NEW PALTZ, NY — In the final contest of his collegiate career senior outfielder Jeff Cote’ (Mechanicsville, MD) recorded a cycle in his first four at-bats to lead the Hawks to an 18-14 defeat of Mount St. Mary. Totaling 18 runs on 22 hits, SUNY New Paltz scored in each of the first six innings to top their local rival.
The Hawks plated eight runs in the first two innings to steal an early 8-0 lead. Cote’ led off the affair, for SUNY New Paltz (20-20), with a solo-homerun to left field. Senior outfielder Bill Kelts (Waterford, NY), junior third baseman John DeKams (Kings Park, NY), and senior first baseman Dean Glanzman (Commack, NY) each collected a RBI in the first inning. Cote’ led off the second, for the Hawks, with a triple, as senior catcher Josh Gutes (Hauppauge, NY), Glanzman, and senior outfielder Ryan Schafer (Oceanside, NY) all collected RBI in the inning.
Mount St. Mary (7-19) battled back, scoring five times in the top of the third. Back-to-back-to-back doubles from freshman outfielder Frank Snyder (Wallkill, NY), senior third baseman Jerry Puccio (Brightwaters, NY), and sophomore outfielder Anthony Forgione (Franklin Square, NY) helped the Blue Knights cut the SUNY New Paltz lead to 8-5.
SUNY New Paltz added two runs in the bottom of the third and six more over the next three innings to capture the 18-14 victory. Cote’ went 5-for-5, scoring three times and walking once. Cote’ finishes his career second all-time in hits (150), second all-time in doubles (37), first all-time in triples (8), and tied for second all-time in RBI (78). DeKams, Glanzman and senior designated hitter Matt Zajdel (Agawam, MA) totaled three hits apiece, as Gutes, Schafer and senior catcher Eric Velazquez (Chestnut Ridge, NY) each totaled two. Glanzman knocked in four runs for the Hawks, including a two-run triple in the sixth. Gutes recorded three RBI, including a two-run double in the fourth.
Senior pitcher Joe Gugliotta (Bayport, NY) got the start in his final game for SUNY New Paltz. Sophomore pitcher Mike Virga (Farmingville, NY) picked the win for the Hawks, walking one and striking out six in three innings of relief work.
Junior pitcher Damon Kennedy (Bridgeport, CT) picked up the loss for the Blue Knights. Freshman catcher Matthew Germann (Islip, NY) led Mount St. Mary with three hits in three at-bats, and two RBI. Snyder, Puccio, junior infielder Frank Muscente (Wallkill, NY), and junior outfielder Stephen Cabarcas (Middletown, NY) each recorded two hits.
The following Hawks participated in their final collegiate contest; Jeff Cote’, Dean Glanzman, Joe Gugliotta, Josh Gutes, Bill Kelts, Ryan Schafer, senior shortstop Jeff Sosis (New Rochelle, NY), Eric Velazquez, and Matt Zajdel. Sosis was 1-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and a RBI. Gutes finished his career first all-time in runs scored (102), second all-time in walks (70), third all-time in hits (144), and first all-time in saves (8). As a senior, Kelts set single-season records in hits (60), total bases (91), and RBI (44).
Head Coach Mike Juhl coached his final contest at SUNY New Paltz. Juhl will pursue a doctorate degree in Sociology at the University of South Carolina next year. In his time with the Hawks’ baseball program, Juhl has recorded a 136-191 record, including the program’s only three 20-win seasons. Since joining the baseball program in August of 1997, Juhl has a 43-72 State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) record and has coached the Hawks to three SUNYAC Tournament appearances, most recently in 2001. Juhl, who was named SUNYAC Coach of the Year in 1999, led the Hawks to an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament appearance that same year. During the 2004 season, Juhl became the first coach in the history of the baseball program to win 100 games. His 100th career win came in an 11-2 victory over SUNYAC rival SUNY IT on April 19th. He has produced 23 all-conference selections since 1998 (Not including 2006). Juhl is a native of Kingston, New York.
