As part of the
interactive series, Campus Connection, America East continues to travel across
the conference featuring a team from each of our nine institutions. As part of
the show, we also have the chance to learn some of the basics of the sport from
our student-athletes.
Believe it or not, this is the last episode of Campus
Connection for the academic year and we headed to Stony Brook University to catch
up with the baseball team and close out the series. We chatted with head coach
Matt Senk and a few players who not only had the chance to play in the Cape Cod Baseball
League last summer but also took the stage at Fenway Park in the All-Star Game.
Matt Senk is in his 22nd season as head coach of
the Seawolves. Senk was not only the 2011 America East Coach of the Year but
helped guide the team to a school-record 42 wins and its first America East
regular season title last year. The Seawolves did it again this year capturing
the regular season title for the 2012 season. During Senk’s tenure, the program
has been no stranger to success. He has had 35 players sign professional
contracts and has had 14 players picked in the MLB draft.
This past summer, six Seawolves had the opportunity to
participate in the Cape Cod Baseball League and compete against the nation’s
top collegiate baseball athletes. We had the chance to talk with three of them.
Pitcher Tyler Johnson, catcher Pat Cantwell and outfielder Travis Jankowski shared
with us what their time in the Cape Cod League was like and how it was playing
in the All Star Game at Boston’s historic Fenway Park.
All three Seawolves described the opportunities as memorable
experiences which have not only prepared them for the 2012 season and the America
East Championship but the possibility of playing pro ball after college. Junior
Travis Jankowski was named the Cape Cod League Most Valuable Player this past
summer, the second AE player to ever be awarded the honor, and teammate Pat
Cantwell received the Cape League's Sportsmanship Award. Coach Senk noted that
all of them held their own and truly represented the university and conference
in the best way possible.
Even though they all enjoyed the experience last summer, their
primary focus now has been the conference tournament. Last year during the 2011
America East Championship, Stony Brook was the No. 1 seed and hosted the championship
but fell short of the championship game. This year the Seawolves take nothing
for granted and are working towards capturing the 2012 title on their home field.
With one of the most explosive offenses and effective
pitching staffs in the country, Stony Brook has proved it’s a force to be
reckoned with. Stony Brook enters the America East Championship as the No. 1
seed and will once again host the tournament.
The 2012 America East Baseball Championship action gets
underway at Joe Nathan Field Wednesday, May 23. For more information visit Championship
Central.
Be sure to check out this video to hear from Coach Senk and
the players themselves and watch America East get out on the field and put our
baseball skills to the test.