Stony Brook Seawolves: Can They Shock The World Again?

By Kelvin Read 

Last season: Stony Brook, a large university on Long Island, NY, had one of the most remarkable runs in college baseball history last year. The Seawolves became just the third team in history to make it to the CWS in Omaha, Nebraska while being a four seed in the regionals. This is the equivalent of a 13-16 seed making it to a Final Four in March Madness. It almost never happens.

AP Photo/ StonyBrook University Communications, John Griffin

After coming out of the loser’s bracket in the Miami regional to upset the powerhouse Hurricanes, the team exploded onto the national scene when they knocked off nationally ranked LSU in the Baton Rouge, LA super regional.

The Seawolves had the third best team batting average in the nation (.331), and with the help of some stellar pitching, they were able to make the school’s first CWS appearance after only becoming a Division One baseball school last decade. Sadly, the Seawolves were the first team eliminated in Omaha, but Stony Brook head coach Matt Senk, the National Coach of the Year in 2012, is optimistic that his program can build on the success that last year brought.

“My staff and I look forward to a bright future for Seawolves baseball as we continue to recruit and develop talented student-athletes who are passionate about our incredible university,”

Senk said via statement after his contract was extended through 2017. “I am proud and honored to lead Seawolves baseball and am confident that our best days are ahead of us."

Offense: Unfortunately, the Seawolves might not be able to “shock the world” this year. Last year, Stony Brook boasted an experienced team, led by All-American outfielder Travis Janikowski, who was drafted by the Padres in the first round of the MLB draft. Janikowski put up remarkable numbers, batting .414 and leading the nation with 79 runs scored out of the leadoff spot. The Seawolves also lost third baseman Willy Carmona (.395 Avg./12 HR/73 RBIs), second baseman Maxx Tissenbaum (.390/3/51), and catcher Patrick Cantwell (.290/2/34) to the draft, meaning that the Seawolves will be without the top four hitters in their batting order, and 51% of their runs scored in 2012.

To pick up the slack this year, the Seawolves will depend on sophomores Steven Goldstein (.337/4/34), Kevin Krause (.330/3/40), and Cole Peragine (.304/0/39), who all saw significant playing time last year, along with senior Tanner Nivins (.306/2/34). The Seawolves will miss Carmona’s power a lot, but if the offense is consistent from top to bottom, Stony Brook could make up for their lack of pop with a balanced attack. 

Pitching: Stony Brook will return their ace, junior Frankie Vanderka (3-3 record/2.33 ERA/47Ks/65.2IP), who pitched a complete game three-hitter to clinch the CWS berth for the Seawolves in the super regional. The loss of seniors Tyler Johnson (12-2/2.52/49/100) and Jasvir Rakkar (6-2/3.82/41/51.1) will hurt a pitching staff that was already thin, but the strong showing in the CWS brought in 7 freshman pitchers to hopefully step up and take their places.

Defense: Peragine started every game as a freshman at shortstop, and Goldstein and Nivins are both solid defenders in the outfield. Senk preaches defensive fundamentals, so the Seawolves should have no problem replacing Cantwell, who was taken in the second round of the draft as the best defensive catcher in college baseball.

Will the magic of last year transfer over to this year? It’s doubtful. While the Seawolves should have a solid season and will begin to build a consistent program off of their Cinderella story a year ago, losing seven players to the MLB draft will make it hard for the team to make it back to Omaha.

They should make the postseason again if their bats stay consistent and the rotation can find a few solid arms to back up Vanderka, but the Seawolves lack the depth that they had a season ago. Bright things are on the horizon for this program, but it might be a couple of years before the world gets another shock.