HEMPSTEAD, NY - With a slow start to the season due to a washout of an opening weekend, the Hofstra University Club Baseball team will kick off the season a little late, this time versus the Cabrini Cavaliers.  The games are scheduled to take place at Cabrini College at Heuser Park in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, this weekend, March 28-29. 

      Hofstra was originally scheduled to compete against Rider University in their opening weekend back in the beginning of March, however due to the rain the games were rescheduled for later in the season.  In Hofstra’s past matchups with Cabrini, Hofstra has won five of six, outscoring Cabrini 30-24. Despite this, 5 of the 6 matchups last season were one-run contests. Furthermore, the tying run was on base in all six games when the last out was recorded. This should provide for a competitive matchup this weekend.

      Tom Scopelitis (Floral Park, NY) will be starting on the mound in game one, with two wins under his belt and a 3.40 ERA career against Cabrini from last season.  Scopelitis struck out 12 players in eight innings back in the April 5, 2008 competition, a mere preview of the successes he achieved this past fall.  An earned run did not pass by Scopelitis in 21 innings in the fall of 2008 and many had trouble even getting a hit off him, as he held batters to a .087 batting average.

      “Scopelitis is a strong match for the challenge of this weekend with his past successes really giving us an edge on Cabrini,” Team President Rich Fiore (Shelton, CT) said. "he knows how to battle and can throw any pitch in any count for a strike."

      Not only should eyes be on Scopelitis, Gregory Roll (Baldwin, NY) starting in centerfield will attract some attention as well.  Roll went 2-4 with a game winning single in the opener of the first Cabrini series last year, giving Hofstra the 7-6 win.

      Freshmen Joey Comunale (Stamford, CT) and Brian Adler (Westchester, NY) will start game two and three respectively, with Comunale having pitched a five inning no-hitter in a scrimmage this past weekend.  Sophomore John DeLeo (Westbury, NY) reinjured his pitching shoulder in a scrimmage on March 13 and will be unavailable this weekend. "DeLeo's status right now is uncertain" said Fiore, "We've shut him down for now but he will throw a light bullpen on Monday and we'll go from there. Were not going to force him back into action when he's not 100 percent." Best cast scenario, DeLeo could be back next weekend for a start against Sacred Heart.

       Looking towards to this weekend, freshmen Joe Elio (Seaford, NY), Matt Farra (Doylestown, PA), Jake Seelig (Ossining, NY), Aaron Richards (Hope Valley, RI), and Jon Raimondo (Shoreham, NY) are looking to make immediate impacts in the middle of the order. Farra and Seelig combined to bat .419 with 12 RBI in 31 at bats this fall and will provide solid defense on the left side of the infield. Senior vice-president Nick Carr (Verona, NJ) will be making the transition from shortstop to the left side of the infield as age has taken a toll on his range and arm. "I likely have three good throws left in me from the shortstop position" said Carr who is Hofstra's all time assists leader, "I'm sure those throws will happen at some point this season, but we will worry about it then. These new freshmen can really play and there's no reason for me to block them from showing what they can do for the team."

      The Hofstra Pride are excited to start off their season. After leading District II with a 12-2 record as they entered the final week of the season, New York University ended their World Series quest by taking three of the last four games of the season, eliminating the Pride. This afterthought only provides more motivation to succeed this season. "We've been working really hard and putting in a lot of effort at practice this year, something we weren't always able to do last season." said Team Captain Rich Meoli (East Meadow, NY), "with our talent and our work effort this season, I feel we are the team to beat in the conference."

      Hofstra University is a member of District II of the National Club Baseball Association, along with New York University, Rider University, Cabrini College, Sacred Heart University and the University of Connecticut.

 

Deena Kimball

Hofstra University Baseball Club

March 25, 2009