Trinity College handed St. Lawrence University’s baseball team a 15-4 loss in game four of the Saints’ southern trip on Tuesday.

 

Jeff Graceffo took the loss on the mound for the Saints while Andrew Ford went two for three at the plate with a run scored, Sean Voss went one for four with a run driven in and Dan Ludwig tripled.

 

The Saints will take on Amherst in a single game Wednesday afternoon.

 

ST. MICHAEL’S OUTLASTS SAINTS 19-16

March 16: St. Michael’s College pulled out a 19-16 win over St. Lawrence in a baseball game in Fort Myers, FL on Monday, dropping the Saints to 2-3 on their southern swing.

 

The Saints outhit St. Michael’s 20-16, but the Purple Knights took advantage of six Saint errors in the game.

 

Chris Cook took the loss for the Saints with Zach Slater, Charlie Cannan and Ryan Duff appearing in release. Voss went two for two with a double, Duff was four for six with a triple and Kirk Broedel went four for six. Mike Root was two for three and Rob Toll hit a double.

 

The Saints will play Trinity in a single nine-inning game on Tuesday.

 

 

SAINTS 2-2 TO START SOUTHERN TRIP

Mar. 16: St. Lawrence University’s baseball team swept its season opening doubleheader in the Gene Cusik Classic at Fort Myers, FL, but was swept in the second set of games on Sunday.

Troy Lassial and Mike Root turned in solid pitching efforts for the Saints in a sweep of Minnesota-Morris. Lassial went the distance and struck out four in a 3-1 win in game one while Root went five innings and struck out 11 in a 9-1 win in game two.

 

Joel Kocan went 3-3 for a home run and two runs driven in in game one and Dan Ludwig was one for one and on base four times in the game. Ludwig went two for three in game two and Ryan Duff was two for three with a homer and drove in three runs. Zach Slater and Chris Cook went an inning each in relief in the second game.

 

St. Thomas swept the Saints 13-5 and 10-4 in the second set of games. Steve Bodnar took the loss in game one with Root going three for four with a double and two runs scored. Sean Voss took the loss in game two with Tim Harris going two for four with a triple and Chuck Cannan one for three with a run driven in.

 

PITCHING SHOULD BE SAINT STRENGTH

Mar. 12: St. Lawrence University’s baseball team will start on the pursuit of a third straight 20-or-more win season when it opens its 2008 season with a doubleheader against Minnesota-Morris in Fort Myers, FL on Saturday.

 

The Saints will need to replace their top three hitters and two outstanding pitchers from last season’s 21-14 team, but have a solid mix of veterans and newcomers to work with as they head into their annual spring trip. The Saints are scheduled to play 11 games in Florida and are slated to open the northern portion of their schedule with Liberty League doubleheaders at Rochester on March 28 and 29.

 

Outfielders Andrew Engebretson and Matt Yaworsky plus designated hitter Joe Regonlinski graduated from last year’s team and all three were first-team All Liberty League selections with Engebretson the league’s Player of the Year and a first team member of the ABCA Rawlings All Regional team. Pitchers Chris Kerr and Mike Gipson, who combined for nine wins and gave the Saints over 100 innings between them, also collected diplomas in May.

 

Despite the departure of Gipson and Kerr, pitching should be a Saint strength in 2008 as they return some proven pitchers. Senior Tray Lassial, 5-2 with a 2.51 ERA is the senior leader of the staff while Steve Bodnar was 2-3 with a 1.90 ERA and a team-leading 49 strikeouts in 47 innings last season and Sean Voss was 2-2 with a 4.61 ERA in his first collegiate season. Junior Jeff Graceffo, who saw relief action last season, is having a good spring practice and will battle for a regular starting spot as will senior Mike Root, 1-3 a year ago and newcomer Matt Skelly from Malone.

 

Zach Slater, who made four appearances with a 1.64 ERA in relief last year and newcomers Chris Cook and Dan Ludwig will pitch in relief while sophomore Ryan Duff, an honorable mention all league reliever last year, returns as the Saint stopper after going 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA with four saves and 18 strikeouts in 17 innings last season.

 

Junior Matt Carrigg, who hit .304 with 16 runs driven in, is the top returning hitter for the Saints and will play one outfield spot. Seniors Christian Spicer and Joe Shehata are the likely starters in the other outfield spots with rookies Garrett Fitzgerald, Ludwig, and Chris Hewins also in the mix.

 

Chris Donaldson, who was a member of the Rawlings Gold Glove team for the New York Region as a first baseman last season returns in that spot with Voss also battling for playing time at first. Senior Ryan Kimber, who hit .246 in 24 starts and drove in 13 runs last season and sophomore Tim Harris, who hit .250 in limited playing time, will battle it out for the starting job at second base while Duff, a .283 hitter with 19 runs driven in, returns at shortstop where he was second team all league last year. Senior Andrew Ford is the incumbent third baseman and hit .265 with 25 runs scored and 14 driven in last season. Rookies Sam Kelly and Kirt Broedel will also contend for playing time in the infield.

 

Joel Kocan, who hit .301 in 35 games and drove in 23 runs last season and Rob Tole, who missed last year but played on the 2006 Saint NCAA team are two veteran catchers while rookies Ryan Fedo and Kirk Shimkin will also contend for playing time.

 

Seniors Charlie Cannan and Root are the top candidates for the designated hitter slot vacated by Regonlinski. Cannan hit .292 in 25 plate appearances and drove in three runs last season.

 

 

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