The St. Lawrence University baseball team enters the opening week of their 2024 season in Purchase, N.Y. this Saturday, and are looking for a strong start as they try and make a run for a return to the Liberty League playoffs under head coach Kenny Collins.
 
"I think we have the talent to get there," said Collins, who is entering his fourth season at the helm. "We've been just short for the past few years, and it really comes down to two or three important games that just haven't gone our way."
 
The Saints finished 13-20 overall last year, 7-14 in the Liberty League, and 4-10 in the west division. Their finish left the Saints out of the playoffs, making them more eager to return this upcoming season.
 
The Scarlet and Brown have 31 players returning and 12 new players, including 11 first-years and a graduate transfer.
 
"We have a lot of returners in the lineup," said Collins. "We know what we're going to get from them and hopefully we can build off what they did last year."
 
Timothy Connor led the Scarlet and Brown during his sophomore campaign, starting all 33 games and collecting 29 runs along with 25 RBI. Connor was the catalyst for the St. Lawrence offense by leading the team's qualified batters in batting average (.411), OPS (1.166), runs (29), hits (44), home runs (6), slugging percentage (.673), and OBP (.493).
 
For his efforts, Connor earned ABCA/Rawlings, and D3baseball.com All-Region III honors in his breakout season. Connor was also named to the All-Liberty League Second Team and excelled in the classroom being named an CSC Academic All-District selection.
 
Other significant returners include seniors Brett Federico and Stephen Colangelo along with juniors Jackson Brinker, Sean Desjardins, and sophomore catcher John Donnellan. Leading the pitching staff will be returning upperclassmen, Michael Hutchins and Michael Watson.
 
"We had a couple of freshmen last year who played very little for us," said Collins. "They are now penciling in to be starters this season."
 
Sophomore second baseman Max Cloutier is one of them. A Cumberland, Maine native, Cloutier looks to help out the Saints both offensively and defensively from his second baseman post after only having 14 at-bats, a .267 on-base percentage as well as having five putouts, and a .750 fielding percentage on eight chances during his first year. 
 
Another sophomore who will look to make the jump is outfielder John Gannon. Gannon saw 15 at-bats last season and added one RBI for the Saints. Defensively, Gannon contributed four putouts on all four chances a season ago. Gannon will also look to contribute from the slab as a relief pitcher for the Saints.
 
Also returning from the senior class are Sam Vincent, Ryan Rodriguez, and Noah Bolduc, alongside junior Daniel Verrastro, Brenden O'Neil, Sam Fosberg, Brendan Karadenes, Mike DiStefano, Christian Mingione, John Igoe, Jared Brenner, Thomas Woods, and Evan Burke. Joining the first-years are returning underclassmen Eoin Morrissey, Willie Landman, Owen McClintock, James Morr, JJ Humenay, Michael Flyzik, Joshua Polumbo, and Noah Spaulding.
 
With 12 new players, the Saints look to mix some young talent into the lineup to contribute all over the field and in the batter's box.
 
Teaghin Andre, a graduate student relief pitcher, is one of the new faces who will look to make an impact. Andre, the brother of assistant coach Eamonn Andre, joins the Saints after four years with Framingham State. During his four years at Framingham State, the lefty pitched 46.1 innings, striking out 38 batters for a 7.38 K/9 average and a 6.41 ERA. Andre was also a member of the school's football team where he played OL and TE and won three conference championships with the Rams.
 
Along with Andre, the Saints also have 11 first-years, including pitchers Boden Driscoll, Liam Hickey, David Zuhlsdorf, Kyle Baudouin, Will Mueller, along with position players Jack Finnegan, Gabe Albertson, Finn Parker, Matt Davis, Mike Siano, and Nolan Widrick. 
 
The Saints will open their season with a doubleheader at SUNY Purchase. After their opening day, the Saints will travel to Florida.
 
"Normally, the Florida trip the first time we are actually on a baseball field since October," said Collins. "Our expectation this year is that we're a little more prepared. I don't just want to treat [these games] as an exhibition where we are still learning on the go. This year we've had a series before to get ready, so we have higher expectations heading down there."
 
After their trip to Florida, the Saints will return to Canton briefly before heading to Rochester to begin Liberty League play.
 
"Ithaca and Rochester have been one and two in our division, at least in our side of the Liberty League for the last two years," said Collins. "We know the road to playoffs is going to go through them, so we know exactly the dates on the calendar that we need to be ready for."
 
The Saints will face both Rochester and Ithaca at the end of March, with three games against each, and later on in the season, face RIT and Clarkson, two teams the Scarlet and Brown match up well against.
 
The road to playoffs will be a tough one for the Saints, but with talented returners, impressive first years, and belief from the coaching staff, the Saints will look to make it happen. The mental focus and preparation the team has put in so far has made them see the level they can play at, and with that intensity, they'll be able to play their best.

Follow the links to check out the Saints' latest news, roster, and schedule for the upcoming season.