Baseball Predicted 5th in AMCC Preseason Poll
The Alfred State baseball team has been predicted to finish 5th in the 2021 Allegany Mountain Collegiate Conference preseason coaches' poll. The Pioneers were able to get 18 games (6-12) in prior to the COVID-19 stoppage of the 2020 season.
La Roche, who has won the past six AMCC titles, is predicted to finish first in the vote of the nine coaches of the AMCC. Penn State Behrend is predicted 2nd, Penn State Altoona 3rd, Mount Aloysius 4th, ASC 5th, Pitt Greensburg 6th, Pitt Bradford 7th, Hilbert 8th, and Medaille 9th.
The Pioneers roster features 27 returning players. Matteo Avallone (Mahopac/Bridgton Academy) leads the offense after a monster start to the 2020 season. He was 25 for 68 in 18 games. His .368 batting average was 2nd best on the team. Of his 25 hits, 12 were for extra bases. He finished the season with six doubles, a triple, five homers, and 27 RBI. His power numbers ranked him on the NCAA DIII leaderboards. Connor Pingitore (Amsterdam/Broadalbin-Perth) returns to anchor the outfield after hitting .369 (24 for 65) in 2020. Justin Lo Temple (Greece/Greece Athena) hit .320 with two homers and 9 RBI last year while Sam Dickerson hit .286 with four extra base hits and 8 RBI.
AJ Gartland will called on to lead the pitchers. He made five appearances in 2020. He was 1-0 in 21.1 inning of work. He struck out 21 batters and walked only five. The experience of returning pitchers Connor Hong (Rochester/Gates Chili), Avallone, Josh Van Bramer (Fairport), Lewis Pettit (Bolivar Richburg), and Chris Catoire (Brooklyn/Fort Hamilton) will be relied on as well.
Penn State Altoona senior shortstop Hunter Breon and Penn State Behrend senior infielder Josh Wagner have been named the 2021 AMCC Preseason Co-Players of the Year while Behrend junior pitcher Thomas Zbezinski has been named the AMCC Preseason Player of the Year.
The Pioneers finished the 2019 season with a 20-21 record and played in their first ever AMCC postseason. They were the #4 seed and took on Mount Aloysius in the opening round series.
As of right now the Pioneers are scheduled to head to Houghton on Monday (3/8) for a split doubleheader to open up the 2021 season. They will take on Elmira at Noon and Houghton at 3 p.m.
