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Clarkson University Athletics

2022 CU Baseball Preview

Steever21
Gary Mikel

Men's Baseball | 3/2/2022 7:00:00 AM

Some changes will start in 2022 as the Liberty League splits into two divisions, posts a different playoff-format, and each weekend will consist of a three-game series rather than a four-game set. What isn't different in 2022 is that the Clarkson University Baseball team will be firmly in the mix for a conference championship.

Since the first conference tournament occurred for the league in 2003, the Golden Knights have appeared in the championship round more times than any other team, winning league titles in 2009 and 2011. In the 18 seasons in which a conference tournament has taken place, the Green and Gold have been a part of the grouping 14 times.

2022 Liberty League Preseason Poll/Outlook

Long-time head coach Jim Kane and assistant Ben Moxley return a squad that lost just one starter from the lineup and only two pitchers that worked more than 10 innings a year ago. With a veteran-laden group, Clarkson is poised to challenge the top teams once again.

The Golden Knights struggled with injuries a year ago and Coach Kane juggling a lineup that was rarely at full strength. Senior catcher Mike Nee saw time in only 13 games, but he has posted a career batting average of .378 in 143 collegiate at bats. Grad student Tommy Bianchi, one of the team's outfielders, played in only 17 games a year ago and had a .471 on-base percentage with a .341 average, two years after earning Liberty League First-Team All-Star honors. Fellow conference all-star and infielder Michael Tito also batted .324 in only 20 games a year ago.

Those three bats back at full speed will certainly add to an offense already flush with hitters. Grad student Michael Mieczkowski boasts a career average of .378 and was a league all-star last season, while junior Kent Wilson and Colby Brouillette also earned conference all-star honors in 2021. Wilson led the team in several categories, including total bases (65), runs scored (30), and hits (46) while also stealing six bases. Brouillette ranked among the league leaders in runs batted in (36) and extra-base hits (18), including 12 doubles and four home runs. Adding to the depth was Zachary Carpin, who hit .349/.461/.683 in 23 games, and Jonathan Irons, who batted .325/.426/.375. Caleb Doyle reached base at a .381 clip and also solidifies the defense up the middle with steady work at shortstop. 

Clarkson did lose a couple of arms in Jake Phillips and Joe Stockman, but the recruiting class is full of pitchers ready to take their place. Returning to the mound are upperclassmen Glenn Stever, Griffin Tubbs, and Kyle Locklear. The trio combined to pitch 135 innings a year ago, well over half of the frames pitched by the Knights in 31 games. Stever had 38 strikeouts and a 4.60 earned run average while Tubbs tossed 43.2 innings and had a 4.95 earned run average. When on, few can challenge the velocity and stuff of Locklear, who struck out 44 hitters in 38.1 innings of work in 2021.

Overall, the Knights boast a veteran squad that includes the aforementioned graduate students and seniors as well as Derek Cuyler, Sean Gill, Gerard Mouton, Griffin Racey, and John Young, giving the Knights five graduate students and nine seniors on the roster. 

 



 
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Players Mentioned

Jake Phillips

#17 Jake Phillips

LHP
6' 0"
Senior
L/L
Joe Stockman

#10 Joe Stockman

IF
6' 2"
Graduate Student
R/R
Tommy Bianchi

#23 Tommy Bianchi

OF
5' 10"
Graduate Student
L/L
Colby Brouillette

#14 Colby Brouillette

C/UT
6' 0"
Junior
L/R
Zachary Carpin

#15 Zachary Carpin

IF
5' 11"
Senior
R/R
Derek Cuyler

#20 Derek Cuyler

C
6' 1"
Senior
R/R
Caleb Doyle

#9 Caleb Doyle

UT
5' 9"
Senior
R/R
Sean Gill

#12 Sean Gill

OF
6' 1"
Senior
R/L
Jonathan Irons

#34 Jonathan Irons

OF
6' 1"
Junior
R/R
Kyle Locklear

#3 Kyle Locklear

OF/RHP
5' 10"
Senior
R/R

Players Mentioned

Jake Phillips

#17 Jake Phillips

6' 0"
Senior
L/L
LHP
Joe Stockman

#10 Joe Stockman

6' 2"
Graduate Student
R/R
IF
Tommy Bianchi

#23 Tommy Bianchi

5' 10"
Graduate Student
L/L
OF
Colby Brouillette

#14 Colby Brouillette

6' 0"
Junior
L/R
C/UT
Zachary Carpin

#15 Zachary Carpin

5' 11"
Senior
R/R
IF
Derek Cuyler

#20 Derek Cuyler

6' 1"
Senior
R/R
C
Caleb Doyle

#9 Caleb Doyle

5' 9"
Senior
R/R
UT
Sean Gill

#12 Sean Gill

6' 1"
Senior
R/L
OF
Jonathan Irons

#34 Jonathan Irons

6' 1"
Junior
R/R
OF
Kyle Locklear

#3 Kyle Locklear

5' 10"
Senior
R/R
OF/RHP