ELMIRA, N.Y. -- For the first time in four years, the Elmira College baseball team will journey to the Sunshine State to open the season, as the Soaring Eagles are preparing to migrate to Winter Haven, Florida, for the 2020 RussMatt Central Florida Invitational from February 17-22.

Within the Empire 8 Conference, EC faces a different set of challenges than in previous years. The new-look conference is without three former members, leaving four institutions in the mix for the E8 title. Elmira, Houghton, St. John Fisher, and Utica are all guaranteed a spot in the double-elimination postseason tournament, although the right to host the playoffs is up for grabs.

Head Coach Corey Paluga enters his sixth season at the helm after graduating just five student-athletes last summer. With the majority of the team's lineup back, the Soaring Eagles have set the bar high for their offense in 2020. However, the team must replace two former Empire 8 All-Conference pitchers on the mound. If the offense, defense, and pitching staff all come together, Paluga believes his squad can bounce back this spring.

Infield
Around the diamond, the Soaring Eagles will look identical. On the corners are seniors Tommy Fogarty '20 and Joey Florio '20, while brothers Mark Ryan '21 and Mason Ryan '22 occupy the middle infield.

Fogarty has been a starter since his freshman season and has locked down the first base bag over the past two years. Although his average dipped slightly as a junior, he is arguably the most consistent batter and will be key for Elmira near the top of the lineup card. Slotting behind Fogarty with the potential to get at-bats as designated hitters are sophomores Joe Morrone '22 and Max Nolter '22.

"He's certainly one of those guys that his teammates look up to," Paluga said about Fogarty. "He's been a consistent energy and voice on the right side of the infield. As much as he produces runs offensively, he's also saving runs for us defensively."

At the hot corner, Florio flashes the leather on a regular basis, whether it's charging a slow roller in the grass or laying out and getting dirty. He was limited to only 24 starts due to injury in 2019, forcing Paluga to utilize some different options to cover third, but Florio's fielding percentage at that position was by far the best.

The Ryan brothers are penciled in as the top tandem in the middle, with Mark covering second base and Mason at short. The former hit at a .261 clip, an improvement of 20 percentage points between his freshman and sophomore seasons. The younger Ryan led all freshmen in 2019 with 36 starts and ranked second on the team with 10 multi-hit games.

Pushing for time will be sophomore Jared Money '22 at the keystone, plus rookies Felix De La Cruz '23 and Jarod Signorelli '23. Signorelli is a traditional middle-infield prospect with the chops to back up Mason Ryan at short, while the versatility of De La Cruz could earn him reps at second, third, or short.

Behind the plate is a strong stable of catchers, perhaps the deepest platoon in program history. Jordan Plaisted '21 took over as the team's primary backstop last season and is expected to retake the reins as a junior. But Paluga has expressed immense confidence in sophomores Luke Frontale '22 and Anthony Roman '22, as well as freshman Andrew Frye '23. With so many options, the Soaring Eagles can get creative with their substitutions in later innings, specifically if that means pulling a catcher off the bases in favor of a pinch-runner when scoring opportunities arise.

"It takes pressure off of Jordan," Paluga said. "Jordan's our guy behind the plate. He's going to catch a lot for us. But in any situation where we need to make a change mid-game, we have confidence in Luke, Anthony, or Andrew to be able to fill in and do what we need them to do."

Outfield
One of the losses to graduation was left fielder Harrison Zambarano '19, who burst onto the scene as the team's biggest power threat with three home runs and a .438 slugging percentage a year ago. Zambarano passed that torch down to seniors Jansen Crossley '20 and Jack Volpe '20, a duo that oozes run-producing potential in the middle of the lineup.

As the everyday right fielder, Crossley leads all returning batters after putting up team- and career-highs with a .312 average, 39 hits, and 21 RBIs last season. The converted second baseman received national attention heading into his senior campaign, as he was one of three Soaring Eagles named to Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's Division III Players to Watch List in January.

"Since he made the transition to right field, his confidence has just continued to climb," Paluga said. "I see him taking the next step in his offensive development, but with his confidence in the outfield – a position that hasn't been as familiar to him – he's going to be very valuable."

Volpe, on the other hand, is looking to establish himself as the starting center fielder. He fits the bill as a five-tool player with a solid 6-foot-2-inch, 200-pound frame, plus wheels, and a high baseball IQ. However, the Bedford, Nova Scotia, native suffered a season-ending injury in the second game of the 2019 season. A healthy Volpe would be a game-changer for the Soaring Eagles in 2020.

"What sometimes gets overlooked through his first three years is the great value that he brings from a leadership aspect," said Paluga about Volpe. "Even when he's been hurt and hasn't been able to play, the leadership he's brought has really made a big difference.

"To have him healthy going into the spring season, it's going to be important for our offense. I think our outfield is that much stronger having him in center field. He's a very toolsy player. His ability to run, to roam the outfield, to put up some power numbers at the plate, he brings a lot of different aspects to the team."

