JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University baseball team is coming off its winningest season in school history after producing 21 wins in 2018 and when the 2019 campaign begins on March 9 in Florida, the Gothic Knights will do so with a healthy 19 letterwinners back from its record-setting club.
 
NJCU was postseason eligible in 2017 and 2018, only to have the Eastern College Athletic Conference Tournament be cancelled. The 2018 club broke the single-season record of 19 wins set in 1986 and matched in 1995 and 2005. NJCU has won 39 games in the last two seasons, 54 over  the past three and 71 in a four-year stretch dating to 2015. All are program records. And all can be directly attributed to the culture built by eighth-year head coach Jerry Smith, who enters the 2019 season with 71 career wins. Assistant coaches Nick Cesare—the team's pitching coach—and Raj Subramanian, have been along for every step of the way since Smith became skipper in 2012.
 
Ross Halkias joins the program as its new hitting coach, replacing Andrew Otterberg, who departed after two seasons to take the same position at Division I Monmouth.
 
In addition to increasing its win totals in the NJAC, the Gothic Knights will strive to improve in close games. The team lost seven one-run games a year ago—the difference between 21-18 and 28-11.
 
NJCU, predicted to finish eighth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference preseason poll, will play up to 40 games this season, weather permitting. NJCU already lost two games due to weather in the week leading up to its annual spring break trip to the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. The Knights will play 13 home games at the Thomas M. Gerrity Athletic Complex in Jersey City, 19 road contests and six neutral site games—all on the spring trip. Its new opening day is Saturday, March 9 when the Knights face 2010 NCAA Division III national champion Illinois Wesleyan in an evening contest.
 
The 18-game NJAC schedule begins on Saturday, March 30. NJCU plays eight home conference games—including a pair of Saturday home doubleheaders— and 10 road contests.
 
In addition to 19 returnees, NJCU has added 13 newcomers for a 32-man roster. Among the returnees is a 10-man senior class, including five four-year players.
 
Notable returning position players are senior shortstop Nick LoGatto (Helmetta, NJ/Spotswood), a 2018 ABCA Second-Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region selection, junior right fielder Juan Pena (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy), a 2018 Second-Team All-NJAC selection, junior left fielder Bill Feehan (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro), senior second baseman Tom Pulcine (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) and senior Jesse Kraft (Nutley, NJ/Saint Mary-Rutherford), who will shift to center fielder this year.
 
The Knights lost their top four starting pitchers—including Kyle Kafer (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown), Mike Ramirez (Old Bridge, NJ/Saint Joseph-Metuchen) and Anthony Carfora (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South), returning senior left-hander Anthony Zicaro (Linden, NJ/Linden). The coaching staff has countered the losses by bringing in four impact pitchers in hard-throwing senior right-hander Fernando Guerrero (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth), junior lefty TJ MacFarland (Lacey, NJ/Lacey), junior righty Ian Ambrose (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) and sophomore righty Gavin Niland (Paramus, NJ/Paramus Catholic). NJCU returns veteran Sean Gibney (Rutherford, NJ/Saint Mary-Rutherford), a side-arming senior who can open games and throw nearly every day, and junior Corey Nase (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South), who was NJCU's projected closer last year before being injured in the opening week and taking a medical hardship for the season. Senior righty Nate Facey (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) is another experienced four-year arm for NJCU.
 
"The strength of the pitching staff is in their individuality," said Smith. "No roles will be defined until the year progresses but they all will bring something to the table and we are excited about the depth and work ethic this preseason from this group."

