Feb. 20, 2008

LANCASTER, Pa. - The 2007 season saw a surprise performance by a young Diplomat squad that captured the Centennial Conference regular season title after losing nine starters to graduation from 2006. They will now look to win their third Conference Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth in four years in the 2008 campaign. They'll go about it with a strong pitching staff, award-winning defense, and an improved offensive lineup.

Leading the team into the 2008 season will be third year skipper, Bill Walkenbach. In his first season at the helm, he coached the squad to an impressive 29-11 record, winning the Centennial Conference and advancing to the NCAA tournament. In his two years with the program, F&M has a combined 31-5 Centennial Conference record, the best two-year span in F&M history. Moreover, the Diplomats registered a school-record seven All-Conference players for the second year in a row in 2007. In conference play, the Diplomats finished first overall in team defense with a .961 fielding percentage, first in team ERA with a 1.61 mark (0.85 runs better than the next best team) and first in base-stealing efficiency (47/50 - .940).

The Diplomats will have to replace the loss of key contributors in graduating seniors Jeff Rowand and Billy McGuire. Both served as co-captains during the 2007 season and provided instrumental leadership on the field for the young Diplomat team. Receiving Conference honorable mention as a pitcher, Rowand also put up impressive numbers as the everyday DH. He worked a complete game shutout and struck out 12 batters in 27 and one-thirds innings pitched. He also hit .309 (34-110) in 2007, leading the team in doubles (9) and RBIs (27) while also being named to the Spring Academic Honor Roll.

McGuire provided outstanding leadership skills behind the plate, serving as the team's starting catcher. He helped guide a Diplomat pitching staff that was dominant in 2007. In a memorable senior day performance, McGuire provided the heroics with a walk-off single to give the Diplomats the front-end victory of a doubleheader sweep over Johns Hopkins. The Diplomats will rely on a mix of incoming freshmen and experienced veterans to help replace them.

Matt Scheuing enters his third season as the pitching coach of the Diplomats and his hurlers have thrived under his tutelage. In 2007, Scheuing saw his staff lead the conference with a stingy 1.61 team ERA. Senior captain Dan Tischler was named First Team All Conference, while junior Brad Andres captured Second Team honors.

Coming into the 2008 season as the staff ace, Tischler went 5-2 in seven starts in 2007, working five complete games. He recorded a team-high five saves, bumping him up to second on the all-time career list. In Centennial Conference play, his ERA dropped to 0.23, having allowed a single earned run in 39.0 innings pitched. All five of his conference starts went the distance. Tischler was named to the league's Academic Honor Roll and was named to the ABCA All Mid-Atlantic second team.

Equally as dominant as Tischler, junior Brad Andres will be a major force in the 2008 pitching staff. Andres' fanned a team-high of 54 batters. He went the full nine in three of his nine starts working 70 innings on the season, the most in the Diplomats rotation, completing the season with a 3.73 ERA. In Conference play, his ERA plummeted to 1.43 in 44 innings worked. Five of his six wins on the season came at the expense of a Centennial opponent.

Matt Metsch will also be a mainstay in the Diplomat rotation. Metsch has been one of the most consistent performers throughout the Conference. After an outstanding freshman campaign in which he went 6-0 and was second in the nation in ERA, Metsch turned in an outstanding 2007 season. He posted a 5-3 record with a 3.07 ERA.

The Diplomats have significantly more depth on the mound this year and will feature a very strong bullpen. Senior Matt Kalos will be in the mix for a rotation spot, as he continues to be one of the smartest pitchers on the staff. Freshmen Nick Markel, Mike Duranti, and Tom Caramanico will also push to crack the rotation after strong fall campaigns. Senior Stephen Wurster will give the Diplomats a left-handed option in the late innings. Freshmen Bobby Hayes, Mike Morgenstern, Chris Miller, Justin Thacker, Christian Leary, Brendan McCreary, and Joe Cirucci will help to bolster the Diplomats bullpen and provide much-needed depth on the mound. With the closer's job open from Tischler's move into the starting rotation, F&M will look to hard-throwing sophomore Jason Anderson to close the door in the late innings.

