POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (March 9, 2017) – A lot has changed since the last pitch of the 2016 season for the Vassar College baseball team. A whole lot. For the first time in 12 seasons, the Brewers will have a new head boss in the dugout this year, while Vassar also graduated seven seniors who were all a big part of the program over the last four seasons.
 
Back in October, former head coach Jon Martin accepted the head coaching position at Bates College in Maine. The vacancy was filled by now head coach Matthew Righter, who didn't have to come very far to get to VC, as he moved offices from across the Hudson River at New Paltz to Poughkeepsie.
 
With any coaching change comes new philosophies and strategies, but the Brewers this season are focused on getting the little jobs done to help try to get back into the Liberty League playoffs for the first time since 2014. Vassar was picked No. 7 in the Liberty League Preseason Coaches' Poll, but there is confidence throughout the team that the improved depth should pay dividends.
 
"You want to have at least two or three options at each position," said Righter. "The most important part to me is that you have depth as a pitching staff. Guys that can fill in spots as relievers and starters, and when you get down to the home stretch to have guys that can fill those spots."
 
The Brewers will roster 29 players this spring, which is the most for the Brewers in program history, and that depth will be key going through a schedule that packs nearly 40 games into just under 60 days.
 
"In our four years here, I don't think we've had a team that's had as much depth as we do this year," said senior Denis Shanagher. "So, while we may have lost some key players from last year, I think the overall quality of the team has improved."
 
The starting lineup this year will have a different look, both offensively and on the mound, as all seven seniors from a year ago were either starters or contributors. Despite that, opportunities for others to step into larger roles and for younger players to seize playing time is making for a competitive environment and lively practices.
 
Also, the winter has been kind for VC, allowing the Brewers to get onto Prentiss Field often which should help with the development going into a spring break trip that features nine games. As a team though, the drive and mentality going into the season will be one that is fun to watch.
 
"I think you're going to see a respect from the players to their teammates, respect for the other team, you'll see our guys hustle, they'll take a lot of pride in the way they look, in the way they act…they're going to compete like you know what," said Righter.
 
INFIELD
Though three starters are back from the infield in 2016, competition for the four starting positions has been fierce in the preseason. The Brewers said goodbye to four-year standout Brooks English at first base, and now junior Eric Strickland has been moved to the outfield, but many options still remain for Vassar.
 
Junior captain Bobby Kinne is back for VC after two strong seasons to start his career, and despite an offseason arm injury, should be good to go once the year starts. Kinne is a career .362 hitter for Vassar, and will be vital for the Brewers due to his leadership, hustle and grit. When not at first or third, Kinne will probably occupy the designated hitter spot for Vassar.
 
Staying on the corners, Vassar has three new options that it will be able to rotate around, as a pair of freshman in Matt Martino and Evan Trausch join sophomore transfer Bryan Rubin. All three are big, physical players that can drive the ball, and all three have shown the ability to hit for power during the preseason.
 
Trausch will get more looks at first base, while Martino can play both corner spots and Rubin looks like more of a third baseman. Rubin transferred to Vassar from Emory University in Atlanta, and has shown prodigious power to all fields since his arrival at Vassar.  
 
The middle of the diamond on the infield returns last year's Liberty League leader in assists in Matt Hernandez, in his third year with the Brewers. Hernandez was as steady as anyone in the league at shortstop, employing a strong arm as the now-junior didn't come off the field in 2016.
 
Hernandez will be joined in the middle by senior Denis Shanagher, who is trading his outfield mitt for an infield glove. Shanagher played shortstop in high school, and his strong arm and quick release along with his range should play well at second base.
 
Sophomore Alex Hartnett has worked incredibly hard in the offseason transforming himself physically, and it has showed. Hartnett filled in admirably for Kinne last year at third base, but look for the sophomore to battle for reps at both second and short for VC this year. Freshman Daniel Bonfiglio will also look for at bats in the middle, as the sweet-swinging lefty was a standout during his prep days down in the Big Apple.
 
Despite the move, Strickland could still see some action in the field when he's not in the outfield. Strickland led the team with four triples last year and was successful on all nine of his stolen base attempts in 2016.
 
OUTFIELD
The one glaring omission to the lineup this year will come with the absence of All-Liberty League First Team right fielder Nick Johnson. Johnson was the team's leading hitter with a .372 average last season, homering twice while breaking the school mark for doubles in a career. He also led the team in runs batted in with 31.
 
Also, as previously mentioned, Strickland and Shanagher will switch spots, which will give the Brewers a different feeling going into the season. That being said, Vassar has six outfielders that the team feels good about, including senior captain Michael Koscielniak. Coming off a breakout season of .357 with 22 runs and an on-base percentage of .494, the left-handed swinging outfielder will be another strong option at a corner spot for VC.
 
Returning for his senior season as well is Brad Kendall, who has a ton of experience and should be a mainstay defensively for VC this year. Kendall is a great pure outfielder, who gets great reads and has a strong throwing arm and is versatile to play all three spots.
One of the big stories in the spring so far has been the emergence of sophomore Taylor Smach, who is looking to nail down a starting gig as well. Smach is a big, powerful right-handed bat that can drive the ball from line to line. After limited opportunities in 2016, a breakout season isn't out of the question with the Manlius, NY native.
 
