AUGUSTA, NJ (April 8, 2009) – The Centenary baseball team (9-12) scored three runs in the eighth inning to defeat Drew (6-18), 9-6, Wednesday at Skylands Park. A pair of freshman pitchers helped the Cyclones get the victory as Mark Delannoy (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) pitched two innings in relief to get the win and Johnny Veninata (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Jefferson Township) closed the door in the ninth inning to pick up the save.

The designated hitters did the most damage offensively for Centenary, as sophomore Jose Cordova (Brentwood, NY/Brentwood) and freshman Jordan Wright (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East) combined to go 3-for-5 with one run and three RBI. Freshman Chris Smith (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills Regional), sophomore Lou Penna (East Haven, CT/Notre Dame) and juniors Mark DeMaio (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) and Michael Fasano (Hawthorne, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) each scored twice for the home team. Andrew Baxter finished 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBI to lead the Rangers.

All nine Cyclones came to bat in the first inning as Centenary put four runs on the board. First junior Andrew Granozio (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) hit a fly ball to right field to bring home DeMaio, then Fasano and Smith scored on a single by Cordova. The sophomore came home himself on an RBI fly-out by senior Jayson Loder (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty).

But Drew put two runs on the board in the third and two more in the fifth to tie the game. The Cyclones answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the fifth and then another in the sixth, but the Rangers were able to tie the game again, scoring twice in the seventh.

With the game tied at six in the eighth inning, Penna led off with a double. DeMaio laid down a bunt to move Penna over, but an error by Rangers’ first baseman Matt McGrath allowed both runners to score. Smith then singled and sophomore Mike Oneglia (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne) was hit by a pitch. Wright gave the Cyclones a three-run cushion with an RBI single to score Smith.

Centenary returns to action this weekend with a three-game set against CSAC foe Gwynedd-Mercy. The two teams will play a double-header on Saturday in Gwynedd Valley, PA, before returning home for single game on Monday.

Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (April 6, 2009) – Five student-athletes from three different spring sports received Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) weekly honors, the league announced Monday.

Junior Michael Fasano (Hawthorne, NJ/St. Joseph’s Regional) and senior Andrew Koncen (Elizabeth, NJ/Union Catholic) were each named to the Honor Roll for baseball, sophomore Joe Swantkoski (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) was named to the men’s lacrosse Honor Roll and softball received a pair of Weekly Honor Roll awards for freshman Angelica Ruiz (Bergenfield, NJ/Bergenfield) and sophomore Kristin Durborow (Manahawkin, NJ/Southern Regional).

Fasano finished Centenary’s three-game set with Keystone .400 (4-for-10) from the plate, with one run, two doubles and one RBI. The junior recorded 22 putouts, one assist and a fielding percentage of 1.000. Koncen had won of his best outings of the season, pitching a complete game in the Cyclones 3-1 loss to the Giants on Saturday. The senior struck out nine, walked only one and gave up just one earned run.

Centenary returns to action on Tuesday with a double-header at Baptist Bible. The Cyclones defeated BBC 8-2 earlier this season.

4/6/2009 CSAC Weekly Awards

AUGUSTA, NJ (April 4, 2009) – Pitching was the name of the game on a cold, blustery day at Skylands Park in Augusta, NJ, as Keystone (21-4, 6-0 CSAC) defeated Centenary (8-12, 4-5 CSAC), 3-1 and 7-1. All four starters pitched complete games for their respective teams as the Giants finished off the three game sweep to stay atop the CSAC with a perfect 6-0 conference record.

In game one, Keystone jumped on top in the first inning on back-to-back doubles by Esteban Meletiche and Kyle Conrad. Both doubles were aided by a tricky wind that gave the outfielders problems all afternoon. After giving up the early run, senior pitcher Andrew Koncen (Elizabeth, NJ/Union Catholic) settled in and had one of his finest outings of the season. He finished with nine strikeouts, scattering 11 hits and allowing only two earned runs.

