Wagner Seahawks
Northeast Conference |
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Being from the Midwest and 1,200 miles from
New York City, when I hear “Wagner” my first thought
isn’t of the private college in Staten Island, but of
hunky 80’s TV star Robert Wagner, the charismatic actor
who delighted the nation as Jonathan Hart, the sexy millionaire
CEO who solved murder and espionage in his free time along
with his wife on Hart to Hart (although as a baseball
fan you’d think my first thought would be of inaugural
Hall of Fame player Honus Wagner).  However,
the Wagner Seahawks are a team on the rise in a conference
on the rise, and are well on their way to replacing the actor
who played Dr. Evil's henchman Number 2 as my preliminary
reflex thought when I hear the name “Wagner”.
The Green and White of Wagner are led by
Head Coach Joe Litterio who is now in his ninth season as
skipper of the team. Litterio has guided the team to unprecedented
heights during his tenure, leading the Seahawks to four postseason
appearances, winning the Northeast Conference Championship
in 2000 and finishing second in 2004. Before his arrival,
the Wagner nine (well, ten if count the DH…) only had
only qualifying once in school history.
In the 90’s Litterio played infield
for Rutgers, where he helped the Scarlet Knights to postseason
bids in 1990, 1991 and 1993 and was a second-team All-Atlantic
10 selection. He continues to coach with a player’s
mentality, leading by example with gritty, hard nosed determination.
His tenacious attitude is also reflected in his scheduling,
inking dates with all comers such as Florida International,
Winthrop, Central Florida, Villanova, Rutgers, St. John’s,
Seton Hall and Patriot League champion Lafayette in hopes
of building up experience for a competitive NEC schedule.
 In
between the lines team co-captain Joe Testa leads the pitching
staff and isn’t just one of the premier pitchers in
the Northeast Conference, but in the entire northeast region.
Last year Testa, a senior lefthander, went a nonindicative
4-6 with a 3.01 ERA. He posted a team high 82 strikeouts (he
established a Wagner record 98 the previous year), and hurled
five complete games along with a shutout and save in 80.2
innings. Over the summer he led the NECBL in strikeouts, fanning
69 batters (16 more than his nearest competitor) while pitching
for the Concord Quarry Dogs. Recently Testa became the school’s
all time strikeout leader when he earned the 238th K of his
career, moving him past former teammate and current Oakland
A farmhand Andrew Bailey.
Rejoining Testa on the Seahawk staff is Andrew
Huebner who went 2-1 with one save and 23 strikeouts over
29.0 innings last season. Huebner saw action in 14 contests
last season, finding the majority of work in relief appearances.
A spot starter whose ERA dropped over a run (down to 6.52
from 7.62) from his freshman season, Huebner will likely be
working in a similar utility role this season. Other key returners
to the mound are sophomores Kyle Morrison and AJ Pirozzi.
Each earned a pair of wins last season and breakthrough season
by either athlete could go along way in establishing Wagner
as a worthy postseason candidate. Junior Siena transfer Andy
Wells could also contribute greatly after winning three games
and saving two for the Saints his first two seasons. Freshman
Jack Rice, a high school teammate of Morrison, has impressed
so far this young season. On March 1st against Florida International,
Rice earned his first collegiate win after tossing 6.1 innings
of shutout ball against the Panthers. He struck out five and
only allowed a single hit to allow the Seahawks to rally to
win in the ninth inning.
Offensively the Seahawks are led by junior
catcher Chris Drechsel. Last season Drechsel earned All-NEC
Second Team honors after batting .296 with 24 runs, seven
doubles, two home runs, 18 RBI and seven stolen bases.  As
a freshman in ’06, Drechsel also was an All-NEC Second
Team selection, earning the honor at the utility position
after batting .282 and splitting time between catcher and
the outfield. Sophomore leadoff hitter Damian Csakai emerged
as Wagner’s starting centerfielder last season when
he hit .297 and was a perfect 21 for 21 on the base paths.
His 21 swipes ranked third in the NEC and were the fifth-most
in a single-season by a Seahawk player. Cleanup hitter Vin
Avella established himself as a credible long ball threat
after launching seven home runs last season. The hard swinging
sophomore first baseman batted .265 last year with a team
leading 10 doubles and 22 RBI. Right fielder Kevin McDonnell
complied an impressive seven outfield assists last season,
however he was much more than a glove with a strong throwing
arm. At the dish he batted .278 overall and hit .321 with
runners on base. Impressive so far this season is freshman
third baseman Jon Lucas who has hit safely in his first five
collegiate games and compiled a .450 batting average in the
process.
Through the first five games of the season
the Seahawks are 2-3, going 1-3 against FIU in Miami, and
earning an 11-2 win over Temple on March 7th. They’ll
next slated for action on March 17th when they head back down
south to play three games against Central Florida in Orlando.
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