ITHACA, N.Y. – The nationally ranked No. 25 Ithaca College baseball team will officially get its 2024 season underway this weekend at Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pa. as the Bombers are slated to play two games on February 25.
IC's original schedule for the weekend has changed due to cold temperatures and the Bombers will now play at 11:15 a.m. against Mount Union on Sunday and 2:30 p.m. against Case Western.
Ithaca is coming off a 31-16 season from 2023, which ended in the NCAA Super Regional for the second consecutive season. The Bombers advanced to the Super Regional round after sweeping the Liberty League Tournament and NCAA Regional for the second straight year. In the Liberty League Tournament, the Bombers were the No. 3 seed and defeated Rochester to open the tournament and then topped RIT twice. The Bombers then went to the Cortland Regional and dominated the competition by beating No. 14 Eastern Connecticut State, 11-2, and then took a pair from No. 22 Cortland, 5-3 and 15-0 in the championship game.
Head coach
David Valesente, now in his fifth season, has amassed a record of 82-48-1 since 2020 and returns a loaded roster for the upcoming 2024 campaign.
Cooper Belyea and
Justin Forster also return to the coaching staff for 2024.
IC welcomes back nine players on offense who played in more than 24 games last season, including three who started all 47 games –
Louis Fabbo (.398, 47 runs, 74 hits, 50 RBI, six home runs),
Ethan Rothstein (.354, 45 runs, 62 hits, 16 doubles, 44 RBI, eight home runs) and
Riley Brawdy (.314, 40 runs, 58 hits, 13 doubles, 43 RBI, six home runs).
Other returners who saw significant playing time are
Colin Shashaty, who set IC's single season batting average record last year with a .489 average on 44 hits in 90 at bats,
Collin Feeney (.371, 43 hits, 39 runs, 10 doubles, nine stolen bases),
Ryan Laubscher (.333, 34 hits, 21 runs, seven doubles, four home runs),
Matt Curtis (.383, 23 hits, 14 runs, five doubles),
Matt Fabian (.306, 37 hits, 25 runs, eight doubles, 22 RBI) and
Connor Pedersen (26 hits, 21 runs, 23 RBI).
IC also welcomes back
Colin Dunn,
Conor Burns,
Ethan Daddabbo,
Ben Landis,
Ethan McDonough,
Nicholas Cutaia,
Lucas Orlovitz and
Logan Robertson to add depth of the offense and defense.
New to the program are
Luca Pipia,
Logan Scully,
Owen Callahan,
Tyler Pugliese,
Camden Laney and
Juvel Mendez.
Pitching wise, the Bombers will need to replace the production of All-American
Kyle Lambert and all-league performer
Garrett Bell in the starting rotation. But the Bombers do welcome back
Colin Leyner, who went 8-5 last season with a 3.59 ERA in 87.2 innings pitched with 63 strikeouts.
Jack Colyer is also back after a solid first year with the program, which concluded with a 4-2 record in 12 appearances over 32.1 innings pitched. Relievers
Dan Kellachan (20.0 IP, 14 appearances, 18 K) and
John Griffin (22.2 IP, 4.76 ERA, 16 appearances) are also back in blue.
Other returning pitchers who logged innings in 2023 are
Bo Nicholson,
Sean Kelly and
Reed Bailey. The rotation and bullpen will be filled by
Cooper Albert,
Dan Allard,
Jack Picozzi,
Danny Drotos,
Trevor Greene,
Keaton Blackwood,
Sean Minnick,
Ryan Kane,
Ryan Nieskens,
Jake Remian and
Jack Ruditzky.
Following the trip to Washington, Pa., the Bombers will head to Long Island on March 2-3 for three games. IC will play a doubleheader against the United States Merchant Marine Academy and a single game vs. Mount Saint Vincent.
Ithaca then heads to Florida for spring break from March 10-16 where the Bombers will play seven games. IC will face off against Arcadia twice, Trinity (Conn)., Swarthmore for a pair, Case Western and Oswego.
The Bombers return to New York later in the month and will open Liberty League play at home against Clarkson for three games on March 22-23. From there, IC hits the road for a midweek game at Brockport on March 26 and travels to St. Lawrence for three contests on March 29-30.
April begins with a home contest against St. John Fisher on April 2 and then the Bombers have a home-and-home series with RIT on April 5-6. IC will remain at Freeman Field on April 9 against Hamilton, April 13 vs. Vassar for a doubleheader, Bard for two on April 14, Oswego on April 16 and Rochester on April 19.
IC then heads to Rochester on April 20 for a doubleheader before returning to South Hill to face Alfred State on April 23. The regular season wraps up with a road game at Hobart on April 26, a home doubleheader against the Statesmen on the 27th and a road matchup at Scranton on April 30.
The Liberty League Crossover Series will be held on May 4-5 and the Liberty League Championship will be played from May 9-11.
