Setting the Pace after School

The Pittsfield Colonials have a former Setter who set the record for freshman strikeouts in a season. Still, Mackenzie King is not the only Setter who played baseball after school ended.

King is just one former Pace student who sought a career in baseball after school ended. The Setters baseball program has produced a total of 25 student athletes who have continued to play after graduating since 2008.

The Blairstown resident graduated from Pace one month ago, yet his dream of playing baseball has taken him to the Can Am Independent League.

"Obviously I would much rather prefer to be pitching for either a minor league team or in the show, but I love baseball too much to stop playing yet," King said. "Obviously I want to pitch in the show, but right now I can't imaging my life without baseball."

King enjoyed success during his time at Pace. He struck out a total of 221 career strikeouts in his four year career, which is good for the most strikeouts in Setters history. 

Although King enjoyed a great deal of success on the diamond, his grades never faltered because of baseball. The Blairstown resident graduated with a 3.82 grade point average and was named to the Northeast 10 Conference spring All Academic team this year. 

"Obviously it is nice to get recognition for my grades," King said. "There are plenty of people who deserve this honor and the recognition is nice."

Other former Setters have made the attempt to get to the major leagues. Patrick Stanley was drafted by the Colorado Rockies with the 16th pick in the 2004 Amateur draft and made his way to the Toledo Mud Hens in 2008. Also, Brian Halberg was drafted 12th overall in the 2006 Amateur draft by the Houston Astros. 

Although Pace has produced minor league baseball players, no Setter has ever made it to the show. King hopes to be the first Pace baseball player to play for a major league team.

"It has been my dream ever since I was little," King said. "I have been playing baseball all my life and I want nothing more than to play for a major league team."

For now, King's dream of the majors remains a fantasy. But when the Can-Am season begins again, the Colonials will hope to win the League lead by their new King. 

Play Ball

Any baseball team who has just four hits and three errors are not likely to win any games. Fortunately for Pace, their opponents were making the mistakes.

The Setters (25-16, 15-8) capitalized on the miscues of the Le Moyne Dolphins (30-11-1, 15-7-1) in route to a 5-0 win this afternoon. Although almost half of the Setters runs were unearned, Setters designated hitter James Pjura pointed out that every run counted just the same.

"We were fortunate that some of the breaks went our way," said Pjura who had three hits and one run batted in in the victory. "These guys are really good and we did a good job taking advantage of their mistakes."

The Setters struck first in the third inning on key mistakes by the Dolphins. Shortstop Robert Horn scored on a wild pitch by starter Derek Zielinski and Patrick Chaputian scored from second base on a throwing error by the Dolphins.

Coach Henry Manning may was not complaining about the way his team scored runs, he was more concerned with the game's final outcome.

"Look sometimes all of the breaks will go your way, and today was one of those days," Manning said. "I will not complain if we score most of our runs on mistakes by the other team, as long as we play well enough to win."


The Setters were able to generate more conventional offense in the top of the seventh inning. First baseman Joe Lombardi singled in two runs to increase his season RBI total to 23. Lombardi's two run single was his only hit of the game.

"It may have been the only hit, but I'm glad it counted," Lombardi said. "As long as the team continues to perform as well as we have been, I'll be okay with going 0-4 every game."

The Setters will need Lombardi and the rest of the offense to play well again very soon. The Setters will take on the Dolphins again on a Sunday afternoon double header.

Fresh Look

When a player first gets recruited to a school to play sports, there is a certain amount of pressure that is placed on every incoming freshman. Fortunately for the Pace golf team, freshman Brian Allmendinger has been everything they could have asked for.

Allmendinger was selected by the NCAA to play at the East Region Tournament earlier this week. The East Islip resident will be making the trip out to the Hershey Country Club in Pennsylvania on May 7 to play with the best.

"Any time that you get a chance like this you have to take it," Allmendinger said. "I am very happy that I get this chance to go out to Pennsylvania and show out my skills."

The East Islip resident has wowed his teammates and coaches alike with his play this season. Allmendinger has averaged a score of 77.9 through 11 tournaments this season, including a second place finish at the Saint Thomas Aquinas Spring Invitational.

