MERION STATION, Pa. – The Saint Joseph's baseball team will open its 2022 campaign at home when the Hawks host Quinnipiac for the first of a three-game weekend set on Friday.  First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon on Sunday.

 

Before the Hawks kick off the season, head coach Fritz Hamburg shared some insight into what Hawk fans can expect to see from the squad in his 14th season on Hawk Hill.

 

You were able to get back to something of a normal fall program this year; how important was it to get the guys back out there on their more customary offseason schedule?

 

FH: I think we learned a lot from the fall of 2020 because we had guys that were in and out of quarantine and isolation, and so we ended up actually starting the fall later, and we did a lot of small groups and individual instructional work, and we found that that was very beneficial for us. We stayed with that model this fall; we didn't start our fall until close to the end of September, and we wrapped up our last fall game this year the first weekend in November. It was really good because in some respects, that routine of being able to let the guys get back to school to get re-acclimated; obviously the last two years have been very different, but the delayed start gave them time to get into a rhythm in the weight room and gave us a chance to work with the new guys. 

 

I think the last two falls have been very productive and although we didn't play any outside competition this year, just like last year, we had an exciting and intense Crimson and Gray World Series, which ended up coming down to the final game. In the end, we came out of the fall feeling positive about the level of progress we made and also knowing that we really liked the schedule and format that we rolled out.

 

You return a veteran squad; how does that affect the mindset of the staff and the team coming into the season?

 

FH: Age is only a good thing if you have good leadership from within, meaning that the veterans step up and work together as well as invest themselves in bringing the new players along. This allows the younger guys to see how the process should work as well as learn how to go about their business and embrace the importance of detail.

 

There's a progression in everything we do as coaches with respect to experience. While the older guys are deeper into the process and working on more advanced approaches or intricacies of the game, the younger guys are working on getting into a zone where their abilities can play as well as watching how the older guys work.  The first part of being a good leader is being a good follower, but you have to have those guys at the top setting the right example.

 

We are optimistic with the veterans that we have, and I think we have six or seven guys that were seniors last year that chose to return and begin grad school, and some guys we have back as well just finishing classes to graduate. Between the seniors and the graduate students, we have a lot of experience.  They are physically more advanced, have a much better understanding of their daily approach, and there is just a good rhythm about how they are going about their business. 

 

With all of that experience and production returning, how do you see the lineup shaking out?

 

FH: Our Opening Day lineup will have Brandon Drapeau at first, Liam Bendo at second, Luca Trigiani at shortstop, and Nate Thomas at third. All four of those guys produced for us last year. It's great to return that experience and we are looking for that infield group to do great things.  Max Hitman and Cam Walker, both middle infielders, are ready to play as well, and they have earned time as well. It's great that we have the depth we do in those positions. Paul Kokol moved over to first and is working on his game, and then we also have Luke Zimmerman. I think Luke is probably going to focus a little bit more on the mound, but Luke is an outstanding defensive first baseman. Also backing up at third is freshman Colin Myers, and he's doing a great job. He's working hard and plays hard and is doing everything he can to push his game forward. 

 

Andrew Cossetti returns as our starting catcher. Behind him, we've got Justin Igoe, Travis Rinker, and Dean Bergmann. Andrew's leadership behind the plate is outstanding, and we've seen a big jump in that area from last year to this one. The fact that Justin, Travis, and Dean are seeing how committed Andrew is in his own development while passing along key pointers to the younger catchers is really important for their growth. Although I've been coaching catchers my entire career, there is no substitute for having the guy on the field compete at a very high level. The fact that Justin, Travis, and Dean get to see that with their own two eyes from the guy on the field is so important. And one of those three guys will emerge to grab some innings. Andrew is doing a great job leading by example and I know it will help the other guys speed up their learning curve. 