An intense battle to fill the left-field spot ensues. The candidates include Sam Plaugher '20, Shane Hake '21, James Delaney '22, and Colin McLaughlin '22. Like Crossley, Plaugher shifted his focus from the infield to the outfield. Despite playing six different positions on defense, the senior from Lansdale, Pennsylvania, logged his best numbers at the dish last spring with a .268 average, 30 hits, 16 runs, and 14 RBIs, which puts his name at the top of the list of left-field possibilities. Hake, a third-year outfielder from Ontario, New York, and Delaney, a sophomore out of Newburgh, New York, gained valuable experience as a platoon in center following Volpe's early-season injury. While they stand on opposite ends of the height spectrum, the 6-foot-3-inch Hake and 5-foot-6-inch Delaney both possess the speed to cover the expansive Dunn Field and tear up the bases.

Pitching
There are roles on the mound that need to be filled without former Empire 8 All-Conference hurlers Nick Cottone '19 and Andy Reed '19, but the Soaring Eagles have 13 different arms at their disposal. Headlining the staff is a pair of returning starting pitchers, Taber Carter '21 and Garinder Singh Sarana '20.

Carter began his sophomore season out of the bullpen but was given the opportunity to start after beginning the year with three scoreless outings. His 6.1 innings opposite Ithaca in early April may have been his brightest showing, as he held the perennial regional power to one run in a no-decision. Following a stellar summer ball season, Carter garnered a spot on the D-III Players to Watch List, so keep an eye out for the junior righty as he looks to develop into an ace.

Sarana is an imposing figure toeing the rubber. The 6-foot-6-inch right-hander has exceptional stuff, a fastball-curveball combo that's resulted in the highest strikeout-per-nine average (9.37) and lowest opposing batting average (.238) in program history. Command of the fastball is the only obstacle in the native Vancouverite's way to becoming a reliable arm that can last long into his starts.

Among those also competing for starts are Corey DeMauro '20, Zach Williamson '20, Angus Adams '22, and Robert Gruber '22. DeMauro and Williamson have been given the opportunity to start at various points throughout their careers. If either senior can cement themselves into the third spot in the rotation, it would solve a major piece of the pitching puzzle for the Soaring Eagles this spring.

"I think Taber and 'G' are going to be towards the top as far as innings pitched, but I think we have other guys who are going to compete for probably as many innings as them," Paluga explained. "Corey DeMauro is pitching well and has made progress in his four years, Zach Williamson has been a steady pitcher for us in his first three years. Those four, in particular, are going to see a lot of innings."

Adams, another one of the several Canadian-born standouts on Elmira's roster, received Empire 8 Rookie of the Week honors following a stellar 4.0-inning, five-strikeout effort against nationally-ranked Johns Hopkins. On the other hand, Gruber joined the Soaring Eagles after spending his freshman season at Erie Community College. The southpaw is eager to show what he can do on the mound after striking out 13 in just 9.1 innings with the Kats.

"Angus saw a lot of opportunities last year as a freshman, and I think he's going to continue that maturation process on the mound," Paluga said. "Adding Robert Gruber in the transfer process is going to be valuable for us, not only as someone who has college experience already but as a left-handed pitcher."

Forming a core of to-go relievers are juniors Alex Crysler '21 and Mason Weir '21, and second-year man Kyle Tubbs '22. In nine games as a rookie, Tubbs led all Elmira pitchers with a paltry .209 batting average against and a 1.08 WHIP. Originally from Wyckoff, New Jersey, the slender right-handed hurler will be leaned on often at the end of close games.

Also factoring into the mix is Steve Leopold '22 and newcomers David Kruis '23, Jack Finnerty '23, and Jordan Rawn '23. Long- and short-relief opportunities will be offered to all four. Of the first-year pitchers, Paluga noted Rawn has a high ceiling. He's a 6-foot-6-inch, 235-pound left-handed hurler and power-hitting DH candidate. Another lefty, Finnerty, received all-state accolades as a baseball and ice hockey player during his prep career at Hugh C. Williams High School in Canton, New York.

Season Opener
The first week of the 2020 campaign will be played in Florida as part of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. Three of the four teams on Elmira's schedule are new opponents, including New England-based institutions Bates and Brandeis. On Monday, February 17, the Soaring Eagles will take on the Bobcats of Bates and the Judges of Brandeis in a non-traditional doubleheader.

In Bates, the Purple and Gold face a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Tournament qualifier from a year ago. The Bobcats recorded their first winning season since 2013 by going 19-17 overall and are expected to return all three All-NESCAC honorees, including catcher Jack Arend, the 2019 Co-Defensive Player of the Year.

Members of the prestigious University Athletic Association (UAA), Brandeis won 17 games last spring, more than five times as many wins from 2018. Like Bates, the Judges are slated to return all four of their All-UAA selections, headlined by junior infielder Mike Khoury. As a sophomore, Khoury mashed .370 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs, all team highs.