Temple University Athletics
2007 Baseball Outlook
1.22.07 | Baseball
Jan. 22, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - Some coaches believe that rebuilding a program takes four years, so each player on the team was recruited by the current staff. Not Temple's second-year head coach Rob Valli. He's accelerated the process by almost completely turning over the roster in one year and expects to be in the hunt for a postseason berth in 2007.
Valli and recruiting coordinator Casey Fahy signed 29 student-athletes in one full calendar year and most are proven winners. All but one junior college transfer competed in a College World Series and the current freshmen own several state, sectional and conference championships on their resumés. Mentored by a coaching staff that has won championships everywhere they have been, the Cherry and White is primed to turn some heads in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
"We have a roster full of players and coaches that are accustomed to winning," Valli said. "We talk a lot about changing the culture. We were able to change it very quickly by adding the type of student-athletes that embody the workmanlike mentality that we strive to achieve."
After struggling through a 12-41 season in 2006, the Owls have nearly an entirely revamped roster, including 17 newcomers that have their eyes set on an Atlantic 10 Tournament appearance. In order to qualify for Temple's first postseason since 2002, the newcomers will have to make a quick adjustment to Division I competition. Valli believes it can happen.
"I'm very optimistic about our chances to earn a trip to the Atlantic 10 Tournament," Valli said. "Like any team, if we can develop players the way we think we can, then we'll have a great chance to play in the postseason."
Temple will rely on a young pitching staff that features only one senior arm in Rob Licata. But four impressive hurlers, led by staff ace junior Arshwin Asjes, will see most of the weekend innings. Along with Asjes, junior Tom Dolan and sophomore transfers Tom Bingham (Winthrop) and Matt Mongiardini (Gloucester CC) are slated to compete against the A-10's best every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Asjes, who followed Valli from Gloucester CC, led the Owls in almost every statistical category last season. The All-Philadelphia Diamond Five selection was 5-7 with a 4.26 ERA and fanned 55 batters in 74 innings pitched. He was at his best during a five-week stretch early in the season, when he set a school record with 26 consecutive scoreless innings. After spending this summer in the prestigious Cape Cod League, Valli believes he is primed for a special season.
"Arsh has a chance to be one of the top pitchers in the conference," Valli said. "He had some success at the Cape and is ready to have a great year."
Dolan was a conference starter for the second straight season and was 3-3 with a 4.85 ERA in 10 starts. The hard-throwing southpaw, who also provides depth in the outfield, was named A-10 and ECAC Pitcher of the Week after throwing seven scoreless innings against Penn in March. A fiery competitor on the mound, Dolan is penciled in as the number two starter on the preseason depth chart.
"Tom is a fierce competitor," Valli said. "He competes like a champion, mixes three pitches effectively and loves to challenge hitters."
Bingham and Mongiardini will battle for the coveted third weekend spot. Bingham appeared in one inning at Winthrop and if healthy, can be a workhorse for Temple.
"Tom is the epitomy of dedication and passion," Valli said. "He's going to have a chance to be as good as we think he can be. This could be a breakout year for Tom."
Mongiardini reached the College World Series at Gloucester CC last season after going 3-2 with a 3.45 ERA.
"Matt has battled through adversity with his elbow surgery and a long rehab process," Valli said. "He is stronger than ever and we expect him to be a major contributor to the re-birth of Temple baseball."
Besides Licata and junior reliever Eric Fritz (4.46 ERA in 2006), the rest of the staff is extremely young. A total of seven freshmen comprise the bulk of the staff, including five promising right-handers. Matt Blackburn, Rob Chamra, Mike Click, Kyle Monahan and Ryan Thomas all are developing as college hurlers and will see plenty of innings this spring.
"All five of them are very similar," Valli said. "They have good velocity and are working on a second pitch and are getting better every day. We need them to jump right in and contribute immediately."
A pair of southpaws, Brett Carroll and Richie Gargel, also impressed the coaching staff in the fall. Like their right-handed counterparts, both will get their share of time on the hill in 2007.
A pair of position players, sophomores Lenny DelGrippo and John Coyle, also will see time pitching. DelGrippo is a short-inning reliever with a devastating breaking ball while Coyle made the transition this fall from catcher and possesses a plus-fastball.
Junior DaShone Kirkendoll will join the team following basketball season and along with classmate Billy Hartranft, will provide depth. Sophomore Marc Tankel and freshman Gavin White will redshirt the 2007 season.
