University of Connecticut Athletics
2006 Baseball Season Opens Friday At Florida Atlantic
2/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
STORRS, Conn. (February 23, 2006) - The University of Connecticut baseball team is opening its 2006 season on Friday with the first of a three-game series against Florida Atlantic. The Huskies look to enter the 2006 season with the same momentum they maintained throughout 2005. The team set a school record for wins with 34 while several team members topped the record books in other categories. Head coach Jim Penders has the talent to keep the wins coming with a solid squad of veterans and rookies looking to learn from each other.
The strong freshman class that Penders and the rest of the coaching staff recruited will have big shoes to fill this season with the losses of 2005 team captain Jeff Hourigan, Russ D’Argento and Tony Mallozzi. Hourigan was an All-BIG EAST team member in both the preseason and post season and helped lead the team at the plate, on the mound and in the field. D’Argento was an iron horse in his time at UConn, ranking second in career games played with 178 and third in at-bats with 651. Mallozzi’s successful 2005 season put him amongst the top season record-setting players. He stands at 11th in at-bats with 194 in a single season, and 10th in single-season hits with 70.
Pitchers
The veteran leadership of the pitching staff will be the strongest this season. Six hurlers will take to the mound for their final time this campaign, and all are looking to go out strong. Tim Norton (Pascoag, R.I.) is coming off Cape Cod League success that will carry into the 2006 season. Norton was named the CCBL Pitcher of the Year with 77 strikeouts, an outstanding 5-1 record and a 1.77 ERA. He will set the tone for every weekend series as a conference starter.
Nick Tucci (Medford, Mass.) finally returns to the roster with a clean bill of health and will take his place as a dominant BIG EAST starter. He is looking to return to the form of his freshman and sophomore seasons, when he was a regular conference starter with four wins in each season.
The battle-tested veteran southpaw Brendan McGinn (Tolland, Conn.) possesses excellent control that has helped UConn in tough situations throughout his past three years. He will be looked upon to improve his consistency in 2006 and get deeper in games.
Joshua MacDonald (Milford, Conn.) and Joe Smeraglino (Shelton, Conn.) will be vital members of the bullpen this season. They will serve as middle relievers in tight games for the Huskies. MacDonald is a strike-thrower with a multi-pitch arsenal and top notch competitiveness coming off an All-Star season in the Shenandoah Valley League. Smeraglino maintains a calm business-like demeanor in his play and his big game experience will be a real asset to the bullpen corps.
John Slusarz (Farmington, Conn.) serves as the team’s Jack of all trades. He has had success making starts as well as coming out of the pen. His breaking ball is a strike-getter and he spots the fastball well. These seniors are a combined force of skilled experience that will be hard to face this season.
Following behind the seniors are a group of young players with great respect for the game. Rich Sirois (Ipswich, Mass.) worked hard in the off-season and added a third pitch to his deceptive fastball and excellent change-up repertoire. This addition will make him even tougher on the opposition.
Connecticut may be the Huskies, but junior Ted Garry (Rochester, Minn.) challenges his hitters with a bulldog approach. He is a fierce competitor with the knowledge and skill to back him up. His fellow classmate Pat Maguire (Chelmsford, Mass.) has established himself as a solid situational reliever with his new submarine arm slot.
The underclassman will have several opportunities to show what they have to offer this season as they continue to develop. David Erickson (Stratford, Conn.) was counted on to close out games in 2005 as a freshman and will be looked upon to do the same this season. The right-hander added seasoning to his pitching arsenal this summer as an All-Star in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League (ACBL). He will be a key reliever for the Huskies this season.
In the off season, Mike Tarsi (Danbury, Conn.) improved on all of his pitches as well as his command. He will prove to be a very effective starter and challenge for weekend appearances right from the start of the season. Matt Karl (Wallingford, Conn.) has also worked hard this off season, improving his conditioning tremendously in practice and looks be a great lefty option out of the pen for Penders.
David Bodge (Taunton, Mass.) returns to the roster this season after redshirting in 2005. He will make a push for weekday starts. Fellow freshman Erik Turgeon (Palm Harbor, Fla.) was recently drafted by the Red Sox and looks to contribute out of the bullpen immediately as a two-way player for the Huskies. He is athletic and already has experience in big game situations.
Athleticism runs deep in this pitching staff, including John Folino (Quincy, Mass.). He is a projectable right-hander that will push to crack into veteran dominant staff to earn innings as a freshman. Also fighting for innings this season will be Steve Blumetti (Union, N.J.). Blumetti played for the prestigious Bayside Yankees, tallying several wins, added to those he had already accumulated in high school. He will add depth to the bullpen as he develops.
Brian Estrada (Bridgeport, Conn.) is the last of the freshman pitching class. He was a state champion in high school and is working his way to a come back after having Tommy John surgery during his senior year of high school.