But it is the infectious work ethic of Allmendinger that has caught the attention of his peers. Sophomore Joe Raitano praised Allmendinger for taking a leadership role on the young team.

"Our team is mostly made up of Freshman, so Brian's play has been huge," Raitano said. "It is great to see that Brian has embraced the role of leader, he has played really well this year and his example has helped the team do better."

And Allmendger has certainly lead by example this season. Not only is the freshman's average score the lowest on the team, he is just one of three Setters who averaged a score under 80 this season.

Although Pace did not have anyone who won a tournament in 2012, Setters coach Frank Ganiero has been impressed by the poise of his freshman, especially Allmendinger.

"These kids are playing well, and I like the way Brian has been playing," Ganiero said. "We are going to be better as Brian and his teammates mature in age and play more tournaments."

Allmendinger will get the chance to gain more experience at the East Region Tournament. If Allmendinger plays well enough, he could go to the final on May 15 at the Cardinal Club in Kentucky.

Senior Day Game

For eight students, this game could be one of the last times they ever play a home game. And unfortunately for the upper classmen, the Setters could not deliver a pleasant parting gift.

The Pace Setters (5-8, 3-6) were defeated by the Merrimack College Warriors

15-10 this afternoon. Despite the Setters 4-2 home record, they could not deliver a win on Senior Day, even though junior Mike Ruppert and company desperately wanted to.

“It’s really hard to hold a big time celebration only for the team to lose,” Ruppert said. “We really wanted to send the seniors off with a win, and we just could not do it.”

Despite the final result, the Setters seniors made an impact in defeat. Midfielder Kevin Kadlick picked up a goal and defensemen Taylor Belviso and John Kolesar recorded assists.

Still, the final score was a bitter pill to swallow as the Setters seniors played their second to last home game. Midfielder Evan Feehan found the words to describe the loss hard to find.

“I know we still have one more home game, but this loss is a tough one,” Feehan said. “All of our families and friends were here to cheer us on and we just didn’t get the job done.”

The fact that the loss marked the Setters second defeat in a row was an afterthought for the coaches and players. Everyone on and off the field was focused on appreciating the upperclassmen.

Post game hugs were exchanged in the rain. And Setters coach Davy Carty made sure that his seniors felt appreciated after the game.

“These kids have been busting their tails and learning from the beginning,” Carty said. “I could not ask anything more from them, sure it would have been nice if we got the win, but I am still so proud of them regardless of what the score says.”

The Setters will get one more chance to give their seniors a win at home. Pace will play the Mercy College Mavericks (5-5. 4-4) tomorrow afternoon.

Senior Moment

Even as the rain bombarded the Setters home field Tom Murphy did not seek shelter. The senior took the chance to soak up every drop of what would be his last lacrosse game.

            Murphy is one of eight seniors taking part in their final home games. Yet for the Yonkers resident, the emotions pour out of him like the rain hitting the field.

            “It really is hard to think that this is my last game,” Murphy said. “I have been playing lacrosse since I was little, and at this point in my life it is hard to imagine myself without it.”

            The midfielder has been a big cog in the Setters (5-7, 3-5) lineup since he first played on the team as a freshman. And for underclassmen like Mike Ruppert, Murphy has made a greater impact on the team as a leader in the locker room.

            “Murph is just a guy that we could always count on to keep us level after tough games,” Ruppert said. “He may not be the guy scoring all the goals, but I know that this team wouldn’t be anywhere near as good without him.”

Murphy has made a larger statistical impact on the team over the course of his career. The Yonkers resident went from scoring just three goals as a freshman to tallying two goals and five assists as a junior.

Still, the numbers are not what the senior will remember about his four years at Pace. Murphy insists he will remember the camaraderie of the locker room.

“There were so many hilarious stories from my time here that I will remember for the rest of my life,” Murphy said. “To me those are the things that I am going to appreciate long after I stop playing, the numbers don’t matter at the end of it all.”

Murphy throws the ball to junior Jake Galizia. The midfielder talks strategy with his defensemen, a routine that the two have had going for two years.

