Kean Baseball Roster: Who’s Who and What to Expect

The Kean University baseball team is set to begin their 2019 season and we’ve got your Comprehensive Guide to the roster. Get to know the team and find out what to expect from them this season!

Introducing the Kean Baseball Roster for the 2019 season

The Kean University Cougars baseball team is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III and the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). The team is led by Head Coach Neil Ioviero, who is entering his fifth season with the Cougars. Under his leadership, the team has seen a dramatic turnaround, going from a 13-27 record in his first year to a 30-14 record and an NJAC championship in his fourth year.

The 2019 Kean baseball roster is made up of 31 student-athletes, including 21 returners from last year’s team. The roster includes five seniors, eight juniors, 11 sophomores, and seven freshmen. This mix of experience and youth will be crucial as the team looks to build on last year’s success.

The pitching staff will be led by senior captains Mike D’Alessandro and Mattias Malmstedt. D’Alessandro, who was named NJAC Pitcher of the Year last season, will be looking to build on a stellar 2018 campaign in which he went 9-1 with a 1.67 ERA. Malmstedt, meanwhile, will be looking to Bounce Back from an injury-plagued 2018 season in which he made just four starts. He will be joined by junior right-hander Tom Carravetta and sophomore left-hander Nick Ward as the team’s top four starters.

The bullpen will feature a mix of experience and youth, with seniors Mike DeCarlo and Vinny tripodi leading the way. DeCarlo appeared in a team-high 18 games last season while posting a 3.86 ERA, while Tripodi was solid in limited action, recording a 2.70 ERA in 10 appearances. They will be joined by junior right-hander Mike Ewing and sophomores Matt Epstein and Matt Reardon as the team’s primary Relief pitchers

The Kean offense will be led by senior infielder/outfielder Brandon Janofsky, who was named NJAC Player of the Year last season after hitting .372 with six home runs and 36 RBIs. He will be joined by junior infielder/outfielder Mike Rucci (.341 batting average four home runs) and sophomore infielder/outfielder Rob Ayala (.330 batting average) as the team’s top three hitters. The Cougars will also look to junior catcher John Rizzo (.286 batting average) and sophomore outfielder Joe O’Connor (.273 batting average) to provide some pop at the bottom of the lineup.

A closer look at the Kean pitching staff

The Kean Cougars have a deep and experienced pitching staff that will be counted on to lead the team to victory this season. head coach Neil Ioviero has said that he expects big things from his team this year, and the pitching staff will be a big part of that.

The team’s ace is senior right-hander Mike Sheppard, who was named the NJAC Pitcher of the Year last season. Sheppard is a two-time All-American and he will be looking to lead the Cougars to their first ever NJAC title this season.

The rest of the pitching staff is made up of a mix of veterans and newcomers. Senior right-hander Ryan Williamson is a two-year starter who has been a steadying force for the Cougars. He will once again be in the rotation this season.

Junior left-hander Kyle D’Alessandro is another experienced pitcher who will be looking to make an impact this season. He did not pitch much last year, but he has looked good in preseason workouts and should see more action this year.
Two freshmen will also play key roles for the Cougars this season. Right-hander Jake Simonetti was spectacular in High School and he is expected to contribute right away. Left-hander Matt Giordano is another highly touted freshman who could see some time on the mound this year.

The Kean pitching staff looks to be very strong once again this season. With a mix of experience and young talent, they should be able to lead the team to success in 2019.

The Kean infield: who’s who and what to expect

The Kean infield is made up of some of the best college baseball players in the country. Here’s a look at who’s who and what to expect from each player.

First baseman Nick D’Amico is a returning starter and one of the best hitters in the conference. He’s a big reason why the Kean offense is expected to be one of the best in the conference.

Second baseman Mike Petrella is a transfer from Rutgers who is expected to make an immediate impact. He’s a good hitter with some speed and should be an asset to the Kean offense.