Trailing 3-0 in the sixth, the Cyclones got on the board when junior Andrew Granozio (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) scored on a double by fellow classmate Mike Fasano (Hawthorne, NJ/St. Joseph’s Regional). Centenary put together a rally in the bottom of the seventh with a pair of singles from sophomores Lou Penna (East Haven, CT/Notre Dame) and Mike Oneglia (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne). They were both sacrificed over on a beautiful bunt by sophomore Brian Lemay (Southbury, CT/Notre Dame). But in the end Giants pitcher Sean Murphy shut the door, retiring the last two batters to end the game. Murphy struck out 10 batters on the day and allowed only seven base runners.

Game two saw another solid performance by a Giants Pitcher. Senior Brett Repard kept Cyclones hitters off-balance all game, allowing only five base runners with six strikeouts in the 7-1 Giants victory. For Centenary, senior Keith Moran (Skillman, NJ/Montgomery) allowed only nine hits while striking out three.

The Giants were the first to strike in the top of the second on a bases clearing triple that scored two runs by Jayson Rohena. The Cyclones answered in the bottom of the inning when freshman Chris Smith (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills) doubled to score Penna, who reached on a walk earlier in the inning. That would prove be the only threat of the game for the Cyclones as they were held to one hit over the next five innings.

Centenary was led by Fasano, who went 3-for-6 from the plate, and Smith, who was 2-for-5 on the day. The Cyclones returns to action on Monday with a double-header at Baptist Bible. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

Game 1                            Game 2

LA PLUME, PA (April 3, 2009) – The Centenary baseball team put four runs on the board in the top of the ninth to tie the game, but Keystone scored the walkoff run on a passed ball in the bottom of the inning to win, 8-7, Friday in La Plume, PA. Junior Andrew Granozio (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool), sophomore Jose Cordova (Brentwood, NY/Brentwood) and freshman Matt Andrews (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills Regional) all went 2-for-4 in the loss.

The Cyclones entered the ninth inning trailing, 7-3. Sophomore Mike Oneglia (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne) singled and junior Sal Prestigiacomo (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) pinch ran for him. Freshman Jordan Wright (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East) walked and Andrews singled to load the bases.

Senior Jayson Loder (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) hit into a fielders choice to score Prestigiacomo and junior Mark DeMaio (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) was hit by a pitch to load the bases again. After Granozio flied out to right field, an error by Keystone’s third baseman Eric Groff allowed all the runners to cross home, tying the game.

But in the bottom of the inning, Josh Hinkle walked, advanced to third when Drew Boandl singled, and scored on a passed ball to win the game.

Centenary returns to action tomorrow, in a double-header with Keystone. The first game is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m.

Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (March 30, 2009) – Baseball player Jose Cordova (Brentwood, NY/Brentwood) was named to the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Weekly Honor Roll, the league announced Monday.

Cordova was instrumental in CC’s three-game sweep of Philadelphia Biblical, batting .500 (3-for-6), with two three-run home runs and eight RBI in the series. He leads the team in homers and is tied for second with 12 runs batted in.

Baseball plays again on Wednesday, with a home match against Moravian at 4:00 p.m.

March 30 CSAC Weekly Awards

AUGUSTA, NJ (March 28, 2009) – The Centenary baseball team (8-9, 4-2 CSAC) swept a three-game series with Philadelphia Biblical (0-9, 0-6 CSAC), winning 17-1 on Friday in Langhorne, PA, before taking two on Saturday, 6-0 and 13-0, in Skylands Park in Augusta, NJ. Sophomore Jose Cordova (Brentwood, NY/Brentwood) finished the three-game set 3-for-5 with two home runs and eight RBI.

“It was a good weekend for us,” said head coach Scott Kushner. “Everyone got in on the action and when they got a chance, they delivered. We gave guys a chance to shine, and everyone came through.”

In the Cyclones 17-1 victory on Friday, the team racked up 14 hits and 12 walks while setting a season-high for runs. Cordova hit the big blow of the game, a three-run homer in the fifth. Junior Matt Devenny (Middletown, NJ/Middletown North) pitched five strong innings, allowing only seven hits while striking out one, to get the win.

On Saturday, the Cyclones used timely hitting and impressive pitching to win both games of the double-header. In the first contest, Centenary scratched out runs in the first, second, third, fourth and six to win 6-0. Junior Sal Prestigiacomo (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) led the way, batting 2-for-3 with two runs. Senior Andrew Koncen (Elizabeth, NJ/Union Catholic) did not allow a hit until the fifth inning while striking out nine to get the win.