Infield
Penders signed several new faces to fill the infield in 2006. Most carry a background in several positions, giving Penders the flexibility to move players to where they are needed most. The versatility of this group will prove vital as the season progresses. The first to contribute in the field and at the plate will be freshman Scott Beckwith (Seminole, Fla.). Beckwith is a powerful hitter with good plate discipline. He is tough to strike out and has some pop. Beckwith has been working hard to improve his defense to match his above average offense. He could see time at the corners and possibly as a designated or pinch hitter. Classmate Dale Brannon (St. Petersburg, Fla.) will challenge Beckwith for time at third as well as playing the middle. Brannon has excellent infield actions, a strong throwing arm and has baseball in his blood. His older brother Evan played at Florida Atlantic and in Baltimore Orioles system.
The youth contributions continue Erik Turgeon. The rookie could miss the beginning of the season due to a hernia operation in February. When fully recovered, he should earn immediate playing time at third base or second. He is a quality athlete that will be counted on in the field as well as on the mound.
Though Penders has recruited several newcomers to the team, they will have to fight it out with the already established infielders the team possesses. Junior Dennis Donovan (Center Moriches, N.Y.), the Huskies’ most experienced shortstop, is coming off Tommy John surgery, but possesses a strong throwing arm, steady glove and clutch bat. Donovan emerged in 2005 as a leader on the field and off.
Another Husky shortstop coming off Tommy John surgery is David Muscatello (Hopkinton, Mass.). He progressed quickly through his rehabilitation and looks to be a solid defensive contributor to the team. His bat skills are still developing, but his defense provides a steadying influence. Also working hard at the plate is Matt Untiet (Berlin, Conn.). The junior has steadily improved his game with a very productive fall season and active winter. He has taken a refined approach at the plate and developed a consistent glove at third and first.
The duo of Karl and Pat Mahoney (Des Moines, Iowa) will make steady appearances in the infield as well. Karl will be earning key innings on the hill but should also serve as an offensive threat at first or as the D.H. He has power and a more consistent approach at the plate. Mahoney can play all four infield spots, and was drafted by Tampa Bay as a catcher. His much improved bat should have him in the lineup often, if not every day. His versatile glove will be an asset to the coaching staff.
Catchers
The challenge for catching time this season will fall between veteran Larry Day (Amesbury, Mass.) and 2004 Wake Forest transfer, Steven Malinowski (Kensington, Conn.). Day earned the nod as the number one starter behind the plate in 2005 and will look to hold onto that title in ’06 after playing with an injured catching hand last year. He was also chosen as a co-captain for the season. He is a vocal leader and has a dependable bat as well as honed receiving skills. Malinowski will push Day for starting assignments all season with his strong-arm and quick-hitting wrists. He is a quality option behind the plate and at the plate with legitimate power. The senior had a standout summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League and the fall seasons. His new confidence has him poised for breakout year in 2006.
Freshmen Adam Herrick (Shelton, Conn.) and Mike Barbarula (Norwalk, Conn.) both join the Huskies this season as walk-ons. Both will serve as bullpen catchers throughout the 2006 season.
Outfield
Upon the conclusion of 2005 the UConn baseball program lost two of its strongest contributors in outfielders Mallozzi and D’Argento. Even with their departures, the 2006 outfield group has the potential to be even stronger. Seniors Bryan Maler (Ansonia, Conn.) and Austin Wasserman (Nashua, N.H.) will lead the mix along with junior Josh Farkes (Boston, Mass.) making his home in right field. Garry, the lefty pitcher, impressed the coaching staff enough in the fall workouts to potentially break into the lineup in the outfield along with speedy redshirt freshman Ted O’Reilly (Arlington, Mass.). Freshmen Matt Burnett (Endicott, N.Y.) and Travis Turgeon (Norwich, Conn.) will also add depth to the lineup as they develop their games this season.
Maler, who batted .305 in 2005, leads the way in center field. His combination of speed and power make him a formidable threat in the lineup. His adjustments in fall practice have proven he can be an accomplished hitter in the BIG EAST.
Wasserman will split time between left field and the infield in 2006. He led the team in steals in 2005 with 20 and hit .314 overall. Much like Maler, Wasserman provides added speed to make the overall outfield defense better in 2006. In addition, he provides an added benefit in being a switch hitter that can be effective at or near the top of the lineup.
Farkes brings a multi-tooled arsenal to right field. He had a breakout year in 2005, hitting .328 and leading the team in outfield assists with four. The right fielder has a rare combination of power, speed and arm strength. His brother Zak is a minor leaguer with the Boston Red Sox.
O’Reilly enters his first official season and will vie for a starting spot in center field with his team-best speed. He plays small ball very well, bunting for hits, slapping singles and stealing bases. He has worked hard on his offensive game this fall in order to match his defensive skills and should make an impact in 2006.
Burnett is a talented, big-bodied athlete and will push to get in the mix early. He is coming off of a successful high school career with a 2003 Class AA State Championship under his belt. He has size and bat speed to do some big things in years to come. Fellow teammate Travis Turgeon is one of the hardest workers on the club, not only in the field, but also in the classroom. He joins his cousin Erik as freshmen teammates in Storrs.
