Reporter Online | Tag: Baseball

Three Stars: Mike Marsillo

Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

by Tom Sciotto


Katie Thompson

It’s often said baseball is boring. People cite long games with the occasional 10-second burst of activity, but they’re missing the wonderful nuances of the sport. It’s a game of patience and strategy dictated by the lone man on the mound. Ice flows through his veins while he carefully sets the pace of the game. This is the role of the pitcher. This is the world of Mike Marsillo.

Marsillo, a fifth year Mechanical Engineering major hails from Scottsdale, Ariz. His baseball career started in a familiar place for most boys - five years old, hitting balls off a tee and trying to resist the urge to pick dandelions in the field. Thirteen years later he came to RIT because it was his chance to play ball while pursuing a degree. Scouted primarily for his infield abilities, he started as a third baseman in his first year. After his coach saw him pitch, everything changed. He was made a starting pitcher. His first start for the Tigers was a nine inning complete game.

So where’s he at, four years later? He has a 2.51 earned run average, five complete games (two of which were shutouts), and 25 strikeouts. He’s become a true workhorse, leading the team with innings pitched. His 17 career wins at RIT tie him for the fourth most all-time at the school.

His excellence was formally recognized April 24 when he was named the Empire 8 Pitcher of the Week. Just two days earlier, he had tossed his second consecutive shutout complete game in a 12-0 routing of Utica College.

The previous shut out came against Ithaca College. Marsillo recalls this day as one of his finest moments of the season. “Ithaca has a lot of good hitters, so what I was trying to do was break up their best four hitters. I didn’t want them hitting in the same inning to prevent as much damage as possible. We were only up 2-0 going into the fifth inning, and we broke out five runs in that inning. I had only given up two or three hits at that point and I knew it was definitely a possibility and I kind of wanted to shut them out at that point because they beat me three times before that,” he recalled.

“It’s my job to keep us in the game,” he said. “We came out firing, scored one run in the first inning, and I did my job to keep them off the board.”

Head Coach Rob Grow said of Marsillo, “Mike has been our best pitcher, and when he is on the mound, we feel like we can beat anyone. He has really stepped up his focus and pace on the mound and he has been tough to hit. As far as his interactions with the team Mike is very outgoing and is one of the guys that the team rallies around.”

The future remains unclear for Marsillo. He graduates this year and would like to play ball in the minor leagues, but in his words, “It is out of my hands.”

“It’s my life. It is awesome being out there, especially being the pitcher. I control the outcome of the game. It’s a good feeling when you are on top of your game. You feel like no one can hit you.”

Three Stars: Geoff Dornes

Fri, 07 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

by Dan Lovria


Michael Conti

Geoff Dornes, a fourth year Packaging Science major, picked up a bat and ball during the third grade and hasn’t looked back since. The Lancaster, Pa. native has a natural gift of excellent hand-eye coordination, as well as a supportive coach, his father, who brought him to the game. Dornes credits much of his success to his father, who has helped him through the best and worst of times. The expertise his father shared with him helped Dornes to become a better, stronger and more focused player.

“After one terrible tournament my dad looked over and told me, ‘you have two choices. You can come out next game and still be affected by last game and be just as bad, or you can come out and forget about last game, take care of business, and prove you belong,” recalled Dornes. And take care of business he did.

When Dornes arrived at RIT, he had no idea of what was in store for him. In his freshman year, Dornes won the Empire 8 Player of the Year award. Then he won it again in his sophomore year. And once more in his junior year. In 2009, Dornes led the Tigers in runs, hits, doubles and triples. He was named Empire 8 Player of the Week 10 times in his career, and holds RIT records for hits, bases, RBIs and runs scored. All of this success wouldn’t have been possible without RIT head coach Rob Grow, Dornes said. “I will always be grateful to coach Grow here at RIT for giving me the opportunity to play college baseball when a lot of people wouldn’t even give me the time of day.”

A natural born athlete, Dornes played soccer, basketball and football growing up. But what makes baseball different from other sports, Dornes believes, is that it is a game of individual battles. “Yes it’s a team sport because all nine guys on the field have to contribute,” Dornes said. “But when you’re batting, it’s just you versus the pitcher. No two pitches are exactly the same, and it requires you to learn from every game and every pitch.”