Another player that shined last year in only 43 at-bats in 2016 was now sophomore Matt Schwartz, who batted .302 with seven RBI and a homer last season. Schwartz is very strong, and will look for at-bats as a corner outfielder or designated hitter in 2017. Freshman Connor Levchuck will join the group as well, and brings someone that can do a little bit of everything for the Brewers. Levchuck is good defensively, has a good arm and also is a good contact hitter.
 
CATCHERS
The catching position over the last few seasons has been a major strength for the Brewers, as now graduated Cory Wuenschell and Dakota Sagnelli both donned the tools of ignorance for VC. Wuenschell was a two-time All-Liberty League player, while Sagnelli was the Liberty League's top defensive catcher, gunning down 14 base stealers last year.
 
Both are now gone, but the catching position should still be in strong hands, as four players will be options for the Brewers in 2017. Sophomore Jake Doyle is a name that you hear out of nearly every player's mouth when you ask of improvement this year, and his ability to handle the pitching staff has been apparent during every preseason practice.
 
Doyle isn't the most physically imposing presence behind the dish, but he has very quiet movements, is great at framing pitches and throws well. In addition, Doyle makes consistent hard contact and is always a line-drive threat. Look for the sophomore to get an opportunity early to take a step forward for VC in 2017.
 
Joining him in the catching corps is a pair of freshmen in Robert Pinataro and Erik Rabin, along with converted infielder Chris Lee. Pinataro has a very good throwing arm and is a bigger target for the pitchers to throw to, while Rabin has some doubles pop in his bat offensively. Look for both to compete for at-bats during their freshman campaign.
 
Lee is back for his junior season, after hitting .250 as a sophomore in 12 games including eight starts. The Menlo Park, CA native can hit the ball, and when patient, can do a lot of things for the Brewers. His transition to a catcher has been pretty seamless as well, as his quick hands from being a middle infielder have been an asset.
 
PITCHERS
The starting rotation will have a familiar feel at the top this season, while two of the other spots will looked to be filled by new names. The Brewers graduated Jonathan Hong and Johnny Mrlik last spring, as the duo combined to start 13 games in 2016. This season though the Brewers have more depth all the way through the staff, and the quality should be strong throughout as well.
 
Back for their fourth and final seasons are a pair of pitchers that litter the record book at Vassar in righty Adam Erkis and southpaw captain Trent Berg. Erkis, who was named as the Liberty League Pitcher of the Year as a freshman, ranks second all-time in ERA at Vassar with a 3.22 for his career, while his win total of 11 is tied for third-most ever at VC.
 
Berg posted a 1.95 over eight starts as a freshman in 2014, winning a single season school record of nine games. He was strong last year as well, striking out 43 hitters in 46.2 innings of work. He also ranks second in strikeouts per nine innings at VC during his tenure with 7.78, and will be looking to team with Erkis to give VC that valuable 1-2 punch.
 
Last season, now-sophomore Joe Conti showed brilliant moments throughout the season, as he showcased the ability as a starter and reliever to be a shutdown arm. He is back in 2017 to try to earn a spot as a weekend starter, as he went 2-2 last year in 12 appearances with a 4.21 ERA, striking out 30.
 
A pair of new faces will also be battling for a rotation spot, as freshmen Max Spencer and Billy Mathiesen each should get the ball to start this year. Spencer is a lengthy lefty who moves the ball around well and is deceptive out of a three-quarter arm slot. With good off-speed, Spencer will be tough on both right and left-handed batters.
 
Mathiesen is a harder throwing right-hander with good arm action, showcasing a tight slider with compact spin. He is also very athletic, and when he's hitting spots, Mathiesen will be a handful for batters.
 
Another name to watch out for as a possible starter at some point for Vassar is Martino, who has impressed on the mound thus far. The big, tall righty has good plane on his fastball, as one of the harder throwers for VC. If Martino can pitch consistently for the Brewers, he would be a great addition to a starting cast.
 
The bullpen will have a bevy of arms to go to this season, starting with Honorable Mention All-Liberty League reliever Robert Winkelmann. The senior comes into the season having thrown in 31 games over the past four seasons, including a team-high 17 last season. Winkelmann fanned 22 batters in 21.1 innings last season, chalking up two saves.
 
Along with Winkelmann, sophomore Jesse Mulham returns after posting a 4.70 ERA last year as a freshman, working into 10 games while earning two starts. Mulham was very effective at times in relief last season, and expect the same this year in 2017. Junior John Madsen also is back for his second campaign with the Brewers, after appearing in eight games last year.
 
Junior Derek DeMild earned three starts last season as a sophomore and has shown effective at times for VC in his career, and Schwartz also will look to carve out a role as a reliever for Vassar. Freshmen Mitchell Mullock and Jake Silver also each will look to strengthen a bullpen that posted an ERA of 5.56 last season. Rubin could be another name to watch at the backend of the bullpen for Vassar, as he was touching mid-80s on the radar gun during in winter camp.
 
"The depth is key, especially playing the four-game sets like we do," said Berg. "We've got some young arms that have come in that we think can make an impact early on here so we're excited about them…Erk and I are trying to keep it business as usual."
 
COACHING STAFF
Joining Righter will be a familiar face in the Vassar College dugout in Blayne Fuke. The University of Rochester standout during his playing days is back for his sixth season as an assistant in some capacity. A name that is very familiar as well in the Hudson Valley comes to Vassar in the form of Dave Onusko. Onusko was one of the most successful coaches in the region as a high school coach, leading his Marlboro High School squad to a state title last year. He joins the squad this year looking to mentor the hitters.