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LEHMAN BASEBALL TEAM READY TO BATTLE DOLPHINS IN CUNYAC QUARTERS
May 07, 2008
Press Release posted by Lehman Permalink
The Lehman College baseball team heads into the 2008 CUNYAC Baseball Tournament with high expectations. After finishing the regular season with 18 victories, including a mark of 9-6 in conference play, the Lightning will be aiming to capture the program’s first title since 1995. Lehman’s successful season starts at the top with Head Coach John Quirk who worked diligently in the off-season to construct a talented and hungry roster by adding solid recruits and bringing back impact players from the previous season.
“This is a great group of kids,” Coach Quirk said. “They are all motivated to do well, and they leave everything out on the field game in and game out. The special thing about this team is that everybody gets along and is focused on the common goal of winning a conference championship. Still, in order to climb to the top of the mountain and win this conference, we’re going to have to play smart and minimize our mistakes.”
Lehman will face the No. 1 seeded Dolphins of the College of Staten Island in the opening game of the 2008 CUNYAC Baseball Tournament on Thursday afternoon at the CSI Baseball Complex, with game-time scheduled for 4:00pm. The Lightning finished 9-15 a season ago, including a mark of 6-12 in CUNY play, as the team missed the playoffs four the fourth consecutive season. Things have changed drastically over the last 12 months, as the Lightning doubled their win total in 2008, winning 18 games while also holding their own in games against conference foes. Lehman’s success starts with the consistency of leadoff hitter, and senior, Jhonny Reyes.
In his final season with the Lightning, Reyes paced his squad with team-highs in batting average (.484), hits (62), total-bases (84), runs scored (52), walks (18), games played (32), and stolen bases (40). His ability to get on base and create havoc for opposing pitchers was clearly evident in the Lightning’s run back to the CUNY playoffs.
Also contributing offensively were seniors Andrew Rosario, Luis Alicea, and Jose Garrido. Rosario posted a batting average of .336 while recording 40 hits, 11 doubles, and 28 RBI’s. Garrido posted the third-highest team batting average, hitting .368 while recording 28 hits, walking 20 times and stealing seven bases, and Alicea, who protected Reyes in the order, played in all 32 of Lehman’s contests, putting forth an average of .325 while recording 41 hits and walking 11 times.
Sophomore Amadoernesto Guzman also put together a terrific year for his squad, as he hit .337 (second-best on the team) while recording a team-high 32 RBI’s. He also showed patience at the plate, walking 12 times.
First-year standout Gilbert Garcia showed promise and provided power for the Lightning this season, as he played in 32 games and hit .338 with 11 doubles, three triples, and two homeruns. He also recorded 28 RBI’s and tallied 68 total bases.
It was no secret that the Lightning could score runs, as the team averaged 7.8 runs per contest. The consistency on the mound, however, was also evident, and the contributions started with junior Emmanuel Vera who established himself as the team’s stopper in 2008, as he recorded an overall record of 6-3 with a 5.77 ERA. In 11 appearances and seven stars, Vera walked only 12 batters while striking out 54. Opponents hit .271 off of the poised right-hander.
Steve Rodriguez and Adam Kolonoski also made contributions to the team on the mound. Rodriguez, known by his coaches and teammates as a workhorse, started seven games and posted a 4-2 record with a 5.86 ERA. Kolonoski struggled in the early part of the year before turning it on late, and finished the regular season with a 2-3 mark and a 7.36 ERA. Still, his late season contributions helped an injury-riddled pitching staff get some much-needed rest.
Garcia, in addition to his production at the dish, also came up big on the mound, posting a 3-1 record in eight appearances. He walked 20 batters while striking out 42 in 35.2 innings pitched. His versatility as a player showed throughout the season.
Lehman’s first-round opponent, the College of Staten Island, posted an 11-5 CUNYAC record during the regular season. The Lightning know very well CSI’s history in the tourney, as the Dolphins have captured four of the past five conference crowns, with John Jay taking the title last season. Staten Island captured two out of three from Lehman in the regular season, but the Lightning has had success at the CSI Baseball Complex, winning this season’s lone meeting there, 11-4.