Catching this talented Diplomat staff will be seniors Dan Farnsworth and Matt Donahue. In a backup role in 2007, Farnsworth effectively controlled the running game, throwing out 35% of base runners. A solid right-handed hitter, Farnsworth has a patient approach. Donahue has battled back from a knee injury and had a strong showing in the fall season. He is a solid left-handed stick as well.

Junior John Dutton, sophomore Nick Rolnick, and freshmen Matt Will and Russell Tischler will be in the mix for the catching duties. Dutton is a vocal leader, who continues to impress the coaching staff with his defensive abilities. Rolnick had a strong fall season, hitting for power and will also be in the mix to see time as the DH. Tischler has a promising swing from the left side and will push the upperclassmen for playing time.

Matt Will is an outstanding athlete who is versatile enough to play virtually anywhere on the field. In addition to catching, Will should see time in the infield. A pesky hitter, he continually finds a way to get on base and should be an impact player early in his career as a Diplomat.

Senior Pat O'Reilly will continue to anchor the defense as the starter at first base. The premier defensive first basemen in the conference, O'Reilly earned second team All-Conference honors in 2007. Starting all 33 games at first base, O'Reilly completed the regular season with a .313 average in league play. He finished second in the lineup in hits (35), walks (10) and stolen bases (7-8). O'Reilly will also hit in the middle of the Diplomats lineup and be called up to drive in runs. Freshmen John Brody and Brendan McCreary will provide additional depth. Brody is an outstanding hitter and will fight to be a key right-handed bat off the bench for the Diplomats. McCreary is a strong, left-handed hitter who will look for opportunities to contribute.

Senior captain Mark Minutaglio will provide steady defense at second base for the Diplomats. Coming off a season in which he was named to the second team All-Conference, Minutaglio will be featured at the top of the Diplomats lineup and be a catalyst for the offense. Minutaglio hit .305 (25-82) overall, and .356 (21-59) in league play. He completed the season ranked third in runs scored (20) and batted in (18), and was a perfect 7-for-7 on his stolen base attempts. Freshman Eric Bail will push Minutaglio for playing time. Bail is a steady defender and has a consistent approach at the plate.

Senior Tom Miller and Junior Andrew Hanson will continue to provide outstanding defense at shortstop. Both are exceptional fielders and posses the necessary leadership qualities for the position. Miller and Hanson also run the bases effectively and are important parts of the Diplomat offense.

Sophomore Jason Anderson will look to build upon his impressive freshman season as the starter at the hot corner. Anderson was sound defensively and provided a solid bat at the top of the Diplomat lineup. Sophomore Bill Murray will provide depth at third base, as well as fighting for playing time as the DH.

One of the strengths of the 2008 Diplomats will be the athleticism that is featured in the outfield. Senior Gordon Pellegrini will continue to patrol the spacious Caplin Field as the everyday centerfield. Emerging as the everyday starter midway through the 2007 season, Pellegrini led the team in hitting and was a significant base stealing threat for the Diplomats.

Jeff Lawrence, a speedy senior, will push Pellegrini for playing time and serve as a pinch-running specialist. Senior captain Rich Gallugi will continue to be the everyday left fielder. One of only two Diplomats to play all 33 games this season, Gallugi hit .333 (38-114) .343 (23-67) in Centennial play. Amongst his 38 hits were five doubles, two triples, and a home run. He was perfect in his 49 chances in the outfield this season.

One of the surprise stories of the 2007 season, junior Shea Moriarty became the starting right fielder. A smart defender, Moriarty also helped spark the Diplomat offense with his knack for the clutch hit. Freshmen Eric Bornstein and Christian Leary will make a case for playing time in the outfield. Both are exceptional athletes with Leary being one of the fastest players on the time.

With the graduation of Rowand, the job of designated hitter is wide open. The Diplomats feature numerous talented hitters who can fill the role and it will be a battle for plate appearances throughout the year.

The Diplomats will play one of the most challenging schedules in the 2008 season. The early part of the schedule features a spring trip to Southern California to compete in the California Classic and the California Invitational. F&M will also compete in an early season Rutgers-Camden Tournament, playing 2007 National Champions, Kean University. The Diplomats round out their non-conference schedule with games against perennial powers York, Lebanon Valley, Elizabethtown, and Alvernia. With an improved pitching staff and additional depth around the diamond, the Diplomats will be a squad that figures to be in the championship hunt in 2008.