Manhattan College - Manhattanite Yearbook (Riverdale, NY)

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Bat boys do a soft shoe for the stands. Safe on first. We have him on third. The catching department appears to be even stronger than last year's contingent. Jack Corey's fine defensive work and bat- ting in the post seems good enough to give him the starting assignment as the signal caller. John Murray and Al Witte, the two competitors for the catching slot are fine backstops who will be used as pinch-hitters when the situation calls for a clutch hit. The infield will have three lettermen to knit a tight defensive web. They are Captain Bob Coccodrilli, Vin Donnelly and Red Ronan. Captain Coco's versitility will be evidenced by his work as a fence buster when he is swinging in the clean-up spot. It will also be witnessed when Bob is working at first base or second. Vin Donnelly, another of Coach Curran's returnees, will han- dle the hot corner. Vin's flashy glovework has made him one of the best third bosemen in the conference. A spray hitter, he is equally as effective in the batter's box as at the third sack. The Metropolitan Conference batting champion of last year, Red Ronan, will be another returnee to the Green and White squad. Red, will be swinging for the crown once again while digging out ground balls at first base, or chasing fiys in the outfield.

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To home for the double play. It's a hard hit down the third base line. BASEBALL TEAM In early March the 1956 Manhattan baseball team was going through their drills in the Alumni Gym. Coach Dave Curran was surveying his squad with an optimistic smile. Here he was moulding a squad which was hoped to be the team that would bring the Metropolitan Baseball Conference Championship to Manhattan. No other Jasper nine has been able to bring this coveted title to our campus since the league's inception in 1941, but this squad has the determination and ability to capture the Ioop's crown. Captain Bob Coccodrilli will lead a squad of more than twelve veteran performers in this campaign. Bob has been a stellar member of the Jasper infield for the last two campaigns as a steady man with the glove and the bat. The pitching corps will be headed by veterans Jim Clark and John McCoy. These two righthanders were the mainstays of the twirlers during the 1955 season and mentor Curran expects them to retain this top rating. Jim looks like the top hurler be- cause of the knuckleball and slider which he has added to his repertiore. McCoy should remain one of the most feared pitchers in the league because of his blinding fastball and his recently developed change-of-pace and curveball. Gerry Markey and Marty McGuire should provide the mound staff with a solid secondary line. With righty Rich Mannello and southpaw Dick Bryson working from the bullpen, the corps should be a tough one to beat.

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,, The Jasper squad will have flashy Howie Pierson scooping up grounders at short-stop. Curran expects this sophomore to fill the shoes of Bob Grady who captained last year's team. Bill Garland will be the utility infielder of the squad. Then there will be Dick Esau and Bob Murphy who can play the infield if the coach needs the added help. The outfield will have plenty of power plus speed to make some sure hits, sure outs, Dick Esau should get the nod to start in right field. Dick has been converted from the mound staff to the picket line because of his power but. As an ex- pitcher he also has a strong arm to prevent our foes from taking that extra base. The left field slot should be marked by Bob Murphy, another powerful man with the l'hickory. Bob came through in the clutch many times last year and appears to be even more reliable this season. The centerfield position is still open with Jerry Mercurio and Jack Killoran battling for the starting assignment. This should be the year for the Jaspers. They have experience and depth. The pitching staff is potentially the league's best and the infield which was the conference's best defensive unit last year, looks even better. The outfield has a wealth of power and speed. With a veteran squad, the Green and White are seeking a much awaited championship, but they must top their local rivals for the crown. Their opposition in the Metropolitan Inter- collegiate Baseball Conference are New York University, St. John's, Wagner, City, Brooklyn, and Hofstra. They will also face, Army, Columbia, Fordham, Hunter, Iona, Princeton, St. Peter's and Queens.