Hartwick Hawks

Even though winter's lovely snow still falls from the sky, the Hawks club baseball team has begun it's pre-season practices. For the next 3 weeks the team will be getting their home run strokes back and their arms loosened as they prepare for the season opener in Alfred, NY.

This year's team features a nice mix of returners from last year's test run season, as well as promising newcomers. The biggest returners include captain 2B Matthew Caldwell, 3B Sean McKenna, 1B Vince Palmieri, CF Johnathan Kravetz, and SP Christopher Soto as they look to build on last year's "test-run." Newcomers SP Joshua Helmer, 1B Corbett Storyk, 2B Tim Kane, 3B Tyler Abbass, and 1B Thomas LaManna will be looking to crack the starting line-up with hopes of making an impact this season.

The Hawks line-up is full of power hitters and has the ability to put up some big numbers on the scoreboard. Meanwhile what looked like a potentially weak rotation, after Matthew Walsh and John Prentice's departure, has been bolstered by Helmer's appearance and Brian McDonald's return.

The Hawks will start this season at a disadvantage due to a forfeit loss during the fall to Bard College, however, despite the handicap, the Hawks will look to start 2010 fast with a 2 game series at Alfred University. Alfred's season started in the Fall with 2 losses to both SUNY Binghamton and Bard College. Alfred is led by senior SS Brad Canale, senior 2B Ryan Thompson, and senior OF Nicholas Rampersad.

The Hawks will look to throw Christopher Soto in game 1 which starts at 1pm and Joshua Helmer in game 2 which starts at 4pm.

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The National Club Baseball Association released it's pre-season Top 25 for the upcoming 2010 season and a surprising new face appeared on it, Bard College. With 18 votes, Bard ranks 23rd umong over 90+ teams in Division II after starting the spring 4-0 including two victories over Alfred University. Despite being in their first season, Bard has surprised a couple of teams in District I including Sacred Heart. Topping the list was Penn State University (176), followed by Wyoming (155), Virgina Commonwealth (150), Maryland (114), and Hofstra University (105).

Other than Bard College, only one other District I-North team received votes for the Top 25 which was SUNY Geneseo with 2 votes. Hartwick College did not receive any votes and plays it's first game in 5 weeks a doubleheader against Alfred University. Junior Christopher Soto is expected to take the ball for game 1, while freshman transfer southpaw Bryan Schweitzer is expected to pitch game 2.

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