Being an outfielder, as well as a pitcher, brings on a whole new perspective to the game and a whole lot of responsibility. It takes a certain kind of athlete to be a pitcher - a calm, collected mentality and the ability to brush off each individual loss. Dornes loves the challenge of carrying the weight of the whole game on his shoulders. “I love to be in control. When you’re out there on the mound, it’s all on you. If you pitch well, it’s all you, but if you pitch poorly, it’s still all your fault.”

Dornes’ most memorable pitching moment came during the league championship game of his junior year of high school. With his team up by only one run in the last inning, he was called in to relieve their struggling pitcher. Dornes struck out the first three batters he faced to retire the side and seal the victory. To make the victory even sweeter, the win was in front of over 1,000 people and a television audience.

As his senior year winds down at RIT, Dornes said he’s just trying to soak it in and enjoy it the best he can. He hopes to begin a career in Packaging Science after he graduates, as well as continue to play baseball.

2009 Stats:

.366 batting average
134 at bats, 33 runs, 49 hits
.493 slugging percentage

As a pitcher:

4-4 record
3.10 ERA
34 strikeouts

While You Were Out: Spring Break Sports Recap

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Spring sports recap.

by Alex Rogala

For most RIT students, the spring break was a time of rest and relaxation and a chance to kick back for a week after a hectic quarter. However, for some RIT athletes, this was not the case; with spring break, the crossroads between winter and spring sports, many teams spent their week away from academics either finishing or beginning their season. For those who spent break away from the Rochester chill, here are some of the highlights.

Baseball

The RIT Baseball Team headed off to Phoenix, Ariz. for the RussMat Invitational, where they played a series of seven games.

RIT faced a rocky start in their first match, losing 14-1 against Saint John’s on March 1. Despite some fierce fighting, the team only managed four hits over the course of the game.

The following day, the Tigers faced St. John’s again in another two games, losing 5-3 in the first and 6-3 in the second. During the first game, fourth year Packaging Science major Geoff Dornes became RIT’s all-time career leader, breaking RIT alum Andy Shild’s (1999-2002) previous record of 160.

On March 3, the Tigers scored their first win of the season, a 5-1 match once again against St. John’s. Scoring all five of their runs by the top of the fourth inning, the team managed a season high of 10 hits.

After a day off, they continued this winning streak as they won their second straight game, an 8-5 win against the College of New Jersey on Friday, March 5. The game featured solid plays from the Tigers, who never trailed throughout the course of the game.

Despite this high, RIT closed out the invitational with a series of two losses to Rockford. In the first game (12-5), RIT quickly assumed the lead in the first inning, maintaining it until the third inning. During the second game, the team managed a 10-1 lead by the third inning; yet just when it seemed like a win was in reach, Rockford stepped up the pace, closing the game 20-11. The Tigers’ next game will be a home game against Keuka on March 21.

Men’s Hockey

On February 26, the RIT Men’s Hockey Team defeated Canisius 8-0. Continuing this winning streak the next night, the team wrapped up their season with a 5-4 victory against Canisius on February 27. This was the sixth consecutive game in the streak with five different members of the team scored.

Men’s Lacrosse

The RIT Men’s Lacrosse team lost their first match on March 3 against Stevenson University, 20-10. The Tigers had gained an early lead in the first quarter before Stevenson picked up the pace in the second.

Despite a 4-1 lead during the first period, the team lost once again to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Saturday, March 6. Following setbacks in the second quarter, RIT gained goals once again in the third quarter before RPI caught up during the fourth, scoring the winning goal with just one minute left.

Men’s Track and Field

The RIT Men’s Track and Field team wrapped up their season at the ECAC Championship on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7 at Smith College in Northampton, Mass. Overall, the team finished 13 out of 49, taking home first for the pole vault and fifth for the long jump.

Among the highlights was third year Michael Dempsey’s pole vault, setting a new record of 5.02 meters (16 feet, 5 inches). Due to his performance, Dempsey was invited to the 2010 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships in Greencastle, Ind.

Softball

Like their baseball counterparts, the RIT Softball Team chose a far-sunnier location for their spring break, heading to Orlando, Fla. for the Rebel Spring Games. Here, the Tigers proved themselves to be formidable opponents, winning seven of their 10 games.

