Baseball – 2014 Preview: Jackson Liberty
Jackson Liberty Lions
Head Coach: Jim Rankin, seventh season
Record Last Year: 18-9 (12-2, first place in B South)
| Returning Starters | Yr. | Position | 2013 Batting Stats | 2013 Pitching Stats |
| James Sofield | Sr. | SS/2B/P | .341/.382/.451, 6 2B, 1 HR, 18 R, 14 RBI, 5 SB | 39.2 IP, 35 H, 16 BB, 40 K, 3.71 ERA, 5-3 |
| Dan Naif | Sr. | 1B/P | .299/.329/.299, 8 R, 10 RBI, 3 SB | 13 IP, 13 H, 4 BB, 20, 3.77 ERA, 2-0 |
| Dan Serreino | Sr. | P/OF | .282/.378/.297, 1 2B, 8 R, 14 RBI, 3 SB | 62.2 IP, 54 H, 18 BB, 61 K, 2.57 ERA, 7-4 |
| Returning Players | Yr. | Position | 2013 Batting Stats | 2013 Pitching Stats |
| Joel Rivera | Jr. | C | .222/.363/.278, 1 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI | |
| Howard Taylor | Jr. | P/UTIL | .273/.414/.318, 1 2B, 9 R, 8 RBI | 15 IP, 16 H, 2 BB, 11 K, 4.67 ERA |
Key Losses: Brendan Benecke (C), Angel Garced (SS), Tyler Pallante (P/3B), Jordan Mundell (OF/INF), Ben Dinapoli (OF), Billy Carlock (OF)
Key Newcomers: Terrence Vincent (Sr., 3B/P), Mike Carillo (Sr., OF), Sean Galvin (Jr., 2B/SS), Dylan Millemann (Jr., 2B/3B), Anthony Messina (Jr., C), Matt Pinto (Jr., OF), Brandon Pallante (So., 3B/P), Ryan Van Wickle (So., 2B/SS/P), Joe Santanello (So., 1B/P), Kenny Pommerencke (So., OF), Kyle Tavaska (Fr., OF)
Team Outlook
Coming off a history-making run through the Shore Conference Tournament, Jackson Liberty has said goodbye to some core players who have essentially defined the young program during their time between the lines. Tyler Pallante and Angel Garced were four-year starters, and Brendan Benecke was a three-year starter behind the plate for one of the Shore Conference’s most consistent programs. For those keeping score, that is a four-year shortstop (Garced), a four-year workhorse on the mound (Pallante) and a three-year catcher the Lions will have to replace.
If a team is losing Division I talent at premium positions, one good way to keep the edge on the competition is with pitching. Jackson Liberty has plenty of that, led by Seton Hall recruit Dan Serreino and four-year starter James Sofield. The two right-handers combined for 102 1/3 innings last year, with Serreino logging 62 2/3 innings while emerging as the team’s No. 1 starter. Serreino made his mark in the Shore Conference Tournament by beating both Red Bank Catholic and CBA during the Lions’ surprising run as the No. 7 seed. Sofield, meanwhile, struck out 40 in 39 2/3 innings and also hit a homer and six doubles at the plate. Senior Dan Naif will likely round out the top of the pitching staff after striking out 20 to just four walks in 13 innings last year, but sophomore Brandon Pallante and junior Terrence Vincent will push for innings as well.
Jackson Liberty had an overall down year at the plate last year and really rode their pitching down the stretch. After losing the likes of Benecke, Garced, Jordan Mundell and Pallante, the Lions might have trouble scoring runs again this year and might also take a step back defensively. Sofield can handle shortstop, but replacing a leader behind the plate like Benecke doesn’t happen instantly. Offense might not be a strength, but if Jackson Liberty catches the ball, it’s going to be awfully hard to score on that pitching and awfully hard to beat the Lions.
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