Feb. 27, 2003
Garden City, N.Y. -
The Adelphi University baseball team heads to sunny Florida to kick off its 2003 season at the Homestead Challange this weekend. The Panthers will face six competitors over eight games from February 28-March 6.
2003 Season Preview
With the last remnants of the prestigious Adelphi Baseball team that went to the 1999 World Series graduating in 2002 it is now time to rebuild. With possibly the youngest team in AU Baseball history, the Panthers have their work cut out for them. The Panthers will be playing in a tough conference this year with the addition of New Haven, formerly of the Northeast 10 conference, and former Division I Independent C.W. Post. The quest for the conference title will be extremely challenging to any team in the NYCAC this season. With eleven teams in the conference and three advancing to the Northeast Regional in 2002 (New Haven, Concordia, Dowling) the caliber of baseball in the NYCAC has been elevated. The Adelphi Panthers will look to capture the conference title this year, go on to Regionals and finally earn a bid into the College World Series. The only way that the Panthers will be able to win the conference title is through hard work and dedication.
This year's team may be on of the youngest, but one of the more hard working teams that Head Coach Ron Davies have seen in years. Unlike the past, Adelphi will not be depending on the long ball. The team does not feature such college stars as Nick Clark, Mike Rayola, Dom Gatti, Helms Borhinger, or Greg Raines, players that put the ball out of the park often. This year the team will be counting on speed, bunting, base hits, and solid defense. In order to have a successful season, the Panthers will need to step their level of play up, and overachieve. The players that the team has this year are very special. This team is one that has demonstrated in the fall season that what they may lack in experience, they make up for in talent. This Adelphi team looks to regain the glory of the nineties, a feat that can be accomplished with hard work and fundamentally sound baseball. The 2003 season kicks off in Miami Florida on February 29th in the Homestead Challenge. The Panthers return home to host its first game on, March 11th against visiting Bentley College in a four game set.
Key Returning Position Players:
The Panthers will be looking to their key position players, including returning senior left fielder Erik Pelkaus (.305, 10 hr, 40 rbi, 8 2bs, 1.000 fld %), junior right fielder Chris Alvarez (.260, 1hr, 2 2bs, 11 rbi, .933 fld%), and junior catcher Mike Joyce (.310, 1hr, 20 rbi, 8 2bs, .993 fld%) for stability. Injury free for the 2003 season, senior Anthony DiDominico should finally have the chance to display his powerful throwing arm this season in centerfield. Sophomore Matt DeWitt showed signs of a power hitter in 2002, hitting .300 with four doubles and six RBI in thirty-seven plate appearances. Sophomore Adam Kipling displayed signs of being a very good hitter, hitting .361 in thirty-six plate appearances. Sophomore Tom Cinelli hit .341 in forty-four plate appearances, and will be looked to in key pinch-hit situations, and will occasionally be a DH. Senior Jim Gowdy will also be a major asset to the team, possessing a great bat (.667 avg 2002) with the ability to come off the bench and get key hits in any clutch situation. He may also be asked to DH, and play first base.
Key Newcomers:
The Panthers will be counting on immediate results from high school all-stars such as short stop Doug Anderson, pitcher/infielder Mike Thompson, third baseman Brian Horrmann, infielder/catcher Tom Cali, infielder Mike Aliperti, and outfielder Ricky Nicholson. Sophomore transfer Rob Entenmann, from Concordia College in Bronxville N.Y., brings a solid bat and good defensive skills at second base. Entenmann has established himself among the team as an extremely hard worker, and a good teammate. Junior Casey Twibell, from Nassau Community College, makes the competition tough for the job of first baseman. Twibell comes to Adelphi with a great work ethic, a great glove, toughness, and a good stick. The job of first base will be one that comes down to the wire.
Pitching Staff:
After an impressive 2002 season, sophomore Chris Zinkiewicz earned All-Conference awards as a rookie. With a 6-4 record, 4.12 ERA, 74 innings pitched, and 60 strikeouts, Zinkiewicz will be looked to for leadership and as a key player in the 2003 season. Sophomore Tom Cinelli will be part of the four-man rotation following his 2002 campaign finishing with a 5.14 ERA. Freshman Mike Thompson brings a powerful arm with extremely good movement on his fastball. With his fastball hitting 90 MPH, Thompson will definitely be a force to be reckoned with in the NYCAC. Junior Andrew Tinucci is the veteran of the staff appearing in 28 innings in the 2002 season. After starting strong in 2001, he suffered an injury and was struggled to regain his former strength. However, this season Tinucci reported into camp with an additional ten pounds of muscle on his 6'2" frame, and will try and pitch at least 50 innings for the Panthers. In the bullpen the Panthers have sophomores Chris Widmer (3-2, 24 IP) and Adam Kipling (0-0, 5 IP), along with newly acquired freshman Ken Gates from Massapequa, N.Y., which looks to be the Panthers closer for 2003. Standing 6'5" and 205 pounds, Gates will be one of the premiere relievers in the NYCAC. Freshman Doug Anderson, who will share the duty of starting short stop and middle reliever, has a powerful arm capable of reaching the 90 MPH zone.