“He knows a great deal more about the game than I do,” Galizia said. “He has helped me improve as a player more than he realizes, I owe him a lot for that.”

Murphy dawns his helmet and his team heads to the locker room. The Yonkers resident and his fellow seniors will take on the Merrimack College Warriors later today.

Ace in the Hole

His turn in the rotation may not have been this afternoon, yet his eyes remained fixated on the game in front of him.

            That kind of focus helped Pace starter Michael Tamburino win the NE-10 player of the week award. The junior has struck out an impressive 52 batters in 56 and one third innings of work for the Setters (21-14, 11-7) this season.

            “It is very nice to get this award,” Tamburino said. “I feel like this is a team award, even if I am the only one to have my name on it.”

            Tamburino watched as his fellow ball players pound the rival Adelphi Panthers (15-17, 6-12) 15-2 this afternoon. And even though he had a day off, Tamburino spent the duration of the game analyzing his opposition.

            “Even if it is not my turn to pitch today, I know that I can always keep getting better,” Tamburino said. “Just because I am not on the mound does not mean that I can’t help my team in some way.”

            The Baldwin resident offered his insight to Setters first baseman Joe Lombardi. Tamburino pointed out some of the tendencies of the opposing pitcher to help his teammate perform.

            Lombardi appeared to listen to his ace’s advice. The first baseman went two for three with a home run and three runs batted in against the panthers.

            “Mike is a very knowledgeable guy when it comes to baseball,” Lombardi said. “He picks up on the opponent’s tendencies pretty quickly and he is constantly making adjustments.”

            It is not just the in game adjustments that have helped Tamburino be recognized by the NE-10. The junior leads the team in innings pitched, and it is Tamburino’s ability to pitch deep into games that has impressed coach Henry Manning.

            “Mike has been a workhorse for us all season,” Manning said. “I have the confidence to pitch him six, seven innings a game because he has proved that he can perform all season, I’m not surprised he got this award.”

            Tamburino’s award marks the second time this season the Setters have had a male athlete win NE-10 player of the week in April. Setter’s lacrosse attacker Matt Mirabito won player of the week on April 9^th.

The Setters raining player of the week will be on the bench again offering insight against the Deacons of Bloomfield College. 

Softball Sweep

Unearned runs in softball can be as lethal as anthrax or as helpful as antibiotics. The Pace Setters softball team was fortunate enough to benefit from their opponent’s mistakes and make it to .500.

Pace (24-14, 11-11) beat the Saint Michael’s Purple Knights (5-23, 3-17) by a score of 3-0 in the first game of a double header. The Setter’s 9-0 win in the nightcap brought the team’s conference record to .500.

The game’s first run came when outfielder Nicole Schultheis walked and scored on an error. The senior scored her 22^nd run this season.

“I mean it would have been nice if we got a chance to get driven in, but softball doesn’t always work out that way.” Schultheis said. “Some times you get lucky breaks, and this one seemed to work out in our favor.”

The Setters were able to add runs in a more conventional manner in the third inning. Freshman Jean Drury notched a double to increase her RBI total to 25; the second most runs batted in this season.

“I mean it’s nice to see stats that say I’m playing well, but it’s not that big a deal.” Drury said. “We win as a team, loose as a team and drive runs in as a team, stats are not as big as everyone likes them to be.”

Statistics may not mean much to Drury, but starter Caitlin McCann was happy to bolster her own. The freshman threw a complete game shutout to pick up her ninth win of the year.

“Stats can be a reflection of how the team is doing,” McCann said. “Bad stats are obviously not the end of the world, but it is nice to recognize when people are playing well.”

There were plenty of good statistics from the Setters in the nightcap. The Setters struck with six of their nine runs in the first inning.

Setters coach Claudia Stabile downplayed her team’s statistics, yet she admitted that getting to .500 in conference was a good thing.

“It is nice to see that our in conference play has improved,” Stabile said. “We are doing a lot more of the little things right now as opposed to the start of the year, hopefully this bodes well for us in the future.”

The Setters immediate future brings tidings of Franklin Pierce University. The two will square off on Tuesday at noon.