NEW PALTZ, NY — After spending the last four years out of the SUNYAC Tournament, Coach Juhl and the Hawks are setting their sights on one goal; to play post-season baseball in 2006. The Hawks have added much needed quality and depth, that the returning weekend starters from a year ago, might be handling the weekday starts in 2006. Along with added pitching depth, the Hawks have added significant stability up the middle and will count on some new infielders to make the plays behind the deep pitching staff. Headlining the newcomers for 2006 are left-handed pitcher Jimmy Donohue (Deer Park, NY), right-handed pitchers Tristan Adams (East Marches, NY). Tristan Greene (East Hampton, NY) and Chris Spizuco (Northport, NY) and infielders Danny Garcia (Patterson, NY), Tyler Antrim (East Haddam, CT) and Tyler Turlecky (binghamton, NY). All seven of these players will figure prominently into the plans for a successful 2006.
The returning players on the Hawks roster will be complimented by the aforementioned newcomers to create a talent rich team that will look to be competitive on a national level. Returning standouts playing their final season as New Paltz Hawks are seniors Jeff Cote'(Mechanicsville, MD), Dean Glanzman (Commack, NY), Joe Gugliotta (Payport, NY), Josh Gutes (Hauppauge, NY) , William Kelts (Waterford, NY), Ryan Schafer (Oceanside, NY), Eric Velazquez (Chestnut Ridge, NY) and Matt Zajdel (Agawam, MA). All have spent a significant amount of time on the playing field and all will figure into the everyday lineup. These young men have matured well in the basketball program at New Paltz and they embody everything that is good about being a student-athlete at SUNY New Paltz.
For the third year in a row, Coach Juhl will count on pitcher/infielder John DeKams (King’s Park, NY) to lead the Hawks at the plate and in the field. DeKams (along with Cote’) were named to the 2005 Rawlings/ABCA All New York Region third team a year ago and DeKams was an All-ECAC selection as well.
The 2006 baseball schedule will be a tough test for the Hawks as they open up playing 20 games away from Loren Campbell Field before their home opener March 29 against Ithaca College. Two weekend series in Maryland and Virginia will prepare the Hawks for their NY Region opener at St. Joseph’s of Long Island on March 11. Then the Hawks are off to Florida to play eight games in six days before returning to New Paltz and going on the road again to SUNY Purchase. The month of April brings SUNYAC games on the weekends and the Hawks are hosting 2005 National Runner-Up Cortland on April 23rd. If the Hawks are looking to compete on a national level, then this should be a great match up.
The non-conference schedule in 2006 sees some familiar teams such as RPI and Vassar and some newcomers including Baruch and CCNY. The final regular season game against local rival Mount Saint Mary College is scheduled for May 2 and will host senior day, where all senior are honored and are in the starting lineup.
With an abundance of returning talent and outstanding newcomers, the hawks should return to the top of the SUNYAC and New York Region in 2006. Come watch New Paltz Baseball: “It’s the Greatest Show on Dirt!”
