The 2022 SUNY Oneonta baseball team will be experienced and deep as they open its season on Sunday, Feb. 27 at Rutgers Camden.  The Red Dragons return many position starters along with a strong group of arms from last year's SUNYAC tournament team, as they look to make a run at the top spot in the conference.
 
"It's an exciting time to be a part of the SUNYAC," said Head Coach Ben Grimm.  "The conference may be the strongest it's ever been this spring and we look forward to the weekly challenges that will present.  We have a strong core group returning that we expect to provide strong leadership for our new players and have demonstrated the desire to win. With the new additions along with the returning group, we are excited for the challenge of this spring as we work towards bringing a SUNYAC championship to Oneonta."
 
Highlighting the list of returning players is senior Michael Losak (Merrick/Sanford H. Calhoun) and junior Sean Liquori (Thiells/North Rockland).  Both players are coming off exceptional seasons and both were named to the Collegiate Baseball News "Players to Watch List" in Division III for the upcoming season.
 
Losak and Liquori gave Oneonta a 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation, and both were rewarded for their performances by the SUNYAC coaches.  Both were selected to the All-Conference Second Team with Liquori taking home Rookie of the Year honors.  Additionally, Losak was honored by the ABCA as a Third Team All-Region player.
 
After starting the season in the pen, Losak found himself in the starting rotation during the latter part of the season.  Losak finished the season with a 2-1 record and a 3.34 earned run average.  In 35 innings of work, he struck out 44 batters and held opponents to a .212 batting average against.
 
On the mound, Liquori was 4-3 with a 3.80 ERA.  In 42 2/3rds innings, he struck out 35 hitters and held opponents to a .248 batting average against.  At the plate, he hit .296 and drove in 11 runs while scoring 17 times.  He had a .408 slugging and .407 on-base percentage.
 
Other returning field starters include senior Matthew McAllister (Vestal/Vestal) and juniors Liam Kaseta (Somers/Somers) and Jake Barrett (Hauppauge/St. Anthony's).  McAllister split time at First base and DH. Kaseta was the starting left fielder while Barrett was the starting third baseman.
 
Kaseta led the team with a .347 average and drove in 16 runs.  He slugged .480 and had an on-base percentage of .393.  Barrett was right behind Kaseta with a .325 average while leading the team with 13 extra-base hits and a .590 slugging percentage.  McAllister hit .306 with 6 doubles and a .414 on base percentage.
 
Players who will provide depth in the infield include sophomores Cole Rockwell (Liverpool/Cicero-North Syracuse) and Bradley Turner (Stone Ridge/Rondout Valley).  Returners in the outfield include seniors Patrick McGee (Mahopac/Mahopac) and Michael Sabatine (Fairport/Fairport) along with junior Joe Ottaviano (Nanuet/Albertus Magnus) and sophomores Thomas Skoczek (Brooklyn/Xavier) and Kevin Walters (Staten Island/Susan E. Wagner).
 
In addition to Losak and Liquori, senior Matthew Petrossi (Fairport/Fairport) and sophomore Michael Sadowski (Queens/Queens Metropolitan) return and look to build on their success from last spring. Petrossi made six appearances with three starts recording a 2-1 record with 14 strikeouts.  Sadowski started a pair of games as a rookie finishing 1-2 with 25 strikeouts in 22 innings.
 
Returning pitchers that will provide more depth include seniors Benjamin Marsh (Halifax, Nova Scotia/Lockview) and Dean Langman (New Hartford/New Hartford), junior Logan Carriero (Somers/Somers) and sophomores Matthew Russo (Poughquag/Arlington), Drew Vincent (Commack/Commack), and Kyle Rosenberger (Montgomery/Valley Central).
 
After opening the season in New Jersey, Oneonta is scheduled to play its first home games Mar. 5-6 versus SUNY Canton.  The Red Dragons are scheduled to open its SUNYAC schedule at home against rival Cortland on Friday and Saturday, Mar. 25-26.
 
Link to Full Schedule
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