Despite an initial 2-0 lead, the Tigers eventually lost their first game - a match against Alverno College on February 27 - when Alverno hit a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, followed up by four more in the fifth. Later the same day, the team faced Ferrum College, winning 4-3.

On Sunday, February 28, the team split again, winning a 8-4 victory over Walsh before a 1-0 loss against York. Although RIT loaded all the bases in the first inning, three outs went by quickly before York managed to score in the second inning.

However, the team quickly recovered from this loss, scoring two wins against Widner on Monday, March 4. On Wednesday, March 6, the team scored two more wins against Clark and Beloit, respectively 6-3 and 5-3. On Thursday, the team won against St. Benedict, before losing 6-0 against York.

The softball team’s next game will be a home game against the University of Rochester on March 25.

Women’s Hockey

The team scored a 5-0 win against SUNY Potsdam on March 27, the ninth in a streak. RIT scored three times in the first 8:40 of the game. The first round of the ECAC West Tournament, this is RIT’s first playoff as a member of ECAC West.

On March 6, the Lady Tigers traveled to Elmira for a 2-1 loss that ultimately ended their nine-game winning streak. Elmira scored early into the game, leaving RIT trailing until the third period, when third year Hospitality major Sarah Dagg scored RIT’s lone goal. Eventually, Elmira scored a second goal 5:10 into overtime, ending the match.

Women’s Lacrosse

In their first match, the Women’s Lacrosse team obliterated North Carolina Wesleyan in a 22-1 win on March 2. Throughout the groundbreaking game, the team shattered seven single-game records: goals, points, assists, fewest goals allowed, fewest shots allowed, fewest shots allowed in a half, and most goals scored in one half. Fifteen different players scored at least one point, with a strong defense that only allowed a single goal during the second half.

The next day, on March 3, the team earned a 19-13 win against Guilford. A fiercely played game, RIT managed 11 goals in the first half and outshot Guilford 47-23.

Women’s Track and Field

The RIT Women’s Track and Field team also spent the weekend before break at the ECAC Championship at Smith College. RIT finished 33rd out of 42 teams at the meet, acquiring five points.

Due to her performance in the championship, second year Jennifer Adams was selected to represent RIT at the 2010 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships in Greencastle, Ind.

Spring Sports Preview

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

What do the Tigers have in store this quarter

by Sam McCord

Unfortunately, the winter sporting season (with the exception of track and field) has come to a close. I know, I know. It hurts, and the fact that blistery winter days haven’t passed with the athletics makes us all the more pissed off. And what are we to do as an incredibly furious student body? Go to athletic events, that’s what! Indignant? Well you should be. Despite attending being a privilege, huddling en masse with painted letters on your chest (ladies) only serves to warm your fellow tiger and just might scare away Jack Frost, Father Winter or whatever fictional figure you personally identify with nipple-raising cold. Sitting in your room eating yet another delicious Quiznos sub would simply squander all the blood, sweat and tears staining those orange jerseys, especially when they’ve been practicing and competing all throughout spring break while you were drinking in Cancun. We here at the Reporter hope that being insulted repeatedly in the last few sentences will be motivation enough to come out and support some athletics. That’s all we ask.

Men’s Baseball

Despite finishing strong last season, the RIT baseball team unfortunately begins this year with a rough blow to their roster. This season marks their first without All-Region Team member Jeremy Tosh, but head coach Rob Grow, who’s heading into his 18th season here at the Brick City, doesn’t have too much else to complain about. Seven of his all-Empire 8 honored players are returning to fight another season for him.

Last season, baseball went 19-20 overall, with an impressive five consecutive wins. According to the preseason Empire 8 Coaches Poll, the Tigers are predicted to snag third behind Ithaca and St. John Fisher. Not too shabby.

Women’s Softball

Tiger Softball has been going through quite a bit of a transition - not only because of a few graduating seniors, but also because of new head coach Rebecca Stryker (or as old RIT fogies remember her, Becky May). A 2003 graduate and superstar, she became the assistant coach the season after she received her diploma. She then took a walk on the wild side to Nazareth and coached there. Now, she’s back and trying to pull a young team together after a 19-18 season last year.

