
From NYU Athletics
For the first time in 41 years, a New York University varsity
baseball team will be taking the field.
Beginning on February 13, 2015, the Violets finally return to the
diamond.
NYU last played a varsity baseball game on May 16, 1974. It
resulted in a 13-7 loss at Princeton University, the end to a
winless 0-14 season.
NYU's last varsity victory was posted on May 16, 1973, an 11-1 win
over St. John's University.
"Although we are extremely young, the goal is to compete right
away," said NYU Head Coach Doug Kimbler. "We are
all excited to finally take the field and bring back NYU
Baseball."
The 2015 Violets will be fielding one of the youngest teams in the
country with a roster that features 23 freshmen, six sophomores,
two juniors, and no seniors.
Kimbler leads the squad following two seasons as Head Coach at
NYU-Poly. He will be assisted by Aaron
Walsh, Jeff Kamrath and Ray
Kim.
Four freshmen - Chase Denison, Christian
Pellegrino, Cameron Serapilio-Frank,
and Michael Vokulich - and
sophomore CJ Picerni were named captains. Each
of them should play a significant role this season as Denison,
Serapillo-Frank and Vokulich will be relied on to lead the Violets'
starting rotation. Picerni will most likely start the majority of
games behind the plate for NYU, while Pellegrino will play first
base and see time at catcher, as well.
Matthew Millus will also join the rotation for NYU,
and Kimbler plans to use his starters out of the bullpen when
necessary. Jake Smith will be utilized as a
fifth starter and throughout the infield.
Expected to contribute out of the bullpen will be Michael
Anastasiou, Jacob Bader, Bret
Johanneson, Marshall
Kramsky, Patrick Pengeroth, Matthew
Wells, and Jarret Weiss.
Around the horn, Matthew
Miller (1B/3B), Jeremy
Wayne (2B), Jonathan Iaione (SS),
andChristian Bloom (3B) are expected to see
significant playing time.
Also vying for action around the infield are Andrew
Cilento, Sy Cohen, Billy
Griffo, and Sam Raskin.
In the outfield, Vokulich, David
Wagner, Adrian Spitz, and Alec
Stearn are expected to receive most of the starts,
while Peter Finch, Christopher
Ma and Andrew Peterson provide
depth.
Backing up Picerni behind the plate will be the duo
of Matthew Gaeta and Scott
Hilbrandt.
NYU opens its season with a three-game series against Oglethorpe
University in Atlanta, GA, on February 13-14. The Violets will then
play four more games in early March before traveling to Florida for
University Athletic Association (UAA) competition from March
8-15.
"We are playing a tough schedule, so we are going to find out a lot
about ourselves early," added Kimbler. "The UAA is arguably the
toughest conference in the country. There won't be any easy
games."
The Violets will host their home opener against Brandeis University
on March 28. NYU will play all of its home games at MCU Park in
Brooklyn, NY, which is also home to the Brooklyn Cyclones, a minor
league affiliate of the New York Mets.
"We're playing our home games in an outstanding facility which will
help create an exciting atmosphere for the return of NYU varsity
baseball," Kimber suggested. "We can't wait to get started."