 


NJCU Team Quick Facts
2018 Record: 21-18 (6-12 NJAC)
Best Single-Season Record: 21-18 (2018)
NJAC Championships: 1962
NJAC Regular Season Titles: 1962
NCAA Division III Tournament Appearances: None
 
Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Jerry Smith
Career Record (Years): 114-152 (Eighth Year), .429 .pct
NJCU Record (Years): Same
Staff: Nick Cesare (Pitching Coach), Raj Subramanian (First Base Coach/Catcher), Ross Halkias (Hitting Coach)
 
Opening Day Depth Chart (Reserves in Parenthesis)
C:              Anthony Palmisano (Colonia, NJ/Colonia) (Luiggie Luna (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris))
1B:           Ricky Voss (Eatontown, NJ/Monmouth Regional)
2B:           Tom Pulcine (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) (Brandon Rivera (Aberdeen, NJ/Matawan Regional), Matt Corsi (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East))
SS:            Nick LoGatto (Helmetta, NJ/Spotswood) (Ryan Guthrie (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne))
3B:           Tom Pulcine (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) (Mike Albunia (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic), Dan McLaughlin (Clifton, NJ/Clifton))
LF:            Bill Feehan (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) (Miguel Valentin (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris), Brian Batista)
CF:           Jesse Kraft (Nutley, NJ/Saint Mary-Rutherford) (Leo Colon (Carteret, NJ/St. Anthony (Jersey City)))
RF:           Juan Pena (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy)
DH:          Ty Hawkins (Point Pleasant, NJ/Manasquan)
 
Projected Opening Day Lineup
1^st:            Pena (RF)
2^nd:           Nick LoGatto (Helmetta, NJ/Spotswood) (SS)
3^rd:            Bill Feehan (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) (LF)
4^th:            Ricky Voss (Eatontown, NJ/Monmouth Regional) (1B)
5^th:            Tom Pulcine (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) (2B/3B)
6^th:            Jesse Kraft (Nutley, NJ/Saint Mary-Rutherford) (CF)
7^th:            Designated Hitter
8^th:            Anthony Palmisano (Colonia, NJ/Colonia)/Luiggie Luna (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris) (C)
9^th:            2B/3B (either Mike Albunia (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic), Matt Corsi (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East), Dan McLaughlin (Clifton, NJ/Clifton) or Brandon Rivera (Aberdeen, NJ/Matawan Regional))
 

Key Returners Position Players/Hitters:

• Nick LoGatto (Helmetta, NJ/Spotswood), Senior, SS: 2018 NCAA Div. III Mid-Atlantic All-Region Second Team. Enters season needing seven hits to become 44th member of the 100-hit club and the ninth during the Smith era. Career: .302, .379 OBP, 100 games, 88 starts, 93 hits, 8 HR, 59 RBIs. 2018: Batted .367 with .444 OBP and .544 slugging, 54 hits, 36 runs, 4 HRs, 26 RBIs.
• Juan Pena (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy), Junior, RF: Second-Team All-NJAC in his first season of college baseball. In 38 games, batted .353 (.438 OBP/.515 SLG) with 48 hits, 14 extra-base hits and 25 RBIs.
• Bill Feehan (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro), Junior, LF: Started 70 of his 72 games over first two seasons. Owns a .973 career fielding percentage. Career: 69 hits, 48 runs, 47 walks, 39 RBIs, .279 average, .419 OBP. 2018: 1.000 fielding percentage in 67 chances. 35 hits, 10 doubles, 20 walks.
• Tom Pulcine (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan), Senior, 2B/3B: Started all 39 games in his first season in 2018. Batted .333 with 49 hits and 27 runs. Owned a .968 fielding percentage at second base with only six errors in 190 chances. Walked 25 times and held a .433 on-base percentage.
• Jesse Kraft (Nutley, NJ/Saint Mary-Rutherford), Senior, CF: In his first season in 2018, batted .288 with 32 hits and 10 doubles. Owned a .947 fielding percentage.

 
Key Returning Pitchers:

• Anthony Zicaro (Linden, NJ/Linden), Senior, Left-handed Pitcher: 34 appearances and 13 starts over three-year career. Started seven times in 2018. Thrown 82.1 career innings mixed between starting and relief roles.
• Corey Nase (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South), Junior, Right-handed Pitcher: 30 career appearances, all in relief (four saves). Owns a 4.32 career ERA. In 41.2 innings, 25 strikeouts.
• Nate Facey (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick), Senior Right-handed Pitcher: Has made 29 appearances and 16 starts. Owns a 5-3 career record in 64.1 innings.

