Spring 2010 Season Preview

The Mustangs are looking forward to an opportunity to represent the northeast at the NJCAA Division 1 World Series in Grand Junction, CO. Although the Monroe baseball team graduated 19 players from last year’s regional championship squad, Coach Lou Melendez feels optimistic about the talent and commitment level of the new recruitment class.

“We have put together one of the finest pitching cores since the inception of the Monroe College baseball program,” he said. “Add that to the well-rounded mix of power and speed we have in our position players and we have a lot of confidence in what we can do this season.”

The pitching staff will be led by John Apostolo, Jorge Navarette, Jorge Fermin, and Greggory Downing, all of whom have a year of experience under their belt. Freshmen Felix Lopez, Mario Valdez, Mario Avila, and Michael Corona will be key contributors on the mound, too, and they should get plenty of work. Gio Cucuzza, Anthony Zappulla, Xavier Alvarado, Jeffrey Hostos, Patrick Cassidy and Jeffrey Mercedes will work out of the bullpen.

The outfield will be very well balanced with freshmen Yancy Taveras, Alexis Acosta, and Angel Polo and sophomores Johan Trinidad, Angel Chacon, Tony Mateo and Marcos Mejia. With a blend of power and speed in the outfield Coach Melendez will have many viable options for his lineup.

The catching will be handled by second-year starter Rolando Bello, who led the team in hitting last year, and a freshman catcher from Australia, Jacob Beard, who is affectionayely known as “Batman.”

The infield has promise with its great athleticism and energy. “We will play a very aggressive defense this spring. I believe in my infield’s abilities and am truly confident in this group of young men” Coach Melendez said. A sophomore Rafael Medina will play first and sophomore Adrian Kaplan will be at third. Freshmen Felix Marte, Orlando Martinez, Keith Herring, Edgardo Padilla, and Olan Ortiz are all very versatile and will be impact players both offensively and defensively. Sophomore, Gus Maclao is expected to have a monster year offensively and will get plenty of RBI opportunities hitting out of the cleanup spot.

Since moving up to Division 1 two years ago, the Mustangs have a.651 winning percentage and they think they can top that in 2010.

For information about all of Monroe’s teams visit wwww.monroecollege.edu/athletics and become a Facebook fan of “Monroe College Athletics.”