The 2008 Binghamton University baseball team has begun its season without a Hitch — but that might not be a good thing.
The Bearcats, who finished with a school record 28 wins last season and their first-ever America East regular season championship, enter this season without several of its greatest players in program history — the foremost of whom is first baseman Brendon Hitchcock, the America East Player of the Year last season and Binghamton’s career leader in multiple offensive categories.
Hitchcock was followed out by eight other players — seven other seniors — including a starting catcher, shortstop, second baseman, left fielder and two ace starting pitchers, none of who were more important than the other.
“How do you replace a starting shortstop [Justin Smucker], a guy that had great leadership on the field as well as off?” said 16th-year head coach Tim Sinicki, who recently notched his 300th career win. “Hitchcock from an offensive standpoint, and I think he was terribly underrated as a defensive first baseman … I don’t think it’s easier to replace one than the other.”
But for those who remain from last year’s team, like captains Kyle Klee, a junior shortstop; third baseman Ryan James, a senior third baseman; and returning No. 1 starter, right-hander Zach Groh, a fifth-year senior; there is no expectation of a dropoff after Binghamton fell just short of an AE Tournament Title last May with a runner-up finish to Albany.
“It’s different this year. Last year we were expected by everyone to do well,” Groh said. “This year we as a team expect to do well. And I think other people look down on us because we lost a lot, but I think we’re going to be able to fill those spots up and do just as well as we did last year.”
Binghamton, which has opened its non-conference season to a tough-luck 3-7 record — five of its losses have come by two runs or less — has 12 new players on its 26-player roster, nine who are freshmen.
But the Bearcats do bring some experience to the front line. The rotation returns Groh, the America Pitcher of the Year two season ago and last season’s winningest pitcher with a 7-1 record; 6-foot-6-inch left-hander Jeff Dennis, a junior; and sophomore right-hander Murphy Smith.
Groh and Smith are both 1-1 this season, with 2.93 and 2.65 ERAs respectively. Groh and Dennis, who has allowed 13 runs in 13 1/3 innings so far, are both likely to be drafted.
“I’ve never gone to an early spring training season with as much communication with professional scouts as I’ve had this year,” Sinicki said.
The back of the bullpen returns two hard-throwing righties, Khalid Afify, who had six saves last season, and Greg Lane, who had a 3.32 ERA.
The lineup still has some veterans, too. Klee leads the team in the triple crown categories so far this season, and James is tied for the second-most hits on the team with 11. Klee bats in the middle of the lineup with James at leadoff.
Junior Ken Jacobi, a platoon outfielder last season, will take over as designated hitter. Sophomore Joe Charron, who, at 5 foot 8 inches, led the team with six home runs in 2007, will start in left.
Still, with the right side of the infield, catcher and two outfield spots vacated, the freshmen will have to grow up quick.
“They’re mature,” James said. “I remember when I came I as a freshman I stepped into a little different role. A lot of them are going to have a chance to play and they’re coming into some openings with starting spots. But they’re taking pride in that and working hard every day in practice.”
Pete Bregartner, an outfielder from East Islip, leads the newcomers with a .294 average. He has started in all 10 of the Bearcats games.
He’s followed by Corey Taylor, a Vestal High School graduate, who has started nine games and is batting .265. Taylor figures to be the team’s regular center fielder with Henry Dunn, an All-American last year as a freshman, sitting out the season to focus on his academics.
“Freshman All-Americans don’t grow on trees, so he would be hard to replace, but we have to do what’s in his best interest academically, not just athletically,” Sinicki said. “Instead of trying to dwell on his loss we’re looking at it as an opportunity for someone else.”
Catching will be split between a pair of freshmen, C.J. Lukaszewski and Jeff Skelhorne-Gross, who hails from Ontario. Both have struggled to sub .200-batting averages so far, but haven’t had any trouble handling the veteran pitching staff.
“Ultimately I place the responsibility of what pitch is being thrown on the pitcher, not the catcher,” Sinicki said. “But hopefully by midyear or so the catchers will know when Zach wants to throw his slider, when Dennis wants to throw his changeup.”
Sophomore Bryan Roberts, a transfer from Northeastern, and Brian Ivan will split time at second. Sophomore Jeff Abrams will also see time on the infield.
Junior transfer Ryan Holley slides in where Hitch used to stand, at first base.