In the second game, Centenary jumped ahead early with five runs in the first inning, all with two outs. Junior Andrew Granozio (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) singled and then scored on an RBI double by junior Michael Fasano (Hawthorne, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional), who then came home when sophomore Mike Oneglia (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne) singled to left. Sophomore Lou Penna (East Haven, CT/Notre Dame) walked, and then Cordova hit his second home run of the series, a high arcing shot to left field.

The Cyclones also scored five runs in the sixth inning and won, 13-0. The team received another strong pitching performance, this time from senior Keith Moran (Skillman, NJ/Montgomery), who allowed four hits in five innings while striking out seven.

“It felt good to get Keith his first win of the season,” said Kushner. “He has pitched well, so that victory was long overdue.”

Centenary looks to continue its four-game winning streak on Wednesday, April 1, with a home game against Moravian at 4:00 p.m.

Game 1                    Game 2                   Game 3

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (March 26, 2009) – The Centenary baseball team (5-9) picked up its first home win of the season with an 8-2 win over Baptist Bible (2-7), Thursday at the Skylands Park in Augusta, NJ. The game was called after six innings due to inclement weather. Freshman Mark Delannoy (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) pitched a complete game to get the victory, striking out five.

“Delannoy came out shaky and they were able to jump out to a 2-0 lead,” said head coach Scott Kushner. “But then he settled down and just dominated. He is only a freshman, so as his confidence grows he will reach his potential, which is high.”

With the win, Delannoy improves to 2-0 on the season. Junior Andrew Granozio (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) finished 3-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, while senior Jayson Loder (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) went 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs and an RBI. Freshman Chris Smith (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills Regional) batted 1-for-2 with a walk, two runs and one RBI.

BBC put two runs on the board in the first but Centenary answered with a score of its own in the bottom of the inning. The Cyclones took the lead for good in the second inning. After junior Mark Cerrachio (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) singled to lead off, sophomore Lou Penna (East Haven, CT/Notre Dame) laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, and Cerrachio was able to advance all the way to third when no one covered the bag. He then scored on an error by Defenders pitcher Brandon Isenhart.

Centenary put the game out of reach in the fourth inning, scoring four runs. Junior Mark DeMaio (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) led off with a single and advanced to third on an error by Timothy Radcliffe. Loder doubled down the left field line, scoring DeMaio.

Loder himself came home on an RBI single by Granozio, who then scored after another error by Radcliffe. A balk accounted for the fourth run of the inning, scoring junior Michael Fasano (Hawthorne, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional). The Cyclones then added another score in the fifth, and the game was called an inning later.

“We are not yet playing our best ball but we are giving ourselves a chance,” said Kushner. “If we play with more consistency we will be fine.”

Centenary returns to action with a three-game set against Colonial States Athletic Conference foe Philadelphia Biblical. The Cyclones will travel to Philadelphia, PA, for a single game against the Crimson Eagles on Friday, before returning home for a double-header on Saturday.

Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (March 24, 2009) – Senior pitcher Andrew Koncen (Eliza beth, NJ/Union Catholic) and junior outfielder Andrew Granozio (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) were each named to the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Weekly Honor Roll, the league announced Monday.

The awards mark the second consecutive week that Centenary baseball earned multiple conference accolades. On March 16, freshman Mark Delannoy (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) was named Pitcher of the Week and sophomore Lou Penna (East Haven, CT/Notre Dame) was named to the Honor Roll.

Granozio batted .333 in 24 at-bats, notching four runs, five RBI and eight hits, including a double and a home run, while swiping two bases in two attempts as the Cyclones went 2-4 (1-2 CSAC) for the week. Koncen pitched a complete game shutout against Neumann on March 21, allowing only five hits while striking out four, for his first victory of the season.

Centenary returns to action on Thursday, March 26, with a home game against Baptist Bible at 3:30 p.m. at Skylands Park.

March 23 CSAC Weekly Awards

ASTON, PA (March 21, 2009) – The Centenary baseball team (4-8, 1-2 CSAC) split a double-header with Neumann, Saturday in Aston, PA. The Cyclones dropped the first contest, 7-3, before winning the second, 7-0. Senior Andrew Koncen (Elizabeth, NJ/Union Catholic) pitched a complete game in the second-game shutout, allowing only five hits.

