POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 5, 2014) – The Vassar College baseball team, under the direction of ninth-year head skipper Jon Martin, will open its 2014 season next week at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. The tournament, which will be held in central Florida, will be host to teams from Division I, II and III. Vassar College will play six games while in the Sunshine State, which will be welcomed site after practicing indoors the entire spring thus far due to abnormally large amounts of snow and ice in the Mid-Hudson Valley.

Vassar College (0-0, 0-0 Liberty League)
(Vassar College Baseball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)

Game Details
RUSS MATT CENTRAL FLORIDA INVITATIONAL
Opponent: Waynesburg University (1-1)               
Links: (Waynesburg Baseball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Leesburg, FL
Facility:  Pat Thomas Stadium (2,000)
Date: March 11, 2014
Time: 4 p.m.

Opponent: Franklin and Marshall College (2-2)
Links: (F&M Baseball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Auburndale, FL
Facility:  Lake Myrtle Park #2 (200)
Date: March 12, 2014
Time: 10:15 a.m.

Opponent: Medaille College (0-0)            
Links: (Medaille Baseball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Winter Haven, FL
Facility:  Chain of Lakes Park #3 (200)
Date: March 13, 2014
Time: 9:30 a.m.

Opponent: Amherst College (0-0)             
Links: (Amherst Baseball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Winter Haven, FL
Facility:  Chain of Lakes Park #5 (200)
Date: March 15, 2014
Time: 3:30 p.m.

Opponent: Grinnell College (0-0)              
Links: (Waynesburg Baseball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Auburndale, FL
Facility: Lake Myrtle Park #4 (200)
Date: March 16, 2014
Time: 4 p.m.

Opponent: Utica College (0-0)   
Links: (Utica Baseball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Winter Haven, FL
Facility:  Chain of Lakes Park #1 (200)
Date: March 17, 2014
Time: 9:30 a.m.

What To Look For
Traditionally, pitching has the advantage over the hitters in the beginning of the season as adjusting to live pitching is harder for hitters than visa versa. The Brewers have a potent lineup back this season, led by senior Brett Zaziski (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) and sophomores Brooks English (Milton, MA/Milton Academy) and Nick Johnson (San Francisco, CA/St. Ignatius College Prep). If the Brewer middle-of-lineup guys can get into the swing of things early, look for VC to have much success in the Everglade State. Also, after taking no ground balls on a natural surface, look to see how the infield defense reacts to taking grounders for the first time outside this spring.

A Look at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational
The Brewers will take on six teams while in the middle of Florida, highlighted by traditionally strong squads Amherst College, Grinnell College and Franklin & Marshall College. Only two teams have played games thus far among teams Vassar will play while in Florida, as F&M and Waynesburg are both .500 on the young season thus far.

Waynesburg split a doubleheader with La Roche College back on February 20, winning the opener 5-2 before falling in game two 6-2. Ben Shorthouse was 3-for-6 on the afternoon, driving in a run, while Nathan Mori added three hits over the twinbill. Brian Resnik earned the win for WU on the hill, going four innings, allowing five hits. Parker Beatty and Luke Carter started the games for Waynesburg.

Franklin & Marshall has played four times thus far this year, winning its opener 14-9 at Guilford College, before falling to Case Western Reserve, 18-3. The Diplomats would then split a double-dip with Catholic on March 2. As a team, F&M is hitting .295, led by the .429 average from senior outfielder Rob Anderson. Luke Seib has added four hits and four runs so far, and Matt Mezansky has a team-best five RBI. Sean Cosgrill has started twice, posting a 4.76 ERA, and Alex Guerra has allowed just two earned runs in nine innings of work.

The Mavericks of Medaille will open their season March 8, and will be led by their two top returning hitters in Jake Tyno and TJ Serba. Tyno hit .367 last season, scoring a team-high 17 runs to go with a team-leading six doubles. He was also successful on all seven stolen base attempts he made. Serba batted .329 last year, starting all 28 games, and led the squad with 14 RBI and eight extra-base hits. Senior Zach Machmer returns to anchor the staff, after striking out a team-best 34 batters in 42.1 innings on the hill. Junior Jordan Wansart also returns after starting six games.

