WEST HARTFORD, Conn - The 2025 Hartford Hawks baseball team is primed to take a substantial step forward this spring. With a great mix of young talent and returning veterans, the roster is built to compete.
In 2024, the team finished with an 11-24-1 record paired with a 6-10 conference record in their first year competing at the Division III level. The team started to find their spark towards the end of last year and hope to ride that momentum into the new season this spring.
EYES ON THE PRIZE
The Hawks aim to compete for a Conference of New England (CNE) Championship as they are eligible to win the title first time in program history. Last year the team would have qualified for the postseason tournament as they finished 6th in the conference standings. The goal for this year however, is not just to make the tournament, but win the whole thing.
One of the keys to the success for the Hawks is dominance on the mound, something that is spearheaded by junior captain Michael Featherstone (Ramsey N.J.). Featherstone has made 25 appearances for Hartford so far with 41 strikeouts in 38.1 innings. Michael has a ERA of 4.93 in his career with a win and a pair of saves.
"This staff is so well prepared and so promising. Our biggest obstacle this year will be being where our feet are. Coach stresses it and we need to be at that practice, be present in every bullpen and every rep. We need to make sure we are truly getting the right task done the right way and if we do things the right way it will lead to a lot of success if we continue to stack the little things.
THE RETURNING FLOCK
Although the Hawks expect to have multiple new contributors, the team also will be retaining some key assets on both sides of the ball. Sophomore captain JJ Romatzick (Stratford, Conn.) is set to return to the field after a year on the injured list. The infielder was a key defensive piece while also driving in nine runs on 24 hits in the teams 2023 campaign.
"I am really excited to get back out there, after missing all of last year. I haven't had a full chance to play with all of the guys and I can't wait to take the field with them. I love the group we have. The first two years we weren't eligible to compete for something so this year being able to compete for something gives us that extra motive to compete day in and day out."
Another vital piece for the Hawks' offense that is returning this year is graduate student captain Jake Santiago (Bristol, Conn.). Santiago was the backbone of the team's offense in 2024, finishing with a staggering .452 batting average with four home runs, 37 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
"I came back here to win. I came back to win for the guys next to me, for the coaches and for everyone that has given me a chance and for the school. I mean that's everything, being able to bring back a championship. That's where I want to be and I'm sure that's where everyone else on the team wants to be as well. I know that if we play the way we are suppose to play, we go out there and give it everything we got we will do what we are suppose to do and that is win games."
Alongside the captains, the team will also be returning multiple significant pieces. Junior Ryan Knight (Peabody, Mass.) and sophomore Alek Popovich (Rochdale, Mass.) both return to the lineup and the outfield after missing significant time last season. As for the pitching staff sophomore Tyler Blumetti (Southington, Conn.) returns to the mound after being sidelined early on last year as well.
Other key returners include senior Luke Rier (Miami, Fla.), sophomore Anthony Bubba (Jefferson, N.J.), junior Jackson Ciccone (Danbury, Conn.) and junior Jeremy Manguameli (Middlefield, Conn.).
Rier made seven starts in 2024 going 2-3 on the year with an ERA of 4.68 with 39 punch outs in 42.1 innings.
Bubba went 3-3 on the year with 13 appearances and three starts in 2024. Anthony ended the year with 37.1 innings pitched, 34 strikeouts, and an ERA of 5.06.
Ciccone started 35 games for the Hawks in 2024 with a team-high 50 hits. Jackson ended the year with a .360 average from the plate with a home run, 17 RBIs and 37 runs scored.
Mangiameli made 34 starts in 2024 for Hartford with an average of .272 to go with four home runs, 26 RBIs and 25 runs scored.
SEASON OUTLOOK
The Hawks look ahead to a rigorous season schedule headlined by multiple match ups against highly ranked opponents in national polling. The challenge of facing some of the best Division III has to offer is amplified by the fact that most of these opponents are found near the beginning of the schedule. This test is one that Head Coach Steve Malinowski believes is necessary for the team to have to take early on.
"There is a lot of quality teams in not just our area, but the country. If we want to be one of those teams, I feel like we need to schedule them and get on the field with them to see what we look like. There is a really good brand of baseball here and I think we are really itching to get started and seeing a different uniform. If we want to beat the best, then we got to schedule them. Really looking forward to taking this one series at a time, one game at a time, but know what is in front of us. We are looking forward to finishing in the top half of the league and the opportunity to play for a championship this year."
The squad opens up their season in North Carolina playing three games at Methodist University starting on February 21st. The Hawks will also play the University of Mary Washington and Hanover College during the three-day stretch. The first home game is scheduled on March 1st when Hartford hosts inner-state rival Trinity College.
CNE play kicks off on March 25th when the Hawks host Western New England University at 3:00 PM. Other key CNE games include a two-game series on April 12th at home against Roger Williams University and a road test on April 19th as the Hawks travel to Beverly to take on Endicott College.
The Conference of New England has yet to release the preseason poll.
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