Sparkill, N.Y. – In a preseason poll of East Coast Conference (ECC) coaches, the St. Thomas Aquinas College’s Baseball team was picked to finish in third place behind defending champion Queens College and runner-up Molloy University.

Queens earned four first place votes to top the poll with 46 points, while Molloy received three first place votes and 45 points. STAC garnered 33 points to round out the top three. The conference’s preseason awards were also announced with D'Youville's Billy Morris being named the the Preseason Player of the Year, and the Molloy's Charlie Cucchiara being tabbed the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

The Spartans posted a 23-27 record (16-8 ECC) in 2023 and advanced to the ECC Tournament as the #2 seed, before bowing out to Mercy University in an elimination game. STAC will return 26 players from last year's squad, including; Peter DeVito (OF), C.J. Cumbo (IF), Gregory DiGiaro (IF), Joseph Scamardella (IF), Will Kindl (P), Jeremiah Vega (P), Ricardo Gonzalez (P), Nick Oelcher (IF), John Dezago (P), Eric Volpi (P), Freddy Flugger (OF), Ryan Appell (IF/OF), David Potenza (OF), Bobby LeFevre (P), Kyle DeCresce (IF), Ryan Callaghan (P), Andrew Alameda (P), Alex Celeiro (OF), Justin Klayman (IF), Robert Williams (P), Michael Zeis (C), Billy Minett (C), Justin Chamorro (P), Sean Lynch (C), John Archer (P) and Orin Winslow (P).

Fifth year head coach Jon Garvey has added a mix of upperclassmen and freshman for the upcoming campaign. Brian Kumpp (OF | Warminster, Pa.), Jaden Hernandez (OF | Abington, Pa.), Cole Lindquist (RHP | Huntington, N.Y.), Ryan Hillery (IF | West Sayville, N.Y.), Isaac Pena (IF | New York, N.Y.), Jake Halloran (RHP | Wading River, N.Y.), Braden Seeber (C | Baldwinsville, N.Y.), Jalen Grant (LHP | Brooklyn, N.Y.), Colin Ross (OF | Mastic Beach, N.Y.), Anthony Holtje (RHP | Farmingdale, N.Y.), Jeremy Schelmety (RHP | Patchogue, N.Y.), Sebastian LoCurto (RHP | Commack, N.Y.), Andrew Schoelles (RHP | Bayside, N.Y.), Nicholas Walker (IF | Bellmore, N.Y.), Andrew Speranza (LHP | Poughkeepsie, N.Y.), Patrick Cagney (C | Closter, N.J.), Ben Moscatiello (OF | Coram, N.Y.), Nolan Britt (RHP | Ronkonkoma, N.Y.), Tom O'Neill (RHP | Farmingdale, N.Y.), TJ Ardese (OF | Washington Township, N.J.), Jordan Babbo (Fr. | Merrick, N.Y.), Kyle Rogers (LHP | Clifton, N.J.), Tyler Haydt (IF | Beacon, N.Y.), Carmine Scardina (IF | Farmingdale, N.Y.), Derek Torres (OF | Massapequa, N.Y.), Anthony Mifsud (RHP | Carle Place, N.Y.), Lorent Hoti (LHP | New York, N.Y.), Jason Basilicata (RHP | Bayville, N.J.) and Jack Dwyer (IF/OF | Smithfield, R.I.) make up the new faces who will bring their skills and talents to Sparkill for the new season.

St. Thomas Aquinas will battle defending ECC Champs Queens College, along with Molloy University, D'Youville University, Mercy University, the College of Staten Island and Lincoln University for the right to be called ECC Baseball Champion. The teams will play each other in a four-game series during the regular season.

St. Thomas Aquinas College opens its 2024 season in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on Friday, February 23 against Bentley University. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.

2024 ECC Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Queens
46 points (4 first-place votes)
34-19 (13-9 ECC) in 2023

2. Molloy
45 points (3 first-place votes)
35-17 (19-5 ECC) in 2023

3. St. Thomas Aquinas
33 points
23-27 (16-8 ECC) in 2023

4. D'Youville
28 points
21-26 (10-12 ECC) in 2023

5. Mercy
22 points
16-33 (10-14 ECC) in 2023

6. Staten Island
14 points
17-26 (9-15 ECC) in 2023

7. Lincoln
8 points
12-35-1 (5-19 ECC) in 2023

Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Charlie Cucchiara, Gr., Molloy

Preseason Player of the Year
Billy Morris, So., IF, D’Youville