Third years and co-captains Carlissa Cole and Emily McPherson, a Fine Art Photography Major and Electrical Engineering major, respectively, hope to help motivate the young’uns in order to show up the coaches poll, which ranked them 5th despite the fact that they came in fourth last season.

Men’s Crew

Men’s Crew has a lot to look forward to, having whet their appetites at a few regattas earlier in the year. The junior varsity squad had consistent strong showings at each event, but there’s still a great deal of competition to get in the Varsity 8, with nine incoming freshmen vying for a spot.

Varsity took second at the Hobart William Smith Invitational, fourth at the Head of the Genesee Regatta, 18th of 38 at the Head of the Charles Regatta, and 75 percent of their boats finished in the top ten at the Head of the Fish. Their first competition in the New Year is on March 27 against St. Lawrence at the Genesee River.

Women’s Crew

The Women have a newly rededicated boathouse to call their own, renamed from the RIT boathouse to the Gosnell Boathouse. The women have had just as many opportunities to compete as the men in the fall, but they have stepped it up to compete against skilled opponents like graceful, yet fearsome herons.

RIT placed in the top three at the Hobart William Smith Invitational, ninth overall at the Head of the Genesee Regatta, and 10th out of 17 at the Head of the Fish Regatta. You can see them take on St. Lawrence on the March 27 at the Genesee River.

Men’s Lacrosse

Men’s Lacrosse is coming into this season as an entirely new entity and only time will tell if they can best their previous season’s record of 10-6. With a new coach and only four returning players, they’ve got their work cut out for them if they’re going to pull it together in a timely manner.

Coach Jake Coon coached at University of Massachussetts Amherst for five years and led them to not only a Final Four, but an NCAA Division I Tournament appearance. He’s facing an extremely talented group of newcomers in the midst of a position feeding frenzy; and with the Empire 8 coaches’ poll putting them at fifth in the division, this team has everything to prove.

Women’s Lacrosse

Lady’s Lax doesn’t have nearly as much to deal with in terms of newcomers and change, but they do have some large shoes to fill: their own. Last season, they went 13-5, a best in the history of the RIT program. Since then, Assistant Coach Melissa Pearsall won an award for outstanding coaching, and six out of eight top scorers from last season decided to return to the team and further their intimidating reputation.

According to the recent Empire 8 coaches poll, the Tigers are expected to land fourth in the division, but the whole team is planning ahead and expecting to use the out-of-conference play to bolster their Empire 8 performance through good ol’ fashioned toil. With opponents like University of Rochester, SUNY Geneseo and SUNY Brockport, the ladies have got quite a gauntlet ahead of them.

Men’s Tennis

The men’s tennis team looks to continue their streak of excellence in their 2010 season under fresh leadership. Women’s tennis coach Krystina Bachner played Division I at Long Island University and is taking over for Frank Solome while continuing to coach the women’s team.

Last season, they finished their last season with an incredible 9-4 tally, and an even more impressive 6-2 conference record. The smart money to wreck some face in the NCAA tourney is on fourth year Packaging Science major, John Albers, who was a major stand out last season.

RIT Baseball Earns an Upset

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Overcoming a nationally ranked team.

by Carolyn Dunne


Ithaca&039;s P.J. Niedzwiecki tips a ball into the dirt and later strikes out in Saturday, March 28&039;s game against Ithaca College. Ithaca wins the game 6-1.
Evan Witek

As the ball flew over the fence in the bottom of the 7th inning amid wild cheers from the crowd, an upset was in sight. With that home run from captain and fourth year Electrical Engineering major Jeremy Tosh and three quick outs in the field, the RIT men’s baseball team garnered a hard-fought win against a nationally ranked team.

On Saturday, the team finished up a four-game weekend series at home against Ithaca College, which had resulted in two close losses in extra innings the day before. Ranked 12th in the nation, Ithaca won the first game of the second day 6-1, making a 4-0 run against RIT within reach. Although that last game began sluggishly for RIT, their bats came alive in the fourth inning and began threatening the opposing team’s weekend sweep.