In the first game, Neumann relied on pitcher Scott Hammell, who allowed only five hits while throwing a complete game to get the win. In the second match, Koncen was masterful while stopping Centenary’s three-game losing streak. In the 7-0 victory, the Elizabeth, NJ native picked up his first complete game, his first shutout and his first win of the season.

Centenary returns to action on Wednesday, March 25, in a road game against the College of Staten Island. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

AUGUSTA, NJ (March 20, 2009) – Centenary baseball (3-7, 0-1 CSAC) gave up five runs in the top of the ninth inning and fell to conference opponent Neumann (9-8-1, 1-0 CSAC), 12-8, Friday at Skylands Park in Augusta, NJ. Junior Mark DeMaio (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) finished two-for-five with two runs and one RBI, while senior Jayson Loder (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) went two-for-four with a run and two stolen bases.

Centenary scored in the first and second innings to take a 3-0 lead. In the first, the Cyclones loaded the bases, scoring when junior Michael Fasano (Hawthorne, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional) was hit by a pitch. In the second, freshman Chris Smith (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills Regional) doubled, advanced on a wild pitch and came home on a sacrifice groundout by sophomore Brian Lemay (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug). Centenary then loaded the bases again and DeMaio scored when sophomore Mike Oneglia (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne) popped out to Neumann first baseman Matt Grossi.

The Knights scored four runs in the third to take a 4-3 lead. But Centenary answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to regain the advantage. Neumann tied the game at six with a run in the fifth and a run in the sixth.

Centenary took an 8-6 lead with runs in both the sixth and seventh. In the sixth, Granozio singled, stole second and came home when Oneglia slapped the ball into right field. In the seventh, Lemay tripled to deep right and scored on an RBI double by DeMaio. But thanks to one run in the eighth and five in the ninth, Neumann left with a 12-8 win.

The Cyclones and Knights resume their series in a double-header tomorrow in Ashton, PA, starting at 12:00 p.m.

Boxscore

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (March 19, 2009) – The Centenary baseball team returns home after seven games in Ft. Pierce, FL. The Cyclones finished 3-4 in that stretch, closing out their Southern trip with an 8-5 loss to Carleton on March 18.

In Centenary’s last three games, a pair of juniors led the team as Mark DeMaio (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) batted .364 (four-for-11) with a walk and Andrew Granozio (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) hit .417 (five-for-12) with two runs and two RBI. In that stretch, senior Jayson Loder (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) finished with a team-high four runs while batting .333 (three-for-nine).

In the seven games down South, Granozio batted .391 (nine-for-23) with three runs and three RBI while sophomore Mike Oneglia (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne) hit .294 (five-for-17) with five runs.

Centenary opens its CSAC schedule with a home contest against Neumann on Friday, March 20, at 3:30 p.m. before traveling to Aston, PA, to take on the Knights in a double-header on Saturday, March 21.

FT. PIERCE, FL (March 17, 2009) – The Centenary baseball team (3-5) split two games in a double-header with Wisconsin-Superior (5-2), Tuesday in Ft. Pierce, FL. The Cyclones dropped the first game, 9-3, but rebounded to win the second, 6-2.

In the first contest, sophomore Mike Oneglia (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne) and junior Andrew Granozio (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) each went two-for-four with a run scored while freshman Jordan Wright (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East) contributed a pinch-hit two-run double. But in the third inning, Wisconsin-Superior loaded the bases with nobody out. After Centenary picked up two outs, the third batter popped up but the ball carried and fell in-play, scoring two runs. The Yellowjackets tacked on three more and won, 9-3.

In the second game, junior Matt Devenny (Middletown, NJ/Middletown North) gave up two runs in the first inning and was untouchable after that, pitching a complete game three-hitter with two strikeouts. The Cyclones scored all of their runs in the third inning with nobody on and two outs, getting on base eight consecutive times. Granozio got the scoring started with his first career home run to tie the game at two.

Centenary returns to action on Wednesday, March 17, when it takes on Carleton at 8:45 a.m.