As the CUNYAC Tournament approaches this Thursday’s CUNYAC Tournament opener, one thing is for certain: The team will be ready to leave everything they have on the field. Lehman hopes its visit to Staten Island lasts three days and ends with success.
“This is a great group of kids,” Coach Quirk said. “They are all motivated to do well, and they leave everything out on the field game in and game out. The special thing about this team is that everybody gets along and is focused on the common goal of winning a conference championship. Still, in order to climb to the top of the mountain and win this conference, we’re going to have to play smart and minimize our mistakes.”
Lehman will face the No. 1 seeded Dolphins of the College of Staten Island in the opening game of the 2008 CUNYAC Baseball Tournament on Thursday afternoon at the CSI Baseball Complex, with game-time scheduled for 4:00pm. The Lightning finished 9-15 a season ago, including a mark of 6-12 in CUNY play, as the team missed the playoffs four the fourth consecutive season. Things have changed drastically over the last 12 months, as the Lightning doubled their win total in 2008, winning 18 games while also holding their own in games against conference foes. Lehman’s success starts with the consistency of leadoff hitter, and senior, Jhonny Reyes.
In his final season with the Lightning, Reyes paced his squad with team-highs in batting average (.484), hits (62), total-bases (84), runs scored (52), walks (18), games played (32), and stolen bases (40). His ability to get on base and create havoc for opposing pitchers was clearly evident in the Lightning’s run back to the CUNY playoffs.
Also contributing offensively were seniors Andrew Rosario, Luis Alicea, and Jose Garrido. Rosario posted a batting average of .336 while recording 40 hits, 11 doubles, and 28 RBI’s. Garrido posted the third-highest team batting average, hitting .368 while recording 28 hits, walking 20 times and stealing seven bases, and Alicea, who protected Reyes in the order, played in all 32 of Lehman’s contests, putting forth an average of .325 while recording 41 hits and walking 11 times.
Sophomore Amadoernesto Guzman also put together a terrific year for his squad, as he hit .337 (second-best on the team) while recording a team-high 32 RBI’s. He also showed patience at the plate, walking 12 times.
First-year standout Gilbert Garcia showed promise and provided power for the Lightning this season, as he played in 32 games and hit .338 with 11 doubles, three triples, and two homeruns. He also recorded 28 RBI’s and tallied 68 total bases.
It was no secret that the Lightning could score runs, as the team averaged 7.8 runs per contest. The consistency on the mound, however, was also evident, and the contributions started with junior Emmanuel Vera who established himself as the team’s stopper in 2008, as he recorded an overall record of 6-3 with a 5.77 ERA. In 11 appearances and seven stars, Vera walked only 12 batters while striking out 54. Opponents hit .271 off of the poised right-hander.
Steve Rodriguez and Adam Kolonoski also made contributions to the team on the mound. Rodriguez, known by his coaches and teammates as a workhorse, started seven games and posted a 4-2 record with a 5.86 ERA. Kolonoski struggled in the early part of the year before turning it on late, and finished the regular season with a 2-3 mark and a 7.36 ERA. Still, his late season contributions helped an injury-riddled pitching staff get some much-needed rest.
Garcia, in addition to his production at the dish, also came up big on the mound, posting a 3-1 record in eight appearances. He walked 20 batters while striking out 42 in 35.2 innings pitched. His versatility as a player showed throughout the season.
Lehman’s first-round opponent, the College of Staten Island, posted an 11-5 CUNYAC record during the regular season. The Lightning know very well CSI’s history in the tourney, as the Dolphins have captured four of the past five conference crowns, with John Jay taking the title last season. Staten Island captured two out of three from Lehman in the regular season, but the Lightning has had success at the CSI Baseball Complex, winning this season’s lone meeting there, 11-4.
As the CUNYAC Tournament approaches this Thursday’s CUNYAC Tournament opener, one thing is for certain: The team will be ready to leave everything they have on the field. Lehman hopes its visit to Staten Island lasts three days and ends with success.