The New York University baseball team begins its 2016 season with a three-game against Washington & Lee University in Lexington, VA, on Saturday and Sunday, February 27-28.
The men returned to the field in 2015 as a varsity program for the first time since its last Division I season in 1974. Despite an inexperienced roster comprised of mostly underclassmen, the Violets finished at 21-23 overall.
Second-year Head Coach
Doug Kimbler will lead the 2016 squad with the aid of assistant coaches
Aaron Walsh,
Ray Kim,
Jake Chaplin, and
Chris Bayer.
NYU continues to field one of the youngest teams in the country with over 20 sophomores returning. That group will be led by infielders
Jonathan Iaione, the only Violet to play in all 44 games last season,
Christian Bloom (.338 BA) and
Jeremy Wayne (.321 BA).
The pitching staff returns all five starters –
Chase Denison, Cameron Serapillio-Frank,
Michael Vokulich,
Jacob Bader, and Jarrett Weiss – from last season. The bullpen will be led by Second Team All-University Athletic Association (UAA) closer
Matthew Millus. The Old Tappan, NJ, native led the Violets in saves (7) and ERA (1.27).
Senior captain
CJ Picerni will again man the backstop position for the Violets and looks to contribute greatly on the offensive end, as well. The Calabasas, CA, native led NYU in hits (48), RBIs (39), triples (5), and slugging (.510). He also garnered Second Team honors from the UAA and the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).
Outfielder
Adrian Spitz will also be a major contributor for the Violets offensively. The junior hit .378 and stole 29 bases on 32 attempts. The Beverly Hills, CA, native was also named earned Second Team All-UAA.
The Violets look forward to both the offensive and defensive contributions from shortstop
Jake Smith. The sophomore spent the majority of the 2015 season sidelined by injury and looks to make his return this weekend in Virginia.
"This is the year. This is the time to create our identity," said Kimbler.
The squad returns home to MCU Park – home of the New York Mets minor league affiliate Brooklyn Cyclones – when its faces John Jay College on Tuesday, March 1.
The Violets then travel to Sanford, FL, for the UAA Championship from March 6-13.
