Baseball announces captains for 2016-17 season

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University head baseball coach Steve Owens is proud to announce that senior Cole Fabio (Mahwah, N.J.) and juniors James Karinchak (Walden, N.Y.) and Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) have been chosen as captains for the 2016-17 season.

"We pride our program on toughness, commitment and development and I have selected three players who embody these characteristics," Owens said. "I am very pleased to have Cole, James and Mickey leading the way for this year's ball club. I picked these young men for who they are and for what they do. I have 100% confidence that they will get the job done."

Fabio, one of just four seniors on this year's team, enters his fourth year as a starter for the Black and Gold. One of the premier second basemen in the region, Fabio played in and started all 59 games this past spring, hitting .287 with 36 RBI and 52 runs scored. The 2016 Northeast Conference Tournament MVP, he enters his senior season with 168 career hits, 45 stolen bases and a .965 fielding percentage.

"Cole has been a big-game player throughout his career and always shows up and performs in the clutch," Owens said. "He has been a mainstay in the lineup and has proven his durability and toughness to stay on the field every day."

Karinchak burst onto the scene as a freshman and backed it up with an outstanding sophomore season last spring, earning NEC Pitcher of the Year honors and three All-American citations. He set program records for wins (12) and strikeouts (112), finishing the season 12-3 with a 2.00 ERA in 15 starts. In two seasons, Karinchak is 20-8 with a 2.56 ERA, 186 strikeouts and just 69 walks in 172 1/3 innings.

"James has worked tremendously hard to change his body and develop into a durable front-line Friday starter," Owens said. "He brings confidence and enthusiasm to the table and backs it up with hard work and performance in the games."

Gasper proved to be a vocal leader and a key bat for the Bulldogs this spring, hitting .392 (31-79) with 22 RBI and 16 runs scored in just 34 games. He has posted a career OBP of .469 and is coming off an outstanding summer in which he earned Futures League MVP honors after setting league records for average, OBP, OPS, doubles and walks. 

"Mickey has just completed an entire year of baseball in which he hit over .400," Owens said. "His consistency and approach are elite and we will heavily rely on him to be a role model for the younger players. In addition to offensive talent, Mick is a very good communicator with our defense and pitchers, which is critical as a catcher."