FT. PIERCE, FL (March 16, 2009) – Centenary baseball freshman Mark Delannoy (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) was named Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Pitcher of the Week and sophomore Lou Penna (East Haven, CT/Notre Dame) earned CSAC Weekly Honor Roll accolades for their roles in Centenary’s 2-3 week. The Cyclones picked up their first two wins of the season on Sunday, defeating Mitchell 14-2 and 9-4.

Delannoy recorded his first collegiate start in game one against Mitchell, pitching six strong innings. He allowed only five hits and two runs while striking out three. He posted an ERA of 3.00 in the contest. Penna hit .409 (nine-for-22) for the week, including two doubles, two triples and two RBI. He also scored four runs to help Centenary sweep the double-header with Mitchell.

The Cyclones return to action on Tuesday, March 17, in a double-header with Wisconsin-Superior in Ft. Pierce, FL. Game one starts at noon.

FT. PIERCE, FL (March 15, 2009) – The Centenary baseball team (2-4) picked up its first two wins of the season, sweeping Mitchell (1-3) in a double-header, Sunday in Ft. Pierce, FL. The Cyclones won game one 14-2 and followed that with a 9-4 victory in game two.

Freshman pitcher Mark Delannoy (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) started the first match and won his first career collegiate game, pitching six strong innings. He allowed only two runs and five hits, striking out three.

The star of game two was relief pitcher sophomore Dan Chapman (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley), who came in the fourth inning with the bases loaded and nobody out. He got out of the jam, allowing only one run, and proceeded to throw five innings to get the win, striking out five.

FT. PIERCE, FL (March 14, 2009) – The Centenary baseball team (0-4) dropped a pair of games to No. 9 St. Scholastica (11-2), falling 11-0 and 4-3, Saturday in Ft. Pierce, FL. Junior Andrew Granozio (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) went two-for-three in the first game and freshman Jordan Wright (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East) finished one-for-three with a two-RBI single in the second game to lead the Cyclones.

In the first game, St. Scholastica jumped on early and did not let go. The Saints scored twice in the first, adding runs in the second, third, fourth, sixth and seventh to win 11-0.

In the second game, however, Centenary jumped on early, as sophomore Louis Penna (East Haven, CT/Notre Dame) and Granozio scored in the first on Wright’s two-out, two-RBI single. In the second, freshman Chris Smith (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills Regional) walked and then advanced to second on a groundout by sophomore Brian Lemay (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug). Smith then came home on junior Mark DeMaio’s (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) RBI single.

But the 3-0 lead was not enough for the Cyclones, as St. Scholastica scored one in the third and three in the fourth to take a 4-3 edge before holding on for the victory.

“The field conditions were sloppy and we played sloppy in the first game,” said head coach Scott Kushner. “We were still trying to wake up and get our legs in. In the second game we got off to a great start, we got some really good two-out and two-strike hitting, something we’ve been missing, and we got that in clutch situations to take a 3-0 lead.

“But their pitcher was very tough and he just bore down. He’s probably as good a pitcher as you will see in the division III level. He pitched very well and they kept chipping away, and we couldn’t answer.”

Centenary returns to action with another doubleheader, this time against Mitchell, Sunday starting at 4:00 p.m.

Game 1                        Game 2

FT. PIERCE, FL (March 12, 2009) – The Centenary baseball team will spend its Spring Break in sunny Florida, where it will play seven games in five days. The Cyclones open their trip with a double-header against No. 9 St. Scholastica, Saturday starting at 8:45 a.m.

Centenary is 0-2 on the season, with losses to No. 24 Rowan (10-3 on Feb. 28) and No. 4 Kean (11-5 on March 9). St. Scholastica will be the Cyclones’ third consecutive ranked opponent. CC has been led by sophomore Louis Penna (East Haven, CT/Notre Dame), who is batting .500 (four-for-eight) with one double and one run. Junior Mark DeMaio (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) is hitting .429 (three-for-seven) with two runs and one RBI, as well as a team-high four stolen bases.

St. Scholastica is 3-1, having won three consecutive games. The Saints have been led by Sean Claugherty, who is hitting .462 (six-for-13), with one double, one run and a team-high three RBI. Paul Kolodge boasts an average of .429 (six-for-14) with one home run, one double and two RBI. Pitcher Peter Burg is 3-0 on the season with one complete game shutout. Opponents are batting .208 (11-for-53) against him.

