Several Stags Start Season in Summer Leagues
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A total of 21 Fairfield University Baseball student-athletes will continue their 2021 season by competing in various collegiate summer leagues around the region, including a trio who will participate in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League. The 11 position players and 10 pitchers will have the chance to gain more at-bats at throw more innings against other collegiate players from around the country.
"We have placed our players in summer leagues for a continuation of their experience and to become better skilled baseball players," Head Coach
Bill Currier said. "We hope the position players face the best pitching and the pitchers face the best hitters during their summer league play. The experience and memories playing with other college athletes from a mix of teams will be invaluable in helping to make them a better person and player coming back in the fall."
Highlighting the group are the three members of the 2021 Fairfield weekend starting rotation, Michael Sansone, Jake Noviello, and Trey McLoughlin who all earned spots in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League, a collegiate summer league that has produced over 1000 major league players. During the Stags' historic season, Fairfield had one of the best pitching staffs in the country, ranking second in the country in ERA (3.14) and WHIP (1.09).
The starting trio anchored that pitching staff as the three combined for a 20-2 record, a 2.46 ERA, and 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings. Sansone, who went 9-2 and led the team with 73 strikeouts while pitching the series openers, will be lacing up for the Bourne Braves. Noviello, who tallied an unblemished 9-0 record in 10 starts, will play for the Orleans Firebirds. Finally McLoughlin, who struck out 12.4 batters per nine innings while coming back from an injury early in the season, will be competing for the Falmouth Commodores.
"Novi , Trey, and Mike all have the ability and experience to pitch in the Cape and pitch well," Coach Currier said. "They belong with the best in the country in the most talented league in the country.
Fairfield Baseball is proud they have earned the opportunity."
Along with the trio, the Stags will have four student-athletes competing in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL). Charlie Pagliarini will be joined by Mike Caruso and Bo Baker for the Mystic Schooners. Justin Guerrera, who tied the program's single season record with 13 homers in 2021, will continue his summer with the Newport Gulls. Guerrera has already appeared in six games for the Gulls and has recorded a .348 average with two homers and five RBI.
Fairfield will also have 10 student-athletes competing in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL). Four of those Stags will be playing on the same team as Mike Becchetti, Evan Berta, Jack Erbeck, and Matt Venuto will all lace up for the Mohawk Valley Diamond Dawgs.
The Stags will have another set of four student-athletes on the same team with 2021 Fairfield hits leader Mike Handal joining pitchers Billy Fitzgerald, Colin McVeigh, and Walker Sutman on the Albany Dutchmen. Peter Ostensen has already taken the mound twice for the Watertown Rapids and has earned a win and a save in three innings of work. Outfielder Ryan Strollo will join Ostensen as a member of the Watertown Rapids.
After a tremendous 2021 season, the MAAC Relief Pitcher of the Year Bryson Cafaro looks to continue his success with the New Britian Bees in the Future's Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL). In his first appearance, Cafaro earned the victory with 2.1 shutout innings.
Finally, Ethan Hibbard will take part in the Hudson Valley Collegiate Baseball League (HVCBL), Paul Catalano will compete for the Dansville Gilders in the New York City Baseball League (NYCBL), and AJ Donofrio has signed to the New Jersey Eagles in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League (ACBL).
The Stags are coming off a program record 39 win campaign that saw them earn the MAAC's first-ever At-Large bid into the NCAA Tournament where the Stags reached the Austin Regional Finals after defeating Southern and No. 21 Arizona State.