Part 1: Infielders
Part 2: Outfielders
Part 3: Pitchers
Part 4: Catchers, Wednesday, Feb. 8

Baseball season is right around the corner with the home opener slated for February 17th at 2 p.m. against Northern Colorado. With that in mind, it's time to start previewing the 2017 Diamond Dons. Now it's time for the pitching staff. 

An age-old adage is that a team is only as good as it's next day's starting pitcher. If that holds true, head coach Nino Giarratano is confident that the Dons have what it takes to make a deep run in 2017. 

The rotation will open the year with four starters as both of the first two weekends, at home vs. Northern Colorado and at Hawaii, are four game series. The leader in the clubhouse to open as the Friday starter is junior Grant Goodman. In 2016 Goodman went 1-4 with a 13.02 ERA and started five games out of 13 appearances. 

"Grant's healthy and he's back to normal now," Giarratano said. "He sits 88-92 MPH with a power breaking ball and a pretty good change-up. He really relies on the fastball, though, and he can command it and move it in and out."

Following Goodman will be sophomore Thomas Ponticelli who was one of the Dons primary Saturday starters last year and will be doing the same this year. Ponticelli went 4-6 with a 5.94 ERA in 12 starts last season tallying 72.2 innings while striking out 44 batters. 

"Ponticelli goes 90-94 at times," Giarratano said. "His breaking ball is sharp and he added a really nice change-up to the mix. When he is right and the ball is down, that's as good of an arm as you can find."

For games three and four in a series it will be junior Sam Granoff and sophomore transfer Daniel Slominski (Livermore, CA / College of San Mateo). It will be a battle between those two to impress early as the third spot in the rotation when the traditional three-game weekend series start is up for grabs.

"Granoff really relies on command," Giarratano said. "He gets depth on his pitches. He's coming off of Tommy John Surgery, but when he was healthy two years ago he beat Oregon, Stanford, Cal, Santa Clara and Saint Mary's all on the road. He rifled through everybody to five straight wins."

"Slominski is a guy that when healthy and throwing the ball well will be at 88-91 with a good sinker and a plus change-up," Giarratano added. 

Whichever of those last two does not make the rotation will become a part of a bullpen that is lead by seniors Mack Meyer and Joey Carney. Last season in 29 appearances, Meyer went 3-2 while posting a 5.13 ERA and striking out 21 batters in 33.1 innings to go with three saves.

"When you get past the starters I think you're looking at Mack as our number one reliever," Giarratano explained. "Mack is a submarine guy who will either be our closer or our set-up guy in the 7th or 8th inning. He's done a wonderful job in that (set-up) role."

Carney went 0-1 in 20 appearances last season recording 18 strikeouts in 15.1 innings and leading the team in saves with five. 

"We closed with Joey last year and we feel like we will probably close with him this year," Giarratano said. "Late last year both of those guys (Meyer and Carney) really came into their own and we are looking for big years from both of them."

Sophomore Scott Parker (1-1, 8.22 ERA in 2016) will be the Dons number one left-handed reliever out of the bullpen that will combine with Carney and Meyer to create a thee-headed monster to close out games. 

Junior Brendan Jenkins (Pleasanton, CA / Cuesta College) is a junior college transfer that seems poised to see plenty of time on the mound as he could represent both a middle reliever and a Tuesday starter. Sophomore Benji Post (1-2, 5.57 ERA) will be Jenkins main competition for that role. 

"Benji Post is kind of a sleeper in the middle of it all," Giarratano said. "Benji could jump up into the starting rotation and start on Tuesday. He could possibly jump into the rotation and pitch on a weekend too. He'll be a swing guy for us with his power sinker and his nice breaking ball."

Working through the bullpen depth chart, Giarratano pointed out freshman John Mullis (Milton, GA / Cambridge HS) as a guy who could expect to see some innings. He also mentioned sophomore Joey Steele as a pitcher with an electric arm who will get plenty of work, too. 

And the group rounds out with a pair of freshman including another lefty in Grant Young (Lafayette, CA / Acalanes HS). Riley Ornido (Mountain View, CA / St. Francis HS) may also see some time but Giarratano explained that he is really waiting in the wings and one to keep an eye on for the future, but no one ever knows how a season will shake-out so he needs to remain ready.

The notable name missing from this list is James Kannenberg who will be missing this season due to Tommy John Surgery, but is expected to return in 2018. 

"I really like the depth that we have from the pitching standpoint," Giarratano concluded. "It's just a matter of getting out there, getting some confidence, throwing strikes and getting us some outs."

And don't forget, before the season starts, there will be the 15th Annual Monsignor Moran Lead-off Dinner on February 11th. The evening will feature a cocktail hour beginning at 5 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m. and an auction while introducing the 2017 Diamond Dons. You can purchase a ticket to the event by clicking here.