All-Atlantic 10 infielder Dan Brady (.310, 7 HR, 35 RBI) led the Owls in almost every offensive category last spring and should find a spot in the middle of the lineup for the third straight year. A third baseman by trade, Brady is expected to make the move across the diamond to first.
"Dan is preparing to have a great senior year," Valli said. "He's a veteran college hitter and knows how to make day-to-day adjustments."
DelGrippo (.248, 3 HR, 25 RBI) will also see action at first or designated hitter. "Lenny has worked to be significantly better this season," Valli said. "Like all of our guys, Lenny has gotten a lot stronger this off-season."
Freshman Matt Heltz had an impressive fall and will see most of his time at second base. A Garyville, LA native, Heltz was an honorable mention all-state pick and has some power from the left-side. Sophomore Carmen Del Mastro has shown marked improvement and will play second and also see action as the designated hitter.
"Matt is a left-handed hitter that could potentially hit in the top of the lineup," Valli said. "Carmen has improved tremendously and his ability to run and bunt will get him in the lineup."
Junior transfers SS Ryan Weber (Eastfield JC) and 3B Mike Kelch (Chesapeake CC) will hold down the left side of the infield. Weber won a NJCAA Division III National Championship last season after batting .314 with three homers and 25 RBI. Kelch reached the NJCAA Division II World Series as a freshman and batted .336 with 10 homers during his two-year career at Chesapeake.
"Ryan and Mike have been outstanding," Valli said. "Mike has all the tools to be a great college baseball player. With the game on the line, we hope that he's at the plate.
"Ryan is our best defensive infielder," Valli said. "His instincts allow him to play a step faster. Like Mike, he's a real gamer."
Four similar players will compete for time in the outfield. Two returnees, junior Devon Swope and sophomore Jamie Abercrombie, and two newcomers, junior Stan Orzechowski and sophomore Sean Barksdale, should all see innings in a crowded outfield. Swope batted .303 with 17 doubles last season and Abercrombie was named the Philadelphia Diamond Five Rookie of the Year after hitting .288 with a team-high nine steals.
"Devon has been an everyday player when healthy and we have to think he'll continue to do that," Valli said.
"Jamie shows up and competes every day," Valli said. "He makes our program better in so many ways, but most importantly, he is the type of athlete that can find a way to win."
Orzechowski and Barksdale are both Gloucester CC products who were recruited by Valli out of high school. Orzechowski batted .359 during his career in junior college, while Barksdale (.298, 2 HR, 44 RBI) is a five-tool player that will see most of his time in rightfield.
"As far as an offensive player, Sean is an impact player," Valli said. "If he gets on base, we're going to be very successful.
"Stan is a prototypical leadoff hitter," Valli said. "He can steal a base, bunt for a base hit, and hit for average."
Behind the plate, two sophomores are entrenched in a battle as the number one backstop. Steve Mury (.220, 2 HR) is the incumbent after starting 40 games as a rookie, but transfer Kyle Obal (Winthrop) is also in the mix. Both are strong-armed receivers and each will see their share of time behind the plate.
"Kyle has been a pleasant surprise for us," Valli said. "He has a plus-arm from behind the plate. Steve also has a plus-arm and can hit for a little bit of power."
The 2007 schedule is one of the toughest in the program's 79-year history. A total of five teams that competed in last year's NCAA Tournament highlight the schedule, including the 2006 national runner-up, North Carolina. CAA champion UNC Wilmington (Feb. 16-18) will provide a stern test in the opening weekend.
After visiting New Mexico State, the Owls will venture on a Spring Break trip to the Winthrop Coca-Cola Classic, Duke and North Carolina. While at Winthrop, TU will take on MAC runner-up Kent State, East Tennessee State (31-27 in 2006) and the host Eagles, who won the Big South and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
Non-conference match-ups against Lehigh (NCAA), Villanova, preseason #43 Delaware, St. John's, Penn State and George Mason highlight the remainder of the mid-week schedule.
In Atlantic 10 action, the Owls will host defending champion Saint Louis (NCAA), Xavier and Massachusetts while traveling to La Salle, Dayton, Richmond, Fordham, Duquesne and St. Bonaventure.
The A-10 Tournament returns to Dayton's Fifth Third Field in 2007 after a one-year hiatus at Fordham. Temple expects to be one of the six teams packing its bags for Memorial Day weekend and the conference tournament.
"Our primary goal is the same every year--to win the Atlantic 10 Championship," Valli said. "In order to be a championship-caliber team we must learn how to compete against the best programs in the country. This year's team understands the challenges that we have created and will work relentlessly to meet these expectations."
