Baseball Season Preview: Angelini returns as cornerstone of Bryant outfield
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University baseball team is in the process of changing its identity this spring and that will be most evident in the outfield where reigning Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year Nick Angelini (Bedford, N.H.) returns as the cornerstone.
"I think we can be just as good in the outfield as we have been in the past," head coach Steve Owens said. "Nick is going to move to center and we are looking for him to assume a leadership role and solidify the middle of the field."
Owens has always stressed the importance of strength down the middle of the field and he feels that with Angelini in center, Cole Fabio (Mahwah, N.J.) at second and Mickey Gasper (Merrimack, N.H.) behind the plate, the Bulldogs have that this year. Angelini was a Freshman All-American last season after hitting .353 with nine doubles, three home runs, 26 RBI, 47 runs scored and posted a .466 OBP. He also showed his durability and his ability to hit in key spots, hitting safely in each of the final 14 games of 2016. Defensively, he committed just two errors and posted two outfield assists as Bryant's primary right fielder. Angelini was also named one of the top 150 outfielders in the country by D1Baseball.com, coming in at No. 85.
"He's got great closing speed and he covers a lot of ground defensively," Owens said. "Nick's a gap-to-gap, line-drive hitter and we've challenged him to utilize his excellent speed more in his offensive game."
The rest of the outfield around Angelini will look a bit different this spring, though. Four-year starter AJ Zarozny graduated and Matt Albanese was drafted after his junior season. With Angelini moving to center, the Bulldogs have two open corner outfield spots. Freshman Ryan Ward (Grafton, Mass.) is penciled in to be the opening day left fielder. A converted catcher, Ward proved in the fall that he can handle the outfield and will step right into the three-hole in Bryant's lineup. Ward proved himself against college pitching last summer, hitting .380 with seven doubles and 16 RBI in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League.
"Defensively, Ryan has really good speed and is an aggressive fielder," Owens said. "Offensively, he's a pure left-handed hitter that has bat control, power, can use all fields and really knows the strike zone."
There has been a three-way battle for the open spot in right field between freshman James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.), senior Joe Paparelli (Preston, Conn.) and junior Malik Daley (Marlborough, Mass.). All three have strengths and the Bulldogs will utilize all of them throughout the year.
Ciliento, the front runner heading into the opening weekend of the season, was a two-sport standout in baseball and football at Mahwah. He was a two-time all-county pick in baseball and led his football team to a state title as a senior.
"Cili is a gritty, tough-nosed player that puts together great at-bats," Owens said. "He has shown the ability to get key base hits with runners in scoring position during our intrasquad games, and led our team in outfield assists during our fall scrimmages."
Paparelli and Daley have both played key roles for the Bulldogs over the years and will do again this season. Paparelli has appeared in 82 games over his career and has played and started in all three outfield spots over the course of his time at Bryant. He has just 125 career at-bats but has been an on-base machine, posting a career .410 OBP.
Daley walked on to the team before last season and was thrust into a starting role when Zarozny was injured. He excelled, hitting .267 (12-45) with nine RBI, 15 runs scored, 13 walks, four stolen bases and a .452 OBP.
"Joe is a veteran, four-year player that is very athletic and is very good at doing his job," Owens said. "He's confident and mature and will be a very important part of our team.
"Malik was forced into action last year and responded with very positive results," Owens added. "He's a solid defender and is one of best base-stealing threats."
In addition, sophomore Tyler Panno (Rivervale, N.J.) and freshmen Chris Wright (Cumberland, R.I.) and Bryan Hart (Franklin, Mass.) all have the ability to play in the outfield if needed.
"We are continuing to try and build our identity as an offense and this outfield group is an important part of it," Owens said. "We want to be tough outs, we want to steal bases and we want to force the action."