Pulling together to remain focused and unified, executing the win was no problem for the baseball team. “We all know each other,” said fourth year captain and Packaging Science major Geoff Dornes. He noted that the camaraderie of the team was a great strength, particularly when taking the relative youth of the program’s players into account. Tosh agreed, adding that work ethic and a positive attitude have served the team well. This closeness is recognized and encouraged by Head Coach Rob Grow: “It’s difficult to be cohesive when you’re losing. Everyone tends to get a little bit selfish. That really hasn’t been the case this season.”

The frustrating record of four wins and twelve losses is attributed to a few key weaknesses the players are working to correct. “We’re repeating mistakes, taking the lead and then giving up runs,” Coach Grow said, also acknowledging the number of close games the team has let slip through their fingers. The team captains unanimously agreed that Grow’s focus on fundamentals of fielding and hitting has proven invaluable to develop mental toughness as a team and prevent future losses. Fourth year captain and Accounting major Rory Camardello also felt that the team does not yet have a player the team can count on to hit double and triples: “We need more singles and bunts to add up runs.” Camardello was quick to add that volunteer assistant coach Nick Carrier is working to improve the team’s hitting.


RIT Second Baseman Jeffrey Creagh gets one of only three hits in the game for RIT on Saturday, March 28. RIT loses the game 6-1 against Ithaca College.
Evan Witek

Specific players that have made major contributions to the team’s success were apparent. “Camardello is probably the best shortstop in the region, a very consistent player and Dornes is really performing despite working his way back from a minor injury.” Coach Grow’s observations also included first year pitcher and Biomedical Science major Brad Wright, who earned his first collegiate game save over spring break in Arizona: “He was a little nervous, but he pitched well.” Tosh, RIT’s Athlete of the Week for March 16, mentioned second year Packaging Science major Dave Kernan as another player who has really come along to support the team goals, with a batting average over .300 and a number of home runs to his credit in addition to his confidence behind the plate as a catcher.

”We’ve been hitting the ball hard, our record doesn’t necessarily match our talent,” Tosh stressed. And RIT certainly has talent that will come to light in the very near future. As Camardello remarked: “Watch out — RIT baseball is going to hit a winning streak!”

Red Wings

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

American fun with a Rochester flair.

by Emily Bogle


Robert Modzelewski

As spring approaches, the cracks of baseball bats will be heard at Frontier Field as the Rochester Red Wings begin their 2009 season. Since 2003, the Red Wings are the Triple-A farm team for the Minnesota Twins, one step away from the Major Leagues. Many generations have grown up with the team since it has spent over a century in the area, undergoing several team names, affiliations and stadium changes. The Red Wings have also had an impressive list of previous players including Cal Ripken Jr. and Sr., Mike Mussina and Curt Schilling.

The Rochester Red Wings’ opening day is Saturday, April 11 against the Syracuse Chiefs. Many avid fans look forward to the first home game of the season to see their favorite players, savor the delicious food and witness the simple pleasure of baseball. Season ticket holder and Imaging Science professor Nanette Salvaggio enjoys the strong community aspect of Red Wings baseball. “You get to see the players start out and then move up to the big leagues. They become a part of your family.” She mentioned that there is always something going on at home games, whether the players are promoting breast cancer awareness by sporting pink jerseys, allowing fathers and their children to play catch on the field for Fathers’ Day, or launching fireworks on a Friday night.

Tickets for Red Wings games range from 6.50 to 10.50, which makes it an affordable alternative to a Major League game. There is also a wide range of cuisine available at the park, including the typical hotdog, the classic Rochester garbage plate, barbeque, black angus steak and even gourmet crepes from Simply Crepes. The macaroni and cheese is also top notch, according to Salvaggio. While indulging in the variety of food, one is likely to meet the Red Wings mascots, Spikes and Mittsy, as they greet fans throughout the stadium. Salvaggio remarked that one of her favorite parts of being a season ticket holder is spending warm nights with her family while watching the strategic game of baseball.

For the price of a movie ticket, one can partake in an evening of classic, American fun with a Rochester flair. Red Wings games give a chance for people from the area to support the team and community. Officer Antony DiPonzio, who was shot while on duty on January 31, will throw the opening pitch on April 11. It is as common to have a 3rd grade band perform the national anthem, as it is to hear a renowned singer.

