2008 Woodie Awards
Baseball looks to contend for NEC crown
John Merry
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: Sports
Whether he's dealing with a team full of youth, or a group of veterans, Quinnipiac baseball head coach Dan "Skip" Gooley's goals never change. Gooley knows his team graduated its three top hitters, including NEC Player of the Year Tim Binkoski, but he's not worried. He has been around long enough to know that his veteran pitching staff and young talent at the plate makes Quinnipiac armed and dangerous for another NEC championship.
The Quinnipiac baseball team enjoyed much success last year, toting a 29-18-1 overall record and receiving the top seed in the 2007 NEC Baseball Tournament as Conference co-champions. But this is not the team that boasted a 21-7 in-conference record last year. "We now have six or seven guys who have never been on the field for a daily basis," Gooley said. "It's a brand new ball club."
The Bobcats look to replace Binkoski, whose .424 batting average contributed to their league-best .305 team batting average. But the Player of the Year isn't the only big bat that will be missed. All-NEC selections Ryan Rizzo, Wilson Matos, and Randy Gress graduated, as well as starting pitcher Pat Egan.
"The guys we lost all graduated which is the prime reason for coming to a university," Gooley said, joking that "the country club has got to come to an end sometime."
Despite losing such key contributors, Quinnipiac was picked to finish second behind Monmouth University in the NEC Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll. Gooley was humbled by the selection, but realizes the team must prove itself on the field. "I think it comes out of a line of respect that the coach's extended to us," he said. "I'm very grateful and appreciate it very much, but you have to earn it."
While Quinnipiac is picked to be a top-team in the NEC, the conference is loaded with talented ball clubs. Monmouth returns with a top-notch pitching rotation still in-tact. NEC Pitcher of the Year Brad Brach, NEC Rookie of the Year Ryan Buch, and lights-out closer Justin Esposito dominated hitters last year. According to Gooley, it's not just Monmouth that you have to look out for, it's every team. "Teams like Mount St. Mary's, Sacred Heart, Farleigh Dickinson, and Long Island University are much improved ball clubs," Gooley said.
The Quinnipiac baseball team enjoyed much success last year, toting a 29-18-1 overall record and receiving the top seed in the 2007 NEC Baseball Tournament as Conference co-champions. But this is not the team that boasted a 21-7 in-conference record last year. "We now have six or seven guys who have never been on the field for a daily basis," Gooley said. "It's a brand new ball club."
The Bobcats look to replace Binkoski, whose .424 batting average contributed to their league-best .305 team batting average. But the Player of the Year isn't the only big bat that will be missed. All-NEC selections Ryan Rizzo, Wilson Matos, and Randy Gress graduated, as well as starting pitcher Pat Egan.
"The guys we lost all graduated which is the prime reason for coming to a university," Gooley said, joking that "the country club has got to come to an end sometime."
Despite losing such key contributors, Quinnipiac was picked to finish second behind Monmouth University in the NEC Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll. Gooley was humbled by the selection, but realizes the team must prove itself on the field. "I think it comes out of a line of respect that the coach's extended to us," he said. "I'm very grateful and appreciate it very much, but you have to earn it."
While Quinnipiac is picked to be a top-team in the NEC, the conference is loaded with talented ball clubs. Monmouth returns with a top-notch pitching rotation still in-tact. NEC Pitcher of the Year Brad Brach, NEC Rookie of the Year Ryan Buch, and lights-out closer Justin Esposito dominated hitters last year. According to Gooley, it's not just Monmouth that you have to look out for, it's every team. "Teams like Mount St. Mary's, Sacred Heart, Farleigh Dickinson, and Long Island University are much improved ball clubs," Gooley said.
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