Shortstop Tom Signorello is another returning starter who is one of the best Defensive Players in the conference. He doesn’t have much power at the plate, but he’s a good contact hitter and should be a solid contributor to the Kean offense.

The Kean outfield: who’s who and what to expect

The Kean Cougars will have a new-look outfield in 2020, with just one returning starter in right fielder Joey Falcone. Here’s a look at the players who will be patrolling the outfield grass at Cougar Field this spring, and what to expect from them.

In left field the Cougars will have a pair of freshmen in Nick Polizzano and Thomas LaPenta.Polizzano is a local product from nearby Livingston, NJ, who was a three-year starter at Livingston high school He hit .358 with four home runs and 22 RBI as a senior. LaPenta comes to Kean from Washington Township NJ, where he was a four-year starter at St. Joseph high school He hit .322 with two home runs and 14 RBI as a senior.

In center field, the Cougars will have junior Mike Mancini back in the starting lineup after he missed most of last season with an injury. Mancini is a two-time All-NJAC selection and was named the conference’s Preseason Player of the Year this year. He hit .333 with three Home Runs and 19 RBI in 2018, when he played in just 32 games due to injury.

Right field will be manned by junior Joey Falcone, who is the only returning starter in Kean’s outfield in 2020. Falcone was named First Team All-NJAC last season after hitting .358 with 10 home runs and 45 RBI. He also stole 15 bases and scored 45 runs for the Cougars last year.

The Kean catchers: who’s who and what to expect

The Kean catchers are a key part of the team’s success. Here’s a look at who’s who and what to expect from them this season.

The Kean catchers are a key part of the team’s success. Here’s a look at who’s who and what to expect from them this season.

The Kean catchers are led by senior captain Alex Carbonell. Alex is a four-year starter and has been an integral part of the team’s success over the past four years. He is a two-time All-American and was the NJAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. Alex is a superb defensive catcher with a strong arm. He is also an excellent hitter, batting .333 last season with 7 home runs and 32 RBIs. Alex will be looking to lead the team to another NJAC title this season.

The other catcher on the roster is sophomore Matt Marella. Matt is in his first year with the team after transferring from Rutgers University Matt is a talented hitter with a great eye for the strike zone He batted .333 last season with 1 home run and 11 RBIs in limited action. Matt will be looking to contribute more offensively this season and provide solid defense behind the plate.

The Kean utility players who’s who and what to expect

When it comes to college baseball the utility player is a team’s most important player. They are the ones who can play any position on the field and be a valuable asset to the team.

The Kean University Baseball Team is no different. They have a few utility players who can play multiple positions and make an impact on the game.

One of these utility players is junior Mike Romano. Romano is a versatile player who can play both infield and outfield. He is also a left-handed hitter, which makes him valuable to the team.

Another one of Kean’s utility players is senior Matt Lupo. Lupo is a right-handed hitter who can play both first base and third base. He is also one of the team’s best power hitters

The final member of Kean’s utility player trio is junior Steve Batura. Batura is a switch hitter who can play both shortstop and second base. He is also one of the team’s best defensive players

So, if you’re ever in doubt about who to root for when Kean University is playing baseball just remember: support your utility players!

The Kean Coaching Staff who’s who and what to expect

The Kean coaching staff is led by Head Coach Neil Ioviero who enters his 23rd season at the helm of the program. Under Ioviero, the Cougars have amassed 553 victories, captured nine conference championships and made 12 appearances in the NCAA tournament Last year, Kean finished with a 27-16 overall record and reached the semifinal round of the New Jersey Athletic conference tournament

Assisting Ioviero will be Ray Korn, who enters his fifth season on the staff, and Rob Foti, who is in his first year with the program.

Korn, a former Head coach at Rutgers-Camden, has helped guide Kean to a pair of conference titles and three trips to the NCAA Tournament during his tenure. Foti comes to Union from Caldwell University where he served as an Assistant Coach for four seasons.