This season, the Rochester Red Wings will be featured in a PBS series called Minor League, which will be filmed throughout the summer. The show, which will air in February 2010, will give fans another perspective on the Triple-A team and baseball in general. Going to a Red Wings game is a good excuse to spend some time outdoors sharing the hope that the team will be victorious.

To order tickets or learn more about the team, go to http://redwingsbaseball.com

Spring Sports Review

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

The teams that await competition this quarter.

by Carolyn Dunne


Sarah Losen and Randalle Smaldone play during a training session of the RIT Women’s Lacrosse team at the Student Life Center courts on February 21, 2009.
Oscar Durand

As the snow begins to melt and our thoughts turn reluctantly from glowing spring break memories to the quarter that arguably contains the most distraction, we must keep in mind the hard work RIT athletes put into representing our institution. Sure, you might not particularly like a specific sport, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t support fellow students. I’m not particularly science-minded, but I’ve attended my fair share of Undergraduate Symposiums at the College of Science so that I may fully appreciate the expertise and hard work of other students with which I attend this university. What makes outdoor sports even more fun to go to is the fact that you can do what every college student loves to do most: Yell a lot and eat until nausea sets in.

Men’s Lacrosse

This team always has its fair share of talent, and the 2009 season will be no exception. The high expectations set forth by head coach Gene Peluso and the team are the product of the dedication, talent and determination of the program to successfully become conference, and eventually national, champions. With aggressive off-season training under their belts, these athletes are poised to rise to the top of conference play and push each other to new heights of excellence. In the midst of such a talented conference, the versatility and depth of the roster will be a great asset when looking to enjoy a successful season in the Empire 8. The team’s current record is 2-0, with wins over Adelphi University (ranked fifth nationally in Division II) and York College.

Women’s Lacrosse

With hard-nosed and scrappy competition, this team can definitely prove itself to be a major player in the Empire 8 this season. Several upperclassmen will continue to be major contributors to the team’s success, including two fourth year co-captains, Photojournalism major Kelsey Evans and Packaging Science major Jerica Young. Evans in particular will continue to be a large influence on the team’s success in her capacity as goaltender, a role in which her superb performance on the field has earned her Empire 8 Goaltender of the Year for two years running and a berth on the 2008 Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) All-Empire Region second team. So far the team has worked well together, beating Virginia Wesleyan College 7 to 3 and Susquehanna University 10 to 5 and earning a 2-0 record.

Baseball

Already projected to earn the Empire 8 league title according to a recent coaches poll, this team is coming back with great balance, flexibility and depth that will be invaluable as they strive to attain this honor. Empire 8 Co-Coach of the Year and head coach Rob Grow is looking for his 300th win in his 17th season coaching at RIT, coming off of a strong 2008 season. A 24-16 record with the 2008 team shows that RIT will be a definite force in league play.

RIT traveled to Arizona over spring break and will be going to Boston in the first few weeks of the quarter to compete against Brandeis University, among other prominent programs from around the country. Most coaches seem to create a tough schedule for the first part of the season when a great amount of growth is expected of the athletes. Fans can expect cohesion and progress as the team progressively builds upon their work.

In non-league play over spring break, several underclassmen stepped up with big contributions to the team’s wins over Concordia (IL) and the effective routing of John’s University. Second year Business Finance major Jeff Creagh went .500, or 7 for 14, over the course of the Arizona tournament, while second year Mechanical Engineering major Mike Marsillo picked up a win as pitcher. Upperclassmen continue to contribute, notably two-time Empire 8 Player of the Year Geoff Dornes, a co-captain and third year Packaging Science major.


Kim Hunt and Megan Henriksen face off.
Oscar Durand

Softball

With an incoming class of eleven talented rookie players, this team is looking at an opportunity to not only to keep building the program, but also prove to be tough competition this season. With few players possessing prior RIT softball experience, Coach Mamon has a number of versatile athletes hungry for the chance to prove themselves.

Among those players returning to the Tigers’ field is the 2008 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, second year Electrical Engineering major and co-captain Emily McPherson, along with fellow captain Carlissa Cole, a second year Imaging and Photographic Technology major. Monroe Community College transfer and third year Criminal Justice major Jessica French will also be expected to provide experience and leadership for the team as a pitcher for the MCC softball team, which has won the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national title for the past two seasons.

