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2019 Season Preview

05/30/2019, 6:00pm EDT
By Tigers Sports Info

The New Rochelle Tigers will begin their quest for a second WRWBL

The New Rochelle Tigers will begin their quest for a second WRWBL Championship on Sunday June 2nd.  The team has reached the WRWBL Championship Series in two of the last three seasons. 

The 2019 team will return some key veterans as well as feature some new additions and young collegiate talent from many of the local colleges in the metro area. 

 

On the mound:

The team will return Joe Mandile.  In 2018 Mandile once again lead the league in innings pitched on his way to a league leading 6 wins.  He will be joined by Nick Torres (Purchase College), Torres appeared in 7 games in 2018 picking up 1 victory while throwing 24 innings.  Newcomers, Cody Hennequin (Purchase College), Daniel Vitro (Univ. of Hawaii), Jeremy Scheetz (John Jay College) and Pat O’Connell (Albany) will help share the load.  Andrew Workman (Quinnipiac) will once again be featured out of the bullpen fresh off his 2019 Relief Pitcher of the Year Award in the MAAC Conference. 

 

At the Plate:

Lou Gigante and Paul Blejec will solidify the middle of the Tigers order.  Both players had MVP type seasons in 2018.  Gigante hit a cool .380 with 5 HR’s and 28 RBI.  Blejec equaled Gigante’s team lead with 35hits hitting .361 with 8 two baggers and 21 RBI’s.  AJ Mendoza will hold down the DH spot as the switch hitter finished 3rd on the team in hits last season with 24 and knocking in 13 runs.  Eric Helmrich (Marist) will also look to provide a power presence in the middle of the order.  Bobby Crosby (Concordia) had a productive 2018 season as he picked up 15 hits and 10 RBI’s rounding out the Tigers order. 

 

Behind the Plate:

Newcomers Jackson Hill (Purchase) and Bobby Garbulo (Sacred Heart) will be behind the plate.  Returner Dylan Laudano (John Jay College) will round out the catching duties as well as provide a potent bat in the Tigers order. 

 

Around the Diamond:

Anthony Gigante (Farmingdale) will solidify the SS position once again.  The 2016 WRWBL MVP finished with a .307 batting average on his way to recording 27 hits 8 RBI’s and 5 SB’s.  His most effective stat was his ability to put the ball in play only fanning 4 times in 88 AB’s.  Vinny Demaria (Iona)  will provide a contact bat at the top of the order and a gold glove defense in the infield.  New additions, Johnny Mariano (Manhattanville) & Tighe Jorgensen (Purchase College) will move around the infield and outfield showing their versatile skills. 

 

The Tigers are set to open up on Sunday June 2nd with a DH at Ardsley H.S.  first pitch is set for 1p against WRWBL Rivals the NYPD. 

Tag(s): Tigers