2008 Woodie Awards
Baseball hosts huge series versus familiar foe
Pat Pickens
Issue date: 4/6/06 Section: Sports
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Baseball will face its toughest conference test this upcoming weekend, as the Pioneers will host state and conference rival Quinnipiac for three pivotal games at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Saturday and Sunday.
The rivalry of playing Quinnipiac looms larger than any other series of the season.
"We circle this date on our calendar every year," assistant coach Seth Kaplan said. "This is one of those rivalries where if we win the series versus [Quinnipiac] it can turn a bad season into a good one, and vice versa."
The players also know how big these games are.
"We go into this series knowing that this is the biggest series of the season," catcher Jamie Morales, a junior from Mount Vernon, N.Y., said. "We play it like it is our last."
The Pioneers struggled last year versus Quinnipiac, losing three games out of four, including one in the Northeast Conference tournament in Lakewood, N.J. Quinnipiac wound up winning the conference tournament and gaining the automatic berth into the NCAA baseball tournament.
"They sent us to the losers' bracket last year and we lost the season series versus them," Kaplan said. "They are still rounding into form, but are still the team to beat in the conference. Any chance at the conference title goes through them."
The Pioneers will pitch its two best on Saturday, as reigning NEC Pitcher of the Year Jay Monti will pitch the opener. Senior Chris Aldrich of Medway, Mass. will pitch in the second game on Saturday.
"Our goal in every series is to win the series on day one," Monti said. "Then we can go for the sweep on the second day."
Sophomore Jeff Hanson of Woodstock, N.Y. will pitch on Sunday for the Pioneers.
The Bobcats will enter the series with four wins versus two losses in-conference. They will combat the Pioneers dominant pitching with leadoff hitter Ryan Rizzo. Rizzo leads the team with a .353 batting average, 20 runs scored and 42 total bases.
The middle of the Quinnipiac lineup will also be dangerous. Third place hitter Wilson Matos leads the team with 20 RBIs. Cleanup hitter Kevin McIlvane is batting .328 with a team-leading four homeruns.
The rivalry of playing Quinnipiac looms larger than any other series of the season.
"We circle this date on our calendar every year," assistant coach Seth Kaplan said. "This is one of those rivalries where if we win the series versus [Quinnipiac] it can turn a bad season into a good one, and vice versa."
The players also know how big these games are.
"We go into this series knowing that this is the biggest series of the season," catcher Jamie Morales, a junior from Mount Vernon, N.Y., said. "We play it like it is our last."
The Pioneers struggled last year versus Quinnipiac, losing three games out of four, including one in the Northeast Conference tournament in Lakewood, N.J. Quinnipiac wound up winning the conference tournament and gaining the automatic berth into the NCAA baseball tournament.
"They sent us to the losers' bracket last year and we lost the season series versus them," Kaplan said. "They are still rounding into form, but are still the team to beat in the conference. Any chance at the conference title goes through them."
The Pioneers will pitch its two best on Saturday, as reigning NEC Pitcher of the Year Jay Monti will pitch the opener. Senior Chris Aldrich of Medway, Mass. will pitch in the second game on Saturday.
"Our goal in every series is to win the series on day one," Monti said. "Then we can go for the sweep on the second day."
Sophomore Jeff Hanson of Woodstock, N.Y. will pitch on Sunday for the Pioneers.
The Bobcats will enter the series with four wins versus two losses in-conference. They will combat the Pioneers dominant pitching with leadoff hitter Ryan Rizzo. Rizzo leads the team with a .353 batting average, 20 runs scored and 42 total bases.
The middle of the Quinnipiac lineup will also be dangerous. Third place hitter Wilson Matos leads the team with 20 RBIs. Cleanup hitter Kevin McIlvane is batting .328 with a team-leading four homeruns.