Winning their season opener in a spring break tournament in Florida with a shutout score, the team stayed competitive with the other teams they played throughout the break, with several games coming down to a single run. As the team continues to become acclimated to each other and the speed of collegiate competition, we will probably see scores begin to favor the Tigers. With a current record of 3-7, this season and coming years will be the making of a dynasty.

Crew

RIT’s crew team always seems to compete at a world-class level, and this year will be no exception thanks to the large pool of talent Coach Jim Bodenstedt has to pull from. Competing at the Genesee River on March 28, the team looks to continue their success from the fall, including a first place finish at the Head of the Genesee Regatta at home and a strong showing at the Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston.

Outdoor Track and Field

Because virtually all of the athletes from the indoor track season are continuing on to outdoor track (with a few additions from other winter sports), this season is shaping up to be even more exciting than last year. With the support of head coach Dave Warth and staff, All-American fourth year Mechanical Engineering major Michael Hardbarger is looking to go to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament with a mile under four minutes, an accomplishment few people ever attain. Other athletes are also looking to attain the seemingly impossible as they work ever harder to qualify for the national championship this season, including Jonathan Sealander, a third year Biomedical Sciences major.

Track and field is in a unique position in comparison to the other spring sports for the simple fact that some athletes have been preparing for outdoor track since cross country. Coach Warth and his staff have worked together with athletes to ensure that overexertion doesn’t cut an athlete’s season short, but this risk is the only foreseeable event that can prevent a number of RIT athletes from earning the right to compete at the national level.

The next time you’re walking back to your dorm and hear the crack of a bat, wander over to the baseball or softball field to enjoy both the sun and a small break from stressing about your work. Looking for an outdoor activity in between classes? Why not check out the men’s and women’s lacrosse games and see if any of their matches could potentially be a great opportunity to have a mini-picnic. Need a reason to get off campus and tailgate? The crew team competes at nearby Genesee Park, which has great trails to explore and even more barbecue grills to use.

George Breaks Three Records as Tigers Crush Keuka

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

by Jen Loomis

Matt George, fourth year Applied Statistics major and second baseman for RIT’s baseball team, broke three records at a double header against Keuka, Tuesday, April 29. The Tigers performed well as a team in this series, besting Keuka 13-1 in the first game and 14-3 in the second.

In particular, George stood out at this match-up. He stole his 43rd career base in the second game, breaking a school record of 42 stolen bases set by Troy McBride in 1994. George stole a total of three bases during the double-header against Keuka, which brings his total for this season up to 22, a new personal record. George also scored five runs in the series, which brings his season total up to 41 runs. This also broke a previous school record.

The instant one looks at the stats, George’s uncanny ability to steal bases is apparent. Again, George has a total of 22 for the season; the rest of his team combined, by comparison, has 33. On how he prepares for base stealing, George said, “The hardest part about stealing a base is getting a good jump and having a quick first step. I practice a lot on having a quick reaction to the pitcher, so as soon as he lifts his leg, I’m making my first step. I guess I’ve always been one of the faster guys on the team, but a big part of being able to steal bases is instinct.”

When asked how he felt about his accomplishment, George remarked, “It’s hard to describe. I had the goal of breaking each of those records at the beginning of the year, but never expected it all to happen at the same time. It’s just a great experience that I’ll never forget.”

Spring Season Re-Cap

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

by Jen Loomis

Here’s a quick look at what our teams have been up to this quarter. There’s no possible way to boil down an entire season into a table, but here’s the absolute bare-bones lowdown on the 2007-2008 spring sports schedule. Go Tigers!

Softball

16-20

4/17 - The Lady Tigers beat D’Youville 13-7 and 4-0 in a two game series, bringing them above .500 for the first time in 2008.

This win gave them their longest winning streak this year, 6-0.

4/21 - Sophomore Emily McPherson is named Empire 8 Player of the Week.

Baseball

18-12

4/20 - Two huge wins against Utica. The Tigers scored a whopping 36 runs in this two-game series.

4/21 - Sophomore pitcher/outfielder Geoff Dornes named Empire 8 Player of the Week. A week later, he was also named pitcher of the week.