After their double-header, the Cyclones play another two-game set on Sunday against Grinnell. The first game will start at 4:00 p.m.

UNION, NJ (March 9, 2009) – Junior Mark DeMaio (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) finished two-for-three with three stolen bases, one RBI and one run in Centenary’s 11-5 loss to No. 4 Kean, Monday in Union, NJ. The Cyclones (0-2) gave the fourth-ranked team in the nation all it could handle into the seventh inning, but the Cougars (7-1) erupted for four runs in the sixth and five in the seventh to put the game away.

"We played very well today despite the loss," said head coach Scott Kushner. "Kean is one of the elite teams in the country and we gave them heck. As with any game, there were a number of turning points, the biggest of which was hte two-out grand slam that gave them the lead for good. It was our best pitcher against their best hitter and unfortunately for us, the ball left the yard."

Freshman Jordan Wright (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East) homered and sophomore Louis Penna (East Haven, CT/Notre Dame) went two-for-four with a run scored, as the Cyclones saw five different players record an RBI. Senior pitcher Andrew Koncen (Elizabeth, NJ/Union Catholic) threw 5.2 innings, striking out five while allowing 10 hits and six runs. Nick Nolan led the Cougars, batting two-for-four with six RBI and a run scored, including a grand slam in the sixth.

After two scoreless innings, Kean put two runs on the board in the bottom of the third. Centenary scored one in the fourth when Penna doubled, moved to third on a groundout by Wright and scored on a wild pitch. Sophomore Brian Lemay (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) opened the fifth by getting to first on an error and advancing to second when freshman Chris Smith (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills Regional) grounded out to the pitcher. Lemay moved to third on a DeMaio single, then scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Andrew Granozio (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool).

The Cyclones then took the lead in the sixth when Wright hit a solo home run to right field. But Nolan put the Cougars back on top for good with his grand slam in the bottom of the six.

Centenary came to within one in the seventh, as Smith reached on an error, advanced to second on a wild pitch and came home when DeMaio singled up the middle. DeMaio then swiped second and third and scored on a single by junior Michael Fasano (Hawthorne, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional). But Kean again answered Centenary’s rally, putting five on the board in the seventh to win 11-5.

"I am proud of how we played and how we responded with some runs of our own following that gut-wrenching grand slam," said Kushner. "The players do not have any quit in them and that is a skill that cannot be taught mid-season."

Centenary returns to action on Saturday, March 14, in a double-header with No. 9 St. Scholastica in Ft. Pierce, FL.

Boxscore

GLASSBORO, NJ (February 28, 2009) – The Centenary baseball team (0-1) fell in its season opener, 10-3 at No. 24 Rowan (2-1-1), Saturday in Glassboro, NJ. Sophomore Louis Penna (East Haven, CT/Notre Dame) finished two-for-four, junior Mark DeMaio (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) batted one-for-four with a stolen base, a walk and a run scored and sophomore Jose Cordova (Brentwood, NY/Brentwood) went one-for-three with an RBI.

“We had a number of opportunities to score runs and came away with very few, while Rowan capitalized on nearly every chance they got,” said head coach Scott Kushner. “That was the difference in the game. Rowan is a great team and demonstrated why today.”

Centenary jumped on the board in the first inning, as DeMaio walked, stole second and then came home on an error by Rowan’s Brad Woodend. But the Profs scored a run in their half of the first and followed that with three more in the second to take a 4-1 lead. Centenary scored again in the third when junior Andrew Granozio (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) was hit by a pitch. He advanced to second when Cordova grounded out and then stole third, coming home on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Mike Oneglia (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne).

Rowan would answer with two more runs in the fourth to take a 6-2 lead. The Cyclones would get to within three in the sixth inning when Cordova walked with the bases loaded, scoring senior Jayson Loder (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty).  But the Profs would tack on four more runs, scoring in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to win 10-3.

Centenary returns to action on Monday, March 9, when it travels to face No. 4 Kean.