Amherst is coming off a 27-13 season in 2013, led by a pitching staff that registered a 3.17 earned run average. The Lord Jeffs had nine pitchers with an ERA less than 4.50 last year, and returning six of those arms. Dylan Driscoll tossed 62 innings going 8-1 with a 2.76 ERA, and Fred Shepherd started a team-high 10 games while fanning 52 hitters. Sophomore Jonathan Ramirez batted .360 as a freshman, and Taiki Kasuga led the team in hits with 51 and stolen bases with 14. The Lord Jeffs love to run, stealing 79 bags in 2013.

The Pioneers of Grinnell College will look to improve on its 13-21 record from 2013. The Pioneers bring back their top hitter in Kainoa Inafuku, who batted .344 with 43 hits and 25 runs scored. Fellow junior Walker Bell is back after doubling 10 times in 2013, a team-best, while driving in a GC-leading 35 runs. The Grinnell pitching staff will rely on top returning arms John Essig and Will Pahos, as the duo combined to toss 94 innings.

Utica, also named the Pioneers like Grinnell, won just six games in 2013 after batting just .234 as a team last year. Pitching wasn't much better, giving up 6.64 earned runs per nine innings. Matthew DeMartino has the team's best average of players back this year, as he hit .279 in just 43 at bats. Top pitcher Ronald Mannella and top hitter Chris Podlucky from last year's team are now assistant coaches, so the Pioneers will need returners like Thomas Dinnen (.261 AVG, 6 2B, 12 RBI) and Alex Choleva (43.2 IP, 7.42 ERA, 23 K) to step up in 2014.

Against Teams In The RussMatt Central Florida Invitational
The Brewers have played Franklin & Marshall twice, both in this same tournament in 2011 and 2012, falling 12-0 in 2011 and 9-5 in 2012. VC took on Medaille last year in Florida, earning a 6-3 win over the Mavs. Utica is the only over team Vassar has played before, with VC posting a 1-6 record against the Pioneers. The Brewers lone win against UC came in 2001, as the two teams haven't met since 2007.

Jon Boy
Head coach Jon Martin returns for his ninth season with the Brewers in 2014, looking to get VC back to the Liberty League Tournament for the second consecutive season. In 2013, the Brewers chalked up 18 wins and qualified for the conference dance for the first time ever.

Here Comes Johnny
The Brewer pitching staff will be one of the best in the Liberty League, thanks in part to two-sport start Johnny Mrlik (San Francisco, CA/St. Ignatius College Prep). Mrlik, a recently named All-Liberty League First Team guard on the basketball court, chalked up a 2.73 ERA last year.

California Boys
The Vassar College baseball team has a certain west coast flavor to it, as the Brewers enter this season with 10 players from the Golden State. Four of the players are from San Francisco, while the other six are scattered over the state.

Welcome Back
Jon Martin welcomed back three old faces to his coaching staff this season, as former players Race Bottini and Mike Perrone each return to the dugout for their first season as coaches. Former volunteer coach Blayne Fuke is also back after a semester away to take over as an assistant coach.

Lots O' Lefties
Most lineups around the country are loaded with right-handed swingers, but not the Brewers. It's quite feasible that on my days, the Brewers will start at least five left-handed swinging batters. This group features the likes of Brett Zaziski, Nick Johnson and Brooks English.

Mean Joe
Vassar's starting rotation will be led this year by senior Joe Lovizio (Lindenhurst, NY/Lindenhurst) after his stellar season in 2013. Lovizio registered a 2.00 ERA, striking out a team-best 41 hitters.

Do It All
Junior Kyle Casey (San Diego, CA/Vista) has played a little bit of everything since coming to Vassar. His versatility is what allowed him to get 29 starts last year, playing both corner spots and left field. He can also play second base and any outfield spot.

Cucalon The Watchtower
Sophomore Connor Cucalon (San Francisco, CA/St. Ignatius College Prep) was dynamic out of the pen in 2013, earning All-Liberty League Second Team as a freshman. This year, with a deeper pitching staff, Cucalon will focus on saving games for the Brewers.

Up Next
Weather permitting, and when has it this year thus far, the Brewers are slated to host Mt. St. Mary's Wednesday, March 19 on Prentiss Field at 4 p.m. in the home opener.