University of Delaware Athletics
Ferdinand and Long Named Captains as Head Coach Jim Sherman Announces 2013 Delaware Baseball Roster
11/26/2012 9:25:00 PM | Baseball
Ferdinand and Long captain a 35-man roster returns 22 letter winners and eight position-player starters from a squad that made it to the CAA Championship Game with a 31-27 overall record and 17-13 mark in the conference during the 2012 campaign.
“They have some big shoes to fill,“ Sherman explains about Ferdinand and Long replacing 2012 captain pitchers Jeff Murray and Eric Young. “We go from two pitchers to two position and we expect Ferdinand and Long to pick up where they left off and not skip a beat.”
Ferdinand, a two-year starter in the outfield for the Blue Hens, owns a .312 batting average with 118 hits, 27 doubles, 5 triples, 13 home runs, 77 RBI and 118 runs scored in 105 games played for the Blue and Gold. The Bensalem, Pa. native was a participant of the 2012 CAA SAAC Leadership Summit.
Long, a four-year starter and 2012 CAA All-Tournament Team selection, begins the 2013 season by playing in 162-straight games for the Blue Hens. The Millsboro, Del. native has a career .311 batting average with 204 hits, 57 doubles, 4 triples, 9 home runs, 85 RBI and 128 runs scored.
“Fortunate that we walked off the field at James Madison after the CAA Championship Game and return that same group that came off defensively,” Sherman said about the abundance of players returning for the Blue Hens. “The combination of returners and junior college additions puts us in pretty good shape to make a strong run.”
A seven-man senior class; Chris Branigan, Eric Buckland, Andrew Burgess, Ferdinand, Long, Steve Richter and Matt Soren and 10 juniors that includes CAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and CAA Third-Team selection, Jimmy Yezzo, Adam Davis, Jake Clark, Dan Gatto, Connor Hibbs, Brandon Hinkle, Chad Kuhl, Alex Mottle, EJ Stoltzfus and Cameron Travalini give Delaware a valuable depth in experience.
Rounding out the roster are 11 sophomores that includes All-CAA Rookie Team selection Tyler Powell, Luke Alicknavitch, Kenny Fetchko, Joe Giacchino, Ryan Hartley, Gary Jones, Zach Lopes, Taylor Mahoney, Brock Niggebrugge, Eric Sawyer and Ty Warrington along with seven freshmen; Tyler Dean, Joey Frey, Michael Gillespie, Dan LeNoir, Chad Martin, Brian Mayer and Nick Moylan.
In addition to the seven freshmen, the Blue Hens have five, first-year players (Clark, Davis, Hibbs, Lopes and Mahoney) that have transferred into the program and look to contribute this season.
The 2013 Blue Hen baseball team will be filled with plenty of home-grown talent as 12 players on the team hail from within the First State. Eight players are from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, five are from Maryland with one player from California and New York respectively.
Delaware begins its 2013 schedule on as the Blue Hens battle the Temple University Owls on Friday, February 15 in Cary, N.C. to begin a four-game, three-day trip to start the season.