Rounding out the staff are volunteer assistant coach Dave Hirschfeld and student assistant coach John Serratore. Hirschfeld rejoins the coaching ranks after serving as Kean’s head coach from 1997-2002. Serratore is a former Kean player and two-time NJAC All-Conference selection.

The Kean 2019 schedule: who’s who and what to expect

The Kean Cougars baseball team will have their home opener on Friday, February 22nd against Nyack at 3:30 p.m. They will play a total of 36 games in the regular season The schedule includes games against many different types of competition, from in-state rivals to nationally ranked teams. head coach Neil Ioviero and his Coaching Staff have put together a challenging but winnable schedule for the 2019 season.

The Cougars are coming off a 2018 campaign in which they went 25-21 and finished fourth in the conference with a 13-11 record. They will look to improve upon that mark this season with a more experienced and deeper roster. The team is led by senior third baseman/catcher Anthony Vagliano, who was named First Team All-Conference last season after hitting .358 with four home runs and 34 RBI. Other key returners include senior pitcher/outfielder Josh Knapp (5-3, 3.38 ERA, 61 strikeouts), junior outfielder Alex Kokossis (.333 avg., 23 RBI, 12 SB), and sophomore pitcher/first baseman Justin Decker (.333 avg., 2 HR, 20 RBI).

The team also has several newcomers who could make an impact this season, including junior pitcher Jake Wamboldt (transfer from Seton Hall), sophomore outfielder Mike Mastropietro (transfer from Brookdale CC), freshman pitcher Dylan Heine (15th round MLB Draft pick), and freshman infielder/outfielder Tom Gaffney (22nd round MLB draft pick).

With a mix of experienced returners and talented newcomers, the Kean Cougars baseball team has the pieces in place for a successful 2019 campaign.

The Kean 2019 season: who’s who and what to expect

The Kean 2019 baseball season will bring a lot of experience and stability to the team with 11 returners from last year. Pitching will be a strength for the Cougars as they trot out a deep and experienced staff. The infield will also be a strength, returning all four starters from last year.

The outfield is where the team will have the most question marks. With only two returners and three new starters, the outfield will be a work in progress early on in the season. However, the team is confident that they have the athletes to fill those spots and that they will make progress as the season goes on.

The Kean 2019 roster: who’s who and what to expect

The Kean 2019 baseball roster features student-athletes from all over the country, hailing from California to Maine. With a mix of experienced returners and talented newcomers, Kean is looking to build on last year’s success and take the program to new heights in 2019.

Here’s a closer look at the team:

Pitchers:

The pitching staff is anchored by ace starter Nick Panzarino, who led the team in wins (7), ERA (3.60), and strikeouts (55) last season. Panzarino will be joined in the rotation by fellow senior right-hander Kyle Kutler and junior lefty Mike Schiffer. Newcomers to watch out for include freshman righty Matt Scheffler and junior transfer Chris O’Hara.

Catchers:

Junior Brandon Gonzalez returns as the team’s primary catcher after starting 31 games behind the plate last season. Gonzalez will be backed up by sophomore Dylan Pastor and freshman Andrew Rzepecki.

Infielders:

The infield features a mix of experience and youth, with senior third baseman Andrew Della Rocca leading the way. Della Rocca is coming off a strong 2018 campaign in which he hit .276 with two home runs and 19 RBIs. Other key returners include senior first baseman Mike Petti (who hit four homers last year) and junior second baseman Anthony Perez (the team’s leading hitter at .295). Newcomers to keep an eye on include freshman shortstop Brady Hirschberg and junior transfer Richie Moriarty (first base/outfield).

Outfielders:

The outfield is headlined by junior center fielder Nick Polizzano, who was named 2nd Team All-Conference last season after hitting .274 with two homers, 20 RBIs, and eight stolen bases Joining Polizzano in the outfield are senior Left fielder Mike Falco (.252, 2 HR, 15 RBIs in 2018) and sophomore right fielder John Rizzo (.259, 1 HR, 12 RBIs). Newcomers to watch out for include freshman outfielders Matt DeVincentis and Andrew waterman.