 

In the outfield, Ryan Picollo is sidelined with a season-ending injury, and that is definitely a loss because, whether it was playing right field or maybe as a DH, I think he would have been hitting in the middle of our order. I think he's got a really bright future. That leaves us with Brendan Hueth, Jake Artz, and Brett Callahan, which is still a really, really good outfield. Brendan had an outstanding season last year and we are excited that he is back in center for us. He can run, is starting to hit with power, and his experience is a big part of why our offense will be as strong as we see it. Brett Callahan is a really dynamic athlete. He too can really run, hit with power, and get good reads in the outfield. Jake Artz returns for yet another season.  He has been a major table-setter for us.  He has a great understanding of what his role is and he is completely committed to doing whatever it takes to help us win. In addition, we have Ryan Cesarini and Conlan Wall. Those two guys have emerged as the second group. Both guys can fly.  Ryan, who will be in the mix to be a left-handed DH, is going to show some power, while Conlan will move the ball around the yard and wreak havoc on the basepaths. And then there's Nick Senior who has done a really good job in the preseason and certainly has put himself in the conversation for some opportunities. Adam Fine is another guy who I think will find roles, whether it's pinch-running or pinch-hitting, as he continues to work on the defensive piece. Our outfield has as much talent and depth as any team that I've coached at SJU.  We are very excited about that.

 

Then we have Tim Cavanaugh as a DH. Tim has the ability to hit with power and we are looking to see him add to our offensive fold.

 

How does the pitching staff look as you head into the season?

 

FH: Ian McCole will start on Friday. Our starting group also has Ryan Basarab and Luke Smith, and I mentioned Luke Zimmerman. We also have Patrick Shearer, and I think Mike Picollo could factor in in some respect early on.

 

The thing with this pitching staff is that we don't have the prototypical "three starters, go seven innings" kind of group. We're not going to be able to pitch that way. I think McCole gives us the best chance to do that. Luke Smith is coming around, so he and Luke Zimmerman give us the best chance to get four or five quality innings each start. Ryan Basarab will be making his first appearance as a Hawk after being out last year, so we are excited to see him finally on the mound competing. Beyond those guys, I think we have more guys with higher velocity than we've ever had. However, the key will be commanding the strike zone and collecting outs. That's been the case in this game for as long as it's been played.  Mike Falco, Dave Owsik, Matt McShane, Noah Weber, Luke Gabrysh, Nick Embleton, Peter Gallo, Nicholas Torres, and Noah Tincher will be the guys that will be working in the middle innings, matchups, and long relief. The early part of our season will give us a great indicator of how these guys will be utilized throughout our conference season.

 

Ryan Devine, Alec Rodriguez, and Sam Davies are guys we see as back-end guys or stoppers.

 

We are excited that we have as many games as we do before we head to UMass [to begin Atlantic 10 play]. We've got plenty of really good options; it's just a matter of managing these guys in ways that will help us win as much as we can. 

 

You're opening the season at home for the first time; putting aside any weather risks associated with playing in the Northeast in February, how great will it be for the guys to open up the season on their own turf?

 

FH: Fantastic! We've never done this. I mean, just playing is exciting as it is, but to be playing at home is absolutely awesome. Every year, we are always on the road, playing in someone else's yard. But knowing that we're the home team, we're on our field in familiar surroundings, will be great. I am hoping that after last year, our Hawks fan base continues to grow. We are looking forward to them being behind us throughout the year. This group is going to be exciting to watch. 

 

You have some challenging non-conference games, including the return of the Liberty Bell Classic. How do you think that prepares the team for the Atlantic 10 slate?

 

FH: We are playing at home more, which we are excited about. We have some solid opponents early. Our goal is to experience victory as much as possible, and that alone helps in the preparation to compete in the conference.  There is no substitute for winning. I think the competitiveness of the Liberty Bell Classic is important. There isn't a player or coach who doesn't want to win to have the opportunity to play at Citizens Bank Park. Honestly, I don't think it prepares us for the A-10 slate more than any other game. If our minds and focus are on point, each ballgame matters the same. But the excitement of playing in those games is fun.

 

You're returning to a full Atlantic 10 slate this season; what will it take for the Hawks to navigate that schedule, reach the postseason, and compete for the league title?

 

FH: I feel really good about where we are as a group. They have worked hard, they have a strong connection to each other, and they enjoy being around each other. This team knows that we can be very good. Our successes come down to staying focused on us and making each day better than the last. 

 

You asked about having an older group. This group has been through a lot.  COVID, losing a tiebreaker to Saint Louis in 2019 to get into the tournament, having to win all four games against a tough La Salle team last year on the final regular season weekend to get into the tournament, to then experiencing the disappointment of not competing the way we were capable of in the tournament; that's a lot. This group can certainly say they've experienced the emotions of victory and the agony of defeat. I think all of those experiences have helped shape this team into the group they are and that's what is so exciting as we head into the 2022 opener tomorrow afternoon.