Boxscore

GLASSBORO, NJ (February 27, 2009) – The Centenary baseball team will open its 2009 campaign with a road match against No. 24 Rowan, Saturday, Feb. 28, in Glassboro, NJ at 1:00 p.m. Under first-year head coach Scott Kushner, the Cyclones will face three consecutive ranked opponents to being their season, as they will take on No. 4 Kean on Monday, March 9, and No. 18 St. Scholastica on Saturday, March 14.

Centenary finished 2008 20-19, 10-8 in the conference. The Cyclones return their entire starting outfield in juniors Mark DeMaio (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills), Mike Fasano (Hawthorne, NJ/St. Joseph Regional) and Andrew Granozio (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool). DeMaio batted .388 (47-for-121) on his way to First Team All-PAC honors, while Fasano and Granozio each earned Second Team All-PAC awards after hitting .359 (47-for-131) and .317 (40-for-126), respectively.

Also coming back for CC is senior pitcher Andrew Koncen (Scotch Plains, NJ/Union Catholic), who was named First Team All-PAC in 2008. The lefthander finished with a team-best 2.94 ERA while striking out 60 and walking only 12 in 67.1 innings.

Rowan was 34-14 in 2008 and currently stands at 1-1-1 in 2009. The Profs won their first match of the season in their previous game, a 10-9 victory over Bridgewater College in Newport News, VA. Senior right fielder John McMullin was named NJAC Player of the Week on Feb. 24 after hitting .750 (nine-for-12) with two doubles, one triple, one home run, 10 RBI and three runs scored in his team’s first three contests.

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (February 19, 2009) – The Centenary baseball team will compete in 2009 under the direction of first-year head coach Scott Kushner. The Cyclones finished 2008 20-19, 10-8 in the PAC, falling in the conference championship game to Gwynedd-Mercy. Centenary looks to do even better this season in the recently formed Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC).

“I am excited to begin a new era of Centenary Cyclone baseball in my first year with the program,” said Kushner. “We have a talented bunch of players who are hungry to get back into the conference championship game and avenge the loss of a year ago.”

The Cyclone pitching staff will be led by two seniors, lefty co-captain Andrew Koncen (Elizabeth, NJ/Union Catholic), a 2008 First Team All-PAC player, and right-hander Keith Moran (Skillman, NJ/Montgomery). Koncen has been outstanding for three years for the Cyclones and will be looked to be a true ace and leader for this young pitching staff. Moran saw most of his action out of the bullpen last year, but was absolutely lights out during the fall and thus solidified himself as a conference starter.

Freshmen Johnny Veninata (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Jefferson Twp.), Mark Delannoy (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) and Chris Sisco (Monmouth Junction, NJ/South Brunswick) will battle with junior Matt Devenny (Middletown, NJ/Middletown North) and senior Matt O’Leary (Somerset, NJ/Franklin) for the other spots in the starting rotation. Veninata had a strong fall, showcasing a tremendous curveball and plus fastball.

Delannoy and Sisco are both tall lefties with limitless potential and an excellent work ethic. Devenny demonstrated control and composure on the mound in the fall and should provide consistency in his outings. O’Leary has struggled with injuries during his career, but he is healthy now and his size, strength and stuff are enough to make him a serious weapon at our disposal.

The bullpen will be stocked with right-handers in Ryan Gorny (Clifton, NJ/Clifton), Dan Chapman (River Vale, NJ/Pascack Valley), Zach Heymann (Hackettstown, NJ/Warren Hills Regional) and Mark Tanis (Pequannock, NJ/DePaul Catholic), as well as lefties Matt Saparito (Oak Ridge, NJ/Jefferson Twp.) and Chris Stacy (Little Falls, NJ/Passaic Valley). The pen gives the team a variety of options for just about any game situation.

Gorny has a plus fastball and is working on developing on improving his curveball. Chapman has a history of arm injuries, but he has worked hard to get healthy and his arsenal of pitches can be very effective should he stay that way. Stacy will be a dependable option as a lefty specialist with his sharp slider. Heymann has a strong arm and will also see some action as a 1B/DH while Saparito, a transfer student from Alvernia, may be used as a reserve in the outfield when he’s not coming out of the pen to face lefties. Tanis is a transfer from Rowan who will also help gobble up innings out of the pen.

