Baseball

January 17, 2008

WATERBURY, Conn.-Post University baseball Head Coach AJ McNamara announced the addition of nine new players to the roster for the 2008 season. The five junior college transfers and four incoming freshmen will look to help build upon an 18-20 record for the Eagles last season.

"With this class we needed to fill not only the talent we lost by the departed seniors from last year, but more importantly, we needed to fill leadership and diamond experience," McNamara said. "We believe that this class satisfies both of those needs."

Catcher Mike Moriarty (Long Beach, N.Y./Nassau C.C.) comes to the Eagles after starting the past two seasons for Nassau Community College. "Mike brings with him a very solid defensive resume," McNamara said. "He sees the game well, has a good rapport with the pitching staff, and controls the base-paths very well. He's done a remarkable job at adjusting his swing to wood and we are excited about having him this year.

LHP Ben Schoenberg (Sugarland, Texas/Cedar Valley C.C.) was the number-one starter for Cedar Valley C.C. for the past two seasons. "Ben has all the tools to be an exceptional pitcher," the Eagle mentor said. "He's physically imposing, has a very good understanding of his mechanics and an equally strong work ethic. Ben also has, what I like to say, ‘The mind of a pitcher,' and he's only scratched the surface with his potential."

Outfielder Donnie Dlabola (Levittown, N.Y./Nassau C.C.) was a two-time All-Region selection for Nassau C.C., while playing alongside Moriarty. "Donnie is quiet an athlete," McNamara said. "Sometimes I look at him and think he should be on a football field, but fortunately he's here with us. He's a stellar defensive outfielder and equally impressive at the plate. We will look to him to play a big role in our lineup this year."

OF/RHP Johnny Figueroa (Bronx, N.Y./Monroe College) is a mid-year transfer for the Eagles, and will provide the Eagles with depth and experience both as a position player and on the hill. Figueroa batted .316 with four homeruns and 20 runs batted in last season for Monroe.

"Johnny will be an immediate contributor both on our staff and in our outfield," McNamara said about the latest addition to the Eagle roster. "He's very athletic, very heady and has a very good arm. On the mound, he has a good understanding of his balance and his mechanics to go along with a live arm. Once he starts getting acclimated with our philosophy and our work ethic, he could blossom into something special."

One player who will also be playing his first full season with the Eagles is infielder Steve Giffin (Newton, Pa./Council Rock). He missed much of last season with an injury, but is back in the fold this year. "We are very fortunate to have Steve back with us," McNamara said. "He had some bad breaks last year with injuries which forced him to sit out the year, but he is back and ready to go. He's a big, strong young man who can play multiple positions on the diamond. He is someone whose ceiling has definitely not been reached yet, and the coaches all feel that he is someone who has a bright future in our conference."

The freshman class will consist of outfielder Rob Perry (Manchester, Conn./Manchester), brother of sophomore RHP Mike Perry (Manchester, Conn./Manchester). He was a three-year starter for Manchester and a two-time All-Central Connecticut Conference first-team choice. "Rob has the Ability to step in right away and compete for time," McNamara said. "He is a gifted young man, who is more than capable of succeeding right away here. In time, with hard work and experience, he very well could be one of the finer players we have had here at Post."

Infielder Garrett Keenan (Massapequa, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) helped his high school team reach the championship game of the CHSAA. "Garrett has tremendous ability and has an outstanding baseball mind," McNamara said. "He knows the game well, plays it right, and wants to improve in every facet. He comes from a quality baseball program in Long Island which knows how to season players for the college ranks. Through dedication and maturity, his name will soon be well-known throughout the conference."

Outfielder Sean Jarrett (Ware, Mass./Holyoke Catholic) has come a long way in just a few months for the Eagles according to McNamara. "Sean has gotten so much better throughout the course of the fall and the winter," the Eagle mentor stated. "When he got here, he was an above average hitter and an average outfielder, but he has excelled faster than anyone else in the program in such a short period of time. He still needs time to mature and grow, but I have no doubt that he will be someone we look to in the future."

Outfielder Felix Osorio (Bronx, N.Y./All Hollows) has worked hard in the preseason for the Eagles. "Like Sean, Felix works hard and has gotten much better that when he initially came to us in the fall," McNamara said. "Defensively in the outfield, he can go get it with just about anyone we have, and offensively because of his quick hands and bat speed, he has impressed us at the dish."

Post is slated to begin the 2008 campaign the weekend of February 23-24 with a three-game series at Chowan College in North Carolina.