CONTACT: Adam Sopris, a.sopris@hvcc.edu, (518) 629-7898 or (518) 416-2137
FOR RELEASE: Immediate, Tuesday, April 2, 2024
The Hudson Valley Community College baseball program is riding a 14-game win streak and has moved up a couple spot to No. 11 in the latest NJCAA Division 3 Baseball poll as announced by the NJCAA on Monday afternoon.
The baseball team boasts a 15-1 overall record, including 14 consecutive wins dating back to March 3 when the Vikings swept Kingsborough. The baseball program continued its success into their spring trip, finishing with a 6-0 record during their time in Auburndale, Fla.
Led by Hunter Stolov (Coral Springs Fla. / Coral Springs Charter), a redshirt freshman from Coral Springs, Fla. and Andrew Wilson (Scotia / Scotia-Glenville), a transfer from Scotia, NY, the Vikings pitching staff has been off to a hot start. The duo has combined for a 6-0 record with Stolov leading the NJCAA with a 0.00 earned run average and ranks 10th with a 1.04 WHIP. In 24 innings pitched, Stolov allowed two runs (0 earned) on 22 hits, 22 strikeouts and two complete games. Wilson currently holds a 2.00 earned run average over 18 innings pitched with 26 strikeouts. As a team, the Vikings pitching staff holds a 2.86 earned run average, which is seventh best in the NJCAA and totaled 119 strikeouts on the season.
The offensive lineup has proved to be just as potent as they pitching rotation as the team has posted a .367 batting average and has scored 149 runs with 10 home runs over the 16 games. The Vikings offense ranks inside the top-5 in team batting average (.367), on-base percentage (.486) and slugging percentage (.543). Three Vikings are hitting above .400 (min. 20 at-bats) and are led by Jeremy Taggart (Levittown / Division Ave), who is hitting .522 and slugging .739 over seven games played as the team's primary catcher. Matthew Carrera (Mount Sinai / Mount Sinai), a transfer from Sacred Heart, is hitting .479 with 23 runs scored, 23 hits, and a team-high 18 stolen bases. Carrera is on pace to set several single-season records in runs scored, hits and stolen bases. Colin Lynch (Guilderland / Guilderland) is also hitting .400 on the year, collecting 14 hits in 35 at-bats.
Coach Parrow and the coaching staff has the team running on all cylinders and off to one of the best starts in program history. The 1970 baseball team finished with a 24-1 regular season record and 25-3 overall, including their three-game stint at the NJCAA World Series. with a trip to the NJCAA World Series, is highly-regarded as the best team in program history, and was recently inducted into the Hudson Valley Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.
The baseball team will have to wait a couple more days to return to action as Tuesday's away game at Cayuga was postponed due to the incoming inclement weather. Their next home is set for Tuesday, April 9 vs Cayuga with a first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. at Joe Bruno Stadium on the campus of HVCC.