Handling the pitching staff will be sophomore catcher Brian LeMay (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) as well as senior Adam Achilles (Lanoka Harbor, NJ/Lacey Twp.). Both LeMay and Achilles are recovering from arm injuries suffered last season, so their health will be critical to Centenary's success this year. LeMay seems to have made a full recovery and performed well in all aspects of the game during the fall. Achilles is not yet able to participate fully in defensive drills, but his hitting abilities may get him pinch hitting duties even if he is unable to make a complete comeback. Anthony DeSomma, a transfer from William Paterson, will serve as a backup catcher and may see time at first and DH.

The infield could have a variety of looks this year. Sophomore Mike Oneglia (Hawthorne, NJ/Hawthorne) will get the majority of the innings at first base thanks to his smooth glove work and powerful bat.  Senior co-captain Jayson Loder (Bethlehem, PA/Liberty) and freshman Chris Smith (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills Regional) will see time at shortstop as well as second. Loder is a solid defensive player with occasional power at the plate. Smith is a slick fielder whose ability as a hitter is yet to be fully tapped. Junior Sal Prestigiacomo (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) will also contend for playing time at second, providing a balance of strong defensive skills with intelligent plate presence. 

Late in the fall, the Cyclones were dealt an unfortunate blow when junior co-captain Mark Cerrachio (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) tore his ACL while fielding a ground ball. He has been rehabbing vigorously and Centenary hopes to have him back by mid-season. In his absence, third base will be manned by sophomore Jose Cordova (Brentwood, NY/Brentwood) with freshman Matt Andrews (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills Regional) serving as the backup. Both players showed they are quite capable of handling the hot corner during the fall and will also benefit from Cerrachio’s tutelage.

The outfield will be anchored by sophomore centerfielder Lou Penna (East Haven, CT/Notre Dame) and junior co-captain Mark DeMaio (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills). Penna and DeMaio can cover a lot of ground in the outfield with their superb speed. DeMaio earned First Team All-PAC honors in 2008.

The other outfield spot will be occupied by a pair of Second Team All-PAC players in juniors Andrew Granozio (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) or Mike Fasano (Hawthorne, NJ/St. Joseph's Regional). Both are heart of the order-type hitters who will likely alternate between patrolling the outfield and being the DH.  Freshmen Jordan Wright (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin East) and Randy Castillo (West New York, NJ/Memorial) will serve primarily as backups in the outfield. Wright has a bright future as a lefty hitter and Castillo could fit nicely as a defensive replacement late in games.

With talent and depth at just about every position, the 2009 Cyclone baseball season should be one to remember and will lay the foundation for successful years to come.
 

Hackettstown, NJ (February 11, 2009) – The Centenary baseball team was selected to finish third out of six schools in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) coach’s poll, the league announced Wednesday. The Cyclones received 25 votes, seven behind first-place Gwynedd-Mercy. Keystone also earned 32 votes, but did not receive as many first place votes and was picked to finish second.

Marywood University (16), Neumann College (14) and Philadelphia Biblical University (seven) rounded out the voting.

Centenary finished 2008 20-19, 10-8 in the conference. The Cyclones return their entire starting outfield in juniors Mark DeMaio (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills), Mike Fasano (Hawthorne, NJ/St. Joseph Regional) and Andrew Granozio (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool). DeMaio batted .388 (47-for-121) on his way to First Team All-PAC honors, while Fasano and Granozio each earned Second Team All-PAC awards after hitting .359 (47-for-131) and .317 (40-for-126), respectively.

Also coming back for CC is senior pitcher Andrew Koncen (Scotch Plains, NJ/Union Catholic), who was named First Team All-PAC in 2008. The lefthander finished with a team-best 2.94 ERA while striking out 60 and walking only 12 in 67.1 innings.

Centenary opens its schedule on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Rowan at 1:00 p.m. The Cyclones play their first conference game on Friday, March 20, a 3:30 p.m. home match against Neumann.

The 2009 CSAC Baseball Championship will feature the top four teams in the conference and will begin with preliminary rounds on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at the top two seeds. The championship will conclude at Bear Stadium in Boyertown, Pa. on Friday and Saturday, May 8 and 9, 2009.