Sept. 26, 2003

The Endicott baseball team welcomed over 35 new and returning players to campus this fall. Coming off the 2003 season, during which the Gulls won their second CCC title in four years, Endicott looks to defend its title with a strong recruiting class. The team has improved its depth at all positions and looks forward to fall competition to determine the roster.

Within the NCAA-sanctioned five weeks of fall practice, each player is invited to practice for two weeks before any roster decisions are made. The roster will settle around 25-28 players for the final three weeks of the fall. Players are evaluated on intrasquad scrimmage performances, drill work and scrimmages with outside competition. This fall, the 5 scrimmages are with Bentley, St. Joseph's College (ME), Worcester State, Merrimack and Suffolk.

Early indications point to a strong pitching staff for the Gulls. The 'big 4' figure to be returnees Jon Trowt (Jr., Beverly, MA), Greg Allain (Jr., Berlin, NH), Jack Brancaleone (Sr., Gloucester, MA) and Jamie Turner (Sr., Woburn, MA). However, the rest of staff has outstanding high school pitchers including: Chris Serrano (Stoneham, MA), Ian McCarthy (Winthrop, ME), Mike Daggett (Sabbattus, ME), Jason Carter (Portland, ME), Derek Gartner (Poughkeepsie, NY), Ian Parkinson (Peabody, MA) and Jason Newham (Patchogue, LI, NY).

The position players are strong all around the diamond and Endicott will get a boost from the unexpected return of Mike Lucas (Woodbridge, CT). The graduate student will play his fourth season in 2004 after missing all of 2002 with a broken foot.

The fall season culminates in the annual Alumni game on October 17 at 6:00 pm.