 
Impact Newcomers:

• Ricky Voss (Eatontown, NJ/Monmouth Regional): He has the inevitable task of replacing one of the top offensive players in school history in first baseman Dan Berardi (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex). Voss will be the starting first baseman and cleanup hitter as a freshman. Not too often that happens in collegiate baseball. He was an All-Shore Conference honoree who posted the second most RBIs in single-season school history at Monmouth Regional. As a senior: .412, 38 RBIs, 3 HR, 39 hits, 15 doubles.
• Anthony Palmisano (Colonia, NJ/Colonia): Projected starter at catcher; will share catching duties with Luiggie Luna (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris), as both have proven to be excellent as freshmen.
• Luiggie Luna (Jersey City, NJ/Ferris): Projected backup at catcher but will share duties with Anthony Palmisano (Colonia, NJ/Colonia).
• Ty Hawkins (Point Pleasant, NJ/Manasquan): Transfer from Ocean County College.
• Fernando Guerrero (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth): Hard throwing righty that bring experience and should lead the staff in innings this season. Transfer from Marshall University and Ocean County College.
• Ian Ambrose (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial): Comes from Ocean County College and has several college starts under his belt already.
• Gavin Niland (Paramus, NJ/Paramus Catholic): Short on experience but not on talent and has grown tremendously as a pitcher in a short time. Transfer from Saint Thomas Aquinas College.
• TJ MacFarland (Lacey, NJ/Lacey): Comes in with college starts under his belt at Ocean County College and is savvy on the mound.

 

Biggest Losses:

• Dan Berardi (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex), First Baseman: 2018 NCAA Div. III Mid-Atlantic All-Region Third Team. One of the top all-around players in school history and a future Hall-of-Fame candidate. Finished career with 157 hits, 102 RBIs, 86 runs and 57 extra-base hits—39 doubles, three triples, 15 homers. In 124 games (120 starts), career .331 hitter with .375 OBP and .521 slugging. Also, one of the most reliable defensive players in NJCU history with a .991 fielding percentage in 860 chances (eight errors).
• Mike Ramirez (Old Bridge, NJ/Saint Joseph-Metuchen), Left-handed Pitcher: 2018 D3baseball.com Division III Mid-Atlantic All-Region Third Team as a utility player. Productive two-way player for NJCU for four seasons. On the mound, won nine games against NJCU's best opponents and had a 4.22 career ERA with 138 strikeouts in 181.1 innings pitched over 43 appearances (21 starts). Offensively, played in 105 total games (66 starts) and was a .298 career hitter with 40 RBIs, 37 runs, 62 hits and a .392 OBP.
• Kyle Kafer (Bordentown, NJ/Bordentown), Left-handed Pitcher: Three-year team ace, losing his freshman campaign due to injury. Won eight games and had a 4.26 ERA in 34 appearances (17 starts). Threw 139.1 innings in three years with two complete games. Had four career saves.
• Anthony Carfora (Toms River, NJ/Toms River South), Right-handed Pitcher: Solid three-year pitcher who went 8-5 in 29 appearances (seven starts) with one complete game. Struck out 63 batters in 88.1 innings. Will forgo his 2019 senior season to enter the police academy.
• Jan Castellano (Prospect Park, NJ/Paterson Eastside), Catcher: Strong-armed catcher opponents did not dare to run on. He threw out 18 of 35 runners attempting to steal. Had 28 hits and 25 runs scored at the plate. Has one season of eligibility left and may return during the 2020 season.
• Dan Foley (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East), Right-handed Pitcher: Two-year reliever who made 24 appearances and threw 30.2 innings.

 
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