Skip To Main Content

Scoreboard

Clarkson University Athletics

2025 Clarkson University Baseball Preview

SarabiaMateoMS1
Mike Stever

Men's Baseball | 2/20/2025 1:46:00 PM

It has been a long winter, but the Boys of Spring are ready to hit the field in the coming weeks a little further south than Potsdam, NY, as the Clarkson University Baseball team opens up the 2025 season this weekend at Centenary University in New Jersey.

A year ago, the Golden Knights missed out on the postseason tournament, but numerous players are back, including the weekend rotation and much of the starting lineup as a youthful lineup looks to take another step forward in its production. Guided by long-time head coach Jim Kane and assistants Stephen Colangelo, Joe Godomsky, and Bryan Harmer, the Golden Knights are poised to return to the Liberty League Tournament in 2025. 

Clarkson lost little in the way of pitching, as Nicholas Hofacker returned for a graduate year, Mateo Sarabia is back, and so is Cole Riskin. That trio combined to throw a little under 115 innings and provided numerous starts. Hofacker threw 51.2 innings and struck out 35 with a 4.70 earned run average, while Riskin struck out close to a hitter per inning with 30 whiffs in 33 frames. Sarabia was called upon for six starts and ate up some innings, averaging just under five per outing with a 5.14 earned run average. Additionally, Carter Gould returns as a fresh arm out of the bullpen, having struck out 20 in 20.1 innings of work.

The Golden Knights pitching staff also has plenty of new arms, having already shown ample talent in the past fall and indoors since the start of the New Year. Sophomore Dan Horowitz has taken a step forward and is sitting in the upper 80s, while first-year collegians such as lefty Chase Fisher and righties CJ Kanick, Nolan Zenkewicz, and Ryan Petrie may toss meaningful innings in Florida and during conference weekends.

The lineup will miss the potent bat of Kent Wilson at first base, but the rest of the top hitters from a year ago are back, many of them juniors. Catcher Joe Figliolino hit .337/.447/.459 returns as a leader behind the plate, while classmates James Mason (.307/.455/.352), CJ Cartier (.283/.314/.398), and Aidan Kuefner (.276/.350/.371) each put up solid numbers, with Kuefner also swiping 10 bags for the Knights. In addition to that foursome, senior Will Roda will have an opportunity to continue his rise on offense a year after hitting .444/.516/.667 with just one strikeout in 31 plate appearances, serving as another outfielder for the Knights. There were very few lineup "regulars" a year ago due to injuries around the diamond, but Cam Jerrett is also back in the infield looking to make a return to his sophomore season when he was healthy and hit .303/.405/.364 in 33 games.

Several others will be seeking at bats for the Knights, including Christopher Griggs, Colby Fox, Beau Vardion, Kyle Ventola, and Seth Albert. Griggs and Fox have seen time before, while Vardion had 15 starts at shortstop a year ago, though he may shift across the diamond. Newcomers Aidan McGuire (shortstop) and Zach Worthington (catcher) are two position players that will likely crack the lineup regularly.


 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

CJ Cartier

#21 CJ Cartier

IF
5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R
Joe Figliolino

#23 Joe Figliolino

C
6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
Colby Fox

#2 Colby Fox

OF
5' 9"
Sophomore
L/R
Carter Gould

#37 Carter Gould

RHP
6' 1"
Junior
R/R
Christopher Griggs

#1 Christopher Griggs

OF
5' 9"
Junior
R/R
Nicholas Hofacker

#35 Nicholas Hofacker

P
5' 11"
Senior
R/R
Cam Jerrett

#4 Cam Jerrett

IF
5' 10"
Junior
R/R
Aidan Kuefner

#16 Aidan Kuefner

OF
6' 1"
Sophomore
R/R
James Mason

#20 James Mason

UT
6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
Cole Riskin

#42 Cole Riskin

IF/RHP
5' 9"
Junior
R/R

Players Mentioned

CJ Cartier

#21 CJ Cartier

5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Joe Figliolino

#23 Joe Figliolino

6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
C
Colby Fox

#2 Colby Fox

5' 9"
Sophomore
L/R
OF
Carter Gould

#37 Carter Gould

6' 1"
Junior
R/R
RHP
Christopher Griggs

#1 Christopher Griggs

5' 9"
Junior
R/R
OF
Nicholas Hofacker

#35 Nicholas Hofacker

5' 11"
Senior
R/R
P
Cam Jerrett

#4 Cam Jerrett

5' 10"
Junior
R/R
IF
Aidan Kuefner

#16 Aidan Kuefner

6' 1"
Sophomore
R/R
OF
James Mason

#20 James Mason

6' 0"
Sophomore
R/R
UT
Cole Riskin

#42 Cole Riskin

5' 9"
Junior
R/R
IF/RHP