4/29 - Two blowout games against Keuka, and second baseman Matt George scores big.

Women’s Lacrosse

6-8

3/7 - The Tigers start their season strong with a 9-8 win over Denison.

3/18 - Junior Kelsey Evans is named Empire 8 Goalkeeper of the Week.

4/13 - The Lady Tigers emerge from a five game losing streak to best Elmira 12-10.

Men’s Lacrosse

10-7

3/29 - The Tigers come from behind in overtime to win against a previously undefeated Ithaca team.

3/31 - Senior midfielder Dan Rago is named Empire 8 Lacrosse Player of the Week.

4/21 - Senior Brad Conlon is named Empire 8 Goalie of the Week. Rago earns his second Empire 8 Player of the Week shout-out for the season.

4/25 - The Tigers beat back Stevens 9-6 in the semi-finals.

Women’s Track

N/A

44/13 - Senior Adrienne Gagnier breaks the school 1500-meter record with a time of 4:43.08.

44/19 - Women’s team places second out of 14 teams at the Empire 8 Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

44/19 - Sophomore Jamie Morey was named Empire 8 Athlete of the Week.

Men’s Track

N/A

3/3 - Junior Mike Hardbarger is named Empire 8 Track and Field Athlete of the Week for the thi rd straight week.

4/19 - Men’s team place s second out of five teams at the Empire 8 Outdo or Track and Field Championships

Men’s Tennis

8-5

4/11 - The Tigers blank Suny Oswego 9-0. This is their first major victory of the season.

4/21 - Sophomore John Traver is named Empire 8 Tennis Player of the Week.

4/30 - Four RIT Tennis players earn All-Empire 8 Honors.

Getting Some Experience

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Baseball takes some knocks, keeps on ticking.

by Rachel Hart


A snow day forces the RIT mens baseball team to practice inside at Clark Gym on Friday, March 28th.
Jeff Porter

This spring has been unaccommodating to RIT’s baseball team. All regular season games were cancelled thus far, including a recent postponed doubleheader against St. John Fisher. Undeterred, the team eagerly continues to prepare for their first season game. Senior second baseman and co-captain Matt George described the pre-season practice schedule: “We’ve been practicing inside since January with 6a.m. practices. Since the snow melted and it warmed up a little bit, we’ve been able to go outside and take ground balls and fly balls on the turf field to get used to being outside.”

The team’s greatest weakness this year will not be a lack of skills or agility, but their lack of experience. “We are young,” stated senior pitcher and co-captain Paul Schoenck. “Sometimes our mental focus can be off, and our pitching and defense need to step up.”

Last year, the team lost some pivotal players, including pitchers Dylan Rees and Pat Walters. “Between the two of them, they accounted for more than half of our wins,” said Ryan Tryt, a senior catcher. “Baseball is a funny game in that it is a series of individual battles, successes, and failures.”

Concerning the loss of Rees and Walters, George remains unworried. “Our lack of experience causes us to make some mental mistakes here and there, but I’m confident that we’ll improve and mature as the season moves along.”

So who will step up to prove themselves this year? For one, sophomore right fielder and pitcher Geoff Dornes is expected to be a stand-out player this season after such a successful freshman year. His accolades include Empire 8 rookie of the year, RACA player of the year, and third best batting average last year in Division III. “He is a great kid with amazing skill and talent, and an even better work ethic,” described Tryt.

Aside from their technical skills, however, the team’s greatest weakness could prove to be its most powerful strength; with new players come passion, excitement, and a new and bright outlook to the game. With a team roster of 25, including 12 freshmen, there is opportunity for a number of players to prove themselves right away. Mike Marsillo, pitcher; Tom Piscitell, pitcher; Dave Kernan, catcher; and John Robertson, an outfielder; are expected to have a great showing as the season starts up. “The freshman class is trying to add to the already great team they had last year and help out any way we can,” said Marsillo, “All of the players are capable of being great players and when it all comes together, I think our team will be one of the top teams.”

Hitting is expected to be among the team’s key strengths. “We have some great offensive power,” said Schoenck. According to George, the team is in for a good season. “If our young guys continue to improve and even surpass some expectations, then we’re going to win a lot of games this year.”