Vikings Open Season Saturday Against Atlantic Cape
CONTACT: Steve Mullen (518) 629-8063
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Tuesday, March 7, 2006
After making its 17th Region III championship game in 2005, the Hudson Valley Community College baseball team is ranked No. 13 in the NJCAA Division III preseason poll.
Under first-year head coach Dave Hennessey, Hudson Valley returns seven players from last year's team that finished 34-15 and advanced to the Region III championship team.
Three of the top four leading hitters return from a year ago. Designated hitter Jesse Bulka (Summit/Jefferson Central High School) topped the team with a .400 batting average. Catcher Tom Zink (Rotterdam/Guilderland High School) hit .345 with 10 doubles, four home runs and 34 RBI and shortstop Nick Testo (Wynantskill/Troy High School) batted .321 with 12 doubles and 36 RBI.
Phil Carr (Shandaken/Onteora High School), who was 5-0 with a 2.25 earned run average a year ago, is the Vikings leading returning pitcher. Freshman Nate Novak (Hudson/Hudson High School) also should make an impact on the mound.
Hudson Valley opens its season on Saturday, March 11 in New Jersey against Atlantic Cape Community College. The Vikings will face Cecil Community College (MD), which is ranked No. 9 in the NJCAA Division II poll, on Sunday, March 12.
NJCAA Division III Poll
| No. |
Team |
2005 Record |
| 1 |
Gloucester (NJ) |
50-7 |
| 2 |
Richland (TX) |
39-24 |
| 3 |
Ridgewater (MN) |
37-8 |
| 4 |
Columbus State (OH) |
31-23 |
| 5 |
Cedar Valley (TX) |
36-23 |
| 6 |
Massasoit (MA) |
24-14 |
| 7 |
Erie |
39-12 |
| 8 |
Joliet (IL) |
33-30 |
| 9 |
Westmoreland (PA) |
28-18 |
| 10 |
Nassau |
18-17 |
| 11 |
Minnesota State |
32-15 |
| 12 |
Eastfield (TX) |
43-16 |
| 13 |
Hudson Valley |
34-15 |
| 14 |
Montgomery-Germantown (MD) |
30-19 |
| 15 |
College of DuPage (IL) |
37-15 |