Baseball America recognizes Mattison, DiTullio in NEC preview

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University baseball junior Tyler Mattison (Fort Ann, N.Y.) and freshman Tommy DiTullio (Pt. Pleasant, N.J.) were projected to garner major awards in Baseball America's annual Northeast Conference baseball preview that was released on Tuesday.

Baseball America tabbed Mattison as the preseason pitcher of the year and DiTullio as the preseason rookie of the year. In addition, Bryant was tabbed second and had four players listed among the top 10 pro prospects according to Baseball America.

Mattison is entering his junior season as one of the most highly touted pitchers in the country. He went 9-1 with a 3.47 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 80.1 innings last spring, earning All-NEC First Team honors. Mattison allowed three runs or less in each of his last 10 starts and then put together a strong summer in the Cape Cod League. He was up to 96 mph with his fastball, striking out 18 and walking just six in 22 innings.

DiTullio was a Perfect Game Preseason High School Honorable Mention All-American at Christian Brothers Academy in New Jersey. He was also a two-time all-conference selection and competed in the PBR Futures Game and the Garden State Games.

Mattison also topped the league's prospect list and was joined by Will Treuel (Wolfeboro, N.H.), Bryan Hart (Franklin, Mass.) and James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.). Treuel was ranked third, Hart was fourth and Ciliento was seventh.

Notes

• A Bryant pitcher has won NEC Pitcher of the Year honors in each of the last six years (Schlitter, Wilcox, Karinchak, Patterson, Theetge (2)).
• Bryant took home seven-straight rookie of the year honors from 2012-2018 (McAvoy, Zarozny, Albanese, Karinchak, Angelini, Titus, Ward).

The Bulldogs open the 2020 season on Friday, Feb. 14 against Dayton in Wilmington, North Carolina.