Head Coach Joey DiPiazza begins his second season in 2013 with the Hudson Valley baseball squad. Coming off a sub-regional appearance against Erie Community College, the Vikings hope to take the next step and win their 17th Conference Championship, as well as compete for a Regional Championship.
The Vikings return All-Conference outfielder and Rawlings Gold Glove Award recipient Andrew Kozak (Sidney/Sidney) this season. Alex Lushkevich (Saratoga/Saratoga Springs) and John Craig (Shenendehowa/Clifton Park) look to improve on impressive 2012 seasons to help bolster the offense for the Vikings.
The quality and depth of the Viking's pitching staff should make for an exciting year. The Vikings' pitching rotation will be led by former Stony Brook and College World Series appearance transfer Matt Gallup (Christian Brothers Academy/Scotia). The Vikings also return Josh Temple (Cohoes/Cohoes) and Jarrod Ford (Hoosic Valley/Schaghticoke) both of whom saw success on the mound last year. First-year pitchers Cooper McGowan (Ballston Spa/Ballston Spa), Charles Parslow (Fonda-Fultonville/Fonda), Anthony Scaccia (Voorheesville/Voorheesville) and Mike Sunkes (Catholic Central/Waterford) will compete for the final rotation spots. The Vikings expect consistent quality starts on the mound this year and have a solid bullpen foundation, led by second-year closer Mike Brienza (Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake/Ballston Lake).