Purchase, NY (April 29, 2017) – The Purchase baseball team said goodbye to 11 members of its program Saturday on Senior Day.

Although St. Joseph's College-LI would take both games (8-0, 8-3), the afternoon was a success, especially in honoring a large group that has meant so much to the program.

Sports Information Director Bobby Ciafardini MCed the ceremony, delivering words about each senior that were penned by head coach Adam Taraska. Ten of the 11 seniors are four-year players for Purchase, something Taraska is very proud of.  Seniors Andrew Fingerhut (SR/Smithtown, NY), Jacob Vazquez (SR/Cortlandt Manor, NY), Ryan Aponte (SR/Bronx, NY), Gerard Fraracci (SR/Flushing, NY), Elias Sayad (SR/Wayne, NJ), Taylor Ringold (SR/South Setauket, NY), Ronald Pressley (SR/Bronx, NY), Joseph Stewart (SR/Theills, NY), Patrick Rucci (SR/Cortlandt Manor, NY), Michael Tecci (SR/Stratford, CT) and Teofilo Ramirez (SR/Queens, NY).

"Fingerhut has pitched 59.1 IP over four years, winning one game; five total starts.; 28 total strikeouts. Thanks for being a great Panther for four years," Ciafardini said.  

"Vazquez made 35 appearances and 68.2 IP over four years, making three starts with 34 strikeouts. Thanks for being a great Panther for four years."

"Aponte has 89 at-bats, totaling 17 hits. He came into his own as a leader in his senior season, grew into the top option as a pinch-runner and utility defender, adding outfield play to his diverse skill set after being a 2B for three plus years. Thanks for being a great Panther for four years."

"Fraracci fought to make the team as a freshman and continued to improve over the years, even earning himself conference starts at DH, third base, and left field beginning in his junior year, when he hit .292. Thanks for being a great Panther for four years."

"Sayad came in as a second baseman and learned to play the outfield at a high level. Thirteen career starts. Was always a reliable option to hit, run, and defend off the bench. Thanks for being a great Panther for four years."

"Ringold started his career as a middle infielder before an arm injury relegated him to a pinch hitter role. Until this year when he earned his way into a steady designated hitter role, making 12 starts, seeing time in 19 games and hitting .295 in 44 AB's. Thanks for being a great Panther for four years."

"Pressley played in 70 games in four years, starting 54. He displayed terrific range in center field and a great arm. Has seven career assists with five coming this season alone. His batting average improved every year from freshman to senior year. Pressley leads this year's team in walks. Thanks for being a great Panther for four years."  

"Stewart will make his fifth start of the year today and has been our staff ace this season, one year after working out of the bullpen 10 times and making just one spot start after transferring from Rockland CC. He will more than double his innings pitched this year and his ERA has shrunk from 5.06 to 3.60. He was counted on to pitch in the biggest games, routinely holding down the opponent for long stretches of time. Thanks for being a great Panther for two years."
 
"Rucci played in 84 games in three spring seasons, starting 72 of them. Has a career batting average of .279 in 244 at-bats. He leads this year's team in at-bats with 77, hits with 23, RBI with 15, runs with 19, doubles with nine, and total bases with 34. Thanks for being a great Panther for four years."

"Mike Tecci has been counted on in a variety ways, especially this, his senior season. He was named co-captain last summer and has thrived in that role. His behind the scenes work to help the team run smoothly is not known to many, but essential to the day-to-day operation of the program. On top of that his play on the field has steadily improved over the years, culminating this year with a .317 batting average this year, good for second on the team. He hit his first collegiate home run this season at Lehman. He is tied for the team lead with 15 RBI. He also has played a stellar defensive first base or hit out of the DH slot over the years. Thanks for being a great Panther for four years."

"Teo Ramirez has been a coach's dream since the day he walked in the door. He is an excellent leader, who leads by example and vocally when need be. For years, he has been the starting shortstop, hit in the middle of the lineup, and has been one of our most reliable pitchers. He is also a two-year captain, and has unquestionably earned the respect of his teammates and coaches alike. He was a key player on the 2014 team that led the Skyline conference in wins with 12. This season, he will make his 5th start on the mound today, leading the team in ERA by a starting pitcher at 3.52. He has also played a stellar shortstop and owns a .313 BA with nine extra base hits. Players like him don't come around very often and when you add his intangibles to the equation, you have a very special player. He will be sorely missed. Thanks for being a great Panther for four years."

As for the doubleheader, the Golden Eagles offense got to Panther pitching early, plating two runs in the top of the first. Daniel Campanelli got things started with a RBI single up the middle, and notched the second off a Purchase error.

SJC-LI pushed across two more runs in the second and fifth combined. A RBI single from Tyler Sanderson and a Purchase error in the sixth would bring the visitor lead to 6-0 and force a Panther pitching change. St. Joe's tacked on two runs in the top of the seventh on a double from Lou Doria and a sacrifice fly from Campanelli.

Aponte and Ramirez led Purchase with two hits apiece in the opener.

In game two, Rucci, Tecci and Brian Cunningham (SO/Westbury, NY) all had RBI hits in the loss. Tecci and Cunningham doubled, finishing with two hits apiece.

The top of the SJC-LI order combined for six of the 14 hits with the top three batters collecting two apiece, including Anthony Bonilla. Bonilla finished with three RBI in the win. SJC-LI wins the regular-season crown for the second time in three years. 

-With Assistant SID Stephanie Janasiewicz