Despite losing three critical players from last season’s squad, the Binghamton baseball team is ready to compete in 2013 thanks to its depth and balance, according to head coach Tim Sinicki.
Sinicki said that the team would not look to individually replace the two MLB draft picks, starting pitcher Mike Augliera (5th round, Boston Red Sox) and reliever Lee Sosa (26th round, Oakland Athletics), or the two-time all-conference first baseman and No. 3 hitter, Dave Ciocchi. Instead, Sinicki said that the Bearcats would look to fill the void left by the three players collectively as a group.
“Even though we lost a couple of important guys, we have greater depth than we’ve ever had,” Sinicki said. “We’ve got a lineup from top to bottom that is very balanced and very diverse.”
Returning for the Bearcats are 23 letterwinners, including all but one starting position player and three out of four starting pitchers. Picked to finish third in this year’s America East Preseason Coaches’ Poll, Binghamton can boast experience at the very least.
“A lot of guys have been in the program for a few years,” said Bijan Mangouri, senior outfielder and tri-captain. “I think that the veteran presence on our team will definitely help a lot.”
Among the notable returners are No. 1 senior pitcher Jake Lambert, who tied Augliera for a team-leading six wins last spring; senior catcher Mike Danaher, a two-year starter, four-year letterwinner and tri-captain; and junior corner infielder Brian Ruby, a 2012 America East All-Rookie Team selection who led the Bearcats last season with a .371 batting average. Sinicki mentioned Ruby and sophomore outfielder Jake Thomas as players to look out for in the coming season.
“Those two guys are going to be the focal point of our offense,” he said.
But Sinicki didn’t dwell on the talents of just a few key players; he stressed the team as a whole package, as being tightly knit and having good chemistry.
“I think balance is a good word [to characterize our team],” he said. “It’s very key for us this year, not having to rely on a couple of guys, but instead counting on contributions from guys one through 30.”
This year’s squad immediately has one advantage last year’s did not: a home field. The new multi-million-dollar baseball facility was unveiled last fall, providing BU with a more favorable schedule than last season, when the team played 46 of its 49 games outside of Binghamton — the Bearcats hosted a three-game set at NYSEG Stadium — and practiced on turf soccer fields.
“It feels great this year, finally having a place we can call home and to have people to come out and watch us play,” Mangouri said. “The community’s been really strong and supportive, so it would be good to give back to them and play a few good games here.”
The Bearcats will get a chance to do so sooner than usual, as this season features one of the earliest home openers in program history. Binghamton is scheduled to host its first game at the new Varsity Field on March 23 against Stony Brook.
The team is set to open its season with a four-game weekend series at James Madison, beginning today at 4 p.m. The Bearcats are scheduled to play an additional 16 games before kicking off conference play on March 16.