D1Baseball tabs Bryant as preseason favorite in NEC

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – D1Baseball.com has selected the Bryant University baseball team as its preseason favorite in the Northeast Conference, as announced by the national website on Wednesday.

In addition, junior Tyler Mattison (Fort Ann, N.Y.) was selected as the preseason pitcher of the year and eight Bulldogs were recognized among the top prospects for the 2020 and 2021 MLB Drafts. D1Baseball.com also listed three Bulldogs amongst the top impact freshmen.

Mattison has received high praise from the D1Baseball.com writers, ranking among the top 150 for the 2020 draft and analytically. He went 9-1 with a 3.47 ERA last spring and has impressed with a power fastball. Mattison is 14-3 in 29 career appearances, including a 9-2 record against NEC opponents.

Mattison also topped the list of 2020 draft prospects in the NEC. He is joined on the list by senior Gaby Cruz (Miami, Fla.), junior Will Treuel (Wolfeboro, N.H.), senior James Ciliento (Mahwah, N.J.) and senior Vito Morgese (Warwick, N.Y.). Cruz hit .354 with nine home runs and 37 RBI, Treuel finished second on the team with 22 appearances, Ciliento hit 10 home runs and scored 66 runs and Morgese went 2-3 with a 4.62 ERA in eight starts.

Sophomore Vincenzo Castronovo (Utica, N.Y.) topped the list of prospects for the 2021 draft and is joined by classmates Jake Gustin (Peabody, Mass.) and Matt Woods (Warwick, R.I.). Castronovo collected five doubles and four home runs in 52 at-bats last season, Gustin hit .287 with 27 RBI and 43 runs scored and Woods appeared in 17 games.

Luke Garofalo (Middlefield, Conn.), Liam LeVangie (East Bridgewater, Mass.) and Tommy DiTullio (Pt. Pleasant, N.J.) were all listed among the league's top impact freshmen. Garofalo was tabbed No. 1, while LeVangie and DiTullio were 3-4.

Bryant opens its 2020 season with a four-game weekend in Wilmington, North Carolina, starting on Feb. 14. The Bulldogs will play two games each against Dayton and UNC Wilmington.