The College of Staten Island men’s baseball team officially closed their 2010 regular season with a lop-sided win over visiting Yeshiva University in a single, non-conference affair, 20-2. The Dolphins improved their impressive mark to an overall record of 31-10, improving on their highest win total in CSI single season history. The Dolphins hope that their closer at home against Yeshiva is merely a tune-up for the upcoming postseason, as from here the Dolphins will await word on possible tournament berths into the ECAC Metro NY/NJ and NCAA Division III National Baseball Tournament.
Everyone came to the party in the heavy-handed win over the Maccabees, as the Dolphins used 20 players in the contest, including eight pitchers. CSI starter Pat Gale had plenty of run support to work with, as the Dolphins raced out to a 9-0 lead after just three innings. Gale and fellow starter Paul Ciccazzo each pitched two frames, while relievers Richard Anderson, James Mardikos, Joe Jacobson, and Anthony Collucci each added one inning of work.
In a neat twist, CSI sent utility player and senior Devon DiCasoli to the hill to start the ninth inning with CSI up by the 20-2 cushion. DiCasoli only faced one batter, recording an out and becoming the first CSI player in memory to play all nine positions in the field during a career.
It wasn’t the only record of note in the contest. At the dish, Gale set the CSI record for at-bats in a single season with 161, taking down the former record held by former Dolphin Anthony Piccirillo in both 2006 and 2008, and with his sac fly in the second, Gale set the single season record for that as well with 8, breaking the former mark held by Jason Anarumo in 1997. Both Gale and DiCasoli are in the running to take down the CSI record for hits in a single season. Gale (67) and DiCasoli (65) can both eclipse the current mark if the season continues, which stands at 70. By virtue of his six strikeouts on the hill, Gale upped his single-season total this year to 98, most ever at CSI for a single season.
Meanwhile, as a team, CSI played in its 41st game of the year, tying a record set in 2008. After scattering 22 hits tonight, the Dolphins raised their team batting average to .359, just a single digit behind the all-time best mark of .360, set in 1991. CSI has already shattered the old record for hits in a single season with 523, blasting the former best mark of 448, set in 2006. CSI needs 13 more runs this season to match their all-time record of 391, set in 1997.
For tonight anyway, CSI was paced by DiCasoli’s 4-for-6 performance, as the senior added four RBI and four runs scored. After missing four games, sophomore Henry Roman was back in the lineup for CSI, going 4-for-5 in his return with an RBI and two runs scored. Fresh off of his MVP performance in the CUNYAC Championship, Cory Sullivan had a 3-for-6 performance including a grand-slam homerun over the left field fence. Tom DeWaters scattered a trio of hits as well.
CSI seems primed for a draw in the upcoming ECAC Metro NY/NJ Tournament, which takes place May 12-16. Berths into the tournament will be announced on Sunday, May 9. An at-large bid for entry into the NCAA Division III National Tournament are also not out of the realm of possibility. The call for that field will take place the following Sunday, May 16. The Dolphins are hoping that there will plenty of baseball to follow in the schedule.