Hofstra baseball seeks playoff bid

After combining for just 18 victories in the 2008-09 seasons, Hofstra won 20 games on the baseball diamond a year ago and remained in contention for a Colonial Athletic Association playoff berth throughout the homestretch after being selected to finish last in the coaches poll.

Third-year head coach Patrick Anderson has the Pride moving in the right direction, and the team will look to make another positive step and qualify for the CAA playoffs for the first time since 2005.

“We have a great deal of talent and depth on this team,” Anderson said. “Last year we got used to winning. We need to get back to doing the little things well. Our goal is to make the CAA playoffs, but we know it’ll be a challenge.”

Hofstra returned 19 players, led by senior outfielder Scott A’Hara and sophomore shortstop Matt Ford, from a team that compiled a 10-14 record against CAA rivals last spring. The Pride lost its first 10 games in 2010 and is trying to recover from a rough 0-8 start to ’11.

A’Hara has picked up right where he left off when he hit .346 with three homers, 23 RBI and eight stolen bases as a junior. He bats left, throws left and plays left field. In his first 11 games of 2011, A’Hara batted .351 (13 hits) with an on-base percentage of .442. Junior center fielder Danny Poma, a transfer from Cuesta College in California, enjoyed a fast start to his Hofstra career with 15 hits and a .333 average through a dozen games. Another transfer, junior T.J. Thomas, from San Diego State, starts in right and is expected to bolster the middle of the lineup. Others in the outfield mix include freshmen Bryan Verbitsky, Kenny Jackson and Taylor Stuart. Verbitsky has been strong on the mound in relief.

The infield and offense was forced to deal with early adversity when Ford, a CAA All-Rookie selection after batting .311 with 27 RBI and seven steals, missed six games. But he is back and starting and hitting .333. Freshman Logan Davis filled the void at shortstop during Ford’s absence and is spending some time at third base. Bobby Gazzola, another freshman, is working at second, while newcomer Joe Perez, a junior, can handle either corner.

Freshman Matt Reistetter tops the depth chart at catcher, while backup Dylan Nasiatka contributes a lot as a designated hitter. A transfer from Bakersfield College, Nasiatka batted .473 with 33 RBIs and 46 runs scored in 2010 en route to earning California CC All-America honors. 

The pitching staff is young, with 13 of 17 hurlers either sophomores or freshmen. The arms faced stiff competition in Florida State and Florida Atlantic to open the campaign and should only benefit as the year unfolds. 

David D’Errico, Rob Kumbatovic and Jared Rogers comprise the Pride’s starting rotation. D’Errico, a sophomore, split six decisions a year ago and won the CAA opener with a quality outing at James Madison. Rogers, also a sophomore, won a team-high four games in 13 starts. Kumbatovic, a graduate student, didn’t play last season but had four wins and 44 strikeouts to lead the 2009 staff. Freshman Everett Keller is pushing for starting assignments. Seniors Jeff Guthridge and Sean Monaghan, sophomore lefty Joe Burg and Verbitsky head the bullpen.

“When it comes to pitching, it’s more mental than anything else,” Anderson said of the inconsistency. “It’s not a question of talent. The guys just need to trust their stuff a little more.”