UMass-Lowell Baseball Incoming Class of 2019

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KEN HARRING ANNOUNCES INCOMING CLASS FOR 2019 SEASON

LOWELL, Mass. — UMass Lowell Baseball Head Coach Ken Harring has announced nine incoming players for the 2019 season, including eight freshmen and one transfer.

The newest River Hawks include four players from New Jersey, two from New York, and one each from Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Jonathan Anderson (Montvale, N.J.), Matt Aronson (Leominster, Mass.), Ciaran Devenney (Manalapan, N.J.), Salvatore Fusco (Colonie, N.Y.), Robert Gallagher (Mullica Hill, N.J.), Drew Guldin (), Andrew Roden (Sherill, N.Y.), Blaise Sclafani (Souderton, Pa.) and Gerry Siracusa (Kinnelon, N.J.) are set to join Harring’s squad and help UMass Lowell compete for the program’s first America East title.

River Hawk Baseball Profiles
Name: Johnathan Anderson
Hometown/High School: Montvale, N.J./St. Joseph Regional
Position: LHP
Bats/Throws:
Height: 6-1 Weight: 192
Major: Undeclared

HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year varsity player … senior captain … threw two no-hitters as a freshman … honors member.

PERSONAL: Son of Mathew and Kelli Anderson … has one sister … nicknamed “Lefty” … hobbies include playing basketball and playing video games … The Office is favorite TV show … lists the Boston Red Sox as his favorite team … Clayton Kershaw is biggest sports influence … greatest sports moment is throwing one of his no-hitters against the best team in the league … can play piano and guitar … is currently undeclared.

HARRING ON ANDERSON:
“Jon fills an immediate need being a LHP. He pitched for one of the best programs in the state of New Jersey. He has plus command of all of his pitches and with a little maturity physically, he has the chance to become special.”

Name: Matthew Aronson
Hometown/High School: Leominster, Mass./St. Bernard’s
Position: RHP
Bats/Throws:
Height: 6-2 Weight: 205
Major: Exercise Physiology

HIGH SCHOOL: Central Mass Conference All-Star as a junior … 1.82 ERA with 57 strikeouts … District finalists with a 2.40 ERA as a sophomore … honor roll member.

PERSONAL: One of two children of David and Christy Aronson … hobbies include ping pong and traveling … favorite TV shows are Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, and Rick & Morty … lists the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Antonio Spurs are favorite teams … favorite athletes include Noah Syndergaard, Clayton Kershaw, Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant … says throwing a complete game shutout in first playoff start in greatest sports moment … exercise physiology major.

HARRING ON ARONSON:
“Matt dominated Central Massachusetts baseball over the last couple years. He brings an above-average fastball and good breaking ball to campus. With his frame, we feel his best days are in front of him.”

Name: Ciaran Devenney
Hometown/High School: Manalapan, N.J./St. John Vianney
Previous School: Delaware State/Mercer CC
Position: Catcher
Height: 5-11 Weight: 208
Major: Business Administration

AS A SOPHOMORE (Mercer CC, 2018): Appeared in 51 games, batted .336 … ranked fourth with 34 RBI and second with 45 runs … tied for team lead with nine home runs … fourth on the team with seven doubles … threw out 10 runners from behind the plate.

AS A FRESHMAN (Delaware State, 2017): Started in all 46 games he appeared in … batted .261 with nine doubles and four home runs … led the team with 33 RBI, .408 slugging percentage and nine HBP … two-time MEAC Rookie of the Week.

HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time captain … hit .545 with 10 doubles, two triples, two home runs and 10 RBI as a senior … Shore Baseball Coaches Association Class A Central Hitter of the Year … named to First-Team All A-Central Division and First-Team All-Shore Conference … News 12 All-State New Jersey Region Honorable Mention … back-to-back A-Central Division Champions as sophomore and junior … First-Team all A-Central Division as a junior … won Shore Conference Tournament with the hockey team as a freshman.

PERSONAL: Son of Patrick and Noeleen Devenney … one of two sons … nickname is “C” … enjoys working out and hanging out with friends … favorite TV show is Quick Pitch … lists the New York Yankees, Rangers, and Giants as favorite sports teams … names Derek Jeter and Bryce Harper as influences … greatest sports influence is hitting a pinch-hit walk-off home run in summer league … business administration major.

HARRING ON DEVENNEY:
“Ciaran is a very good all-around catcher. He hit in the middle of the order at Delaware State and Mercer County. He will give us some maturity at a very demanding position. He is a leader and we expect him to contribute right away.”

Name: Salvatore Fusco
Hometown/High School: Colonie, N.Y./South Colonie Central
Position: RHP
Bats/Throws: R/R
Height: 6-1 Weight: 180
Major: Environmental Science

HIGH SCHOOL: Struck out 31 batters in 14 innings as a junior … posted a 1.47 ERA … recorded 84 strikeouts in 41 innings for the club team.

PERSONAL: Son of Michael and Karen Fusco … has two siblings … enjoys hiking and fishing … Life in Pieces in favorite TV show … lists New York Giants, Mets, and Knicks as favorite sports teams … Tim Lincecum and Tim Tebow as favorite athletes … greatest sports moment is pitching 28 consecutive no-hit innings … environmental science major.

HARRING ON FUSCO:
“Sal is a high-level arm that we feel can make an immediate impact with the pitching staff. He has explosive primary and secondary pitches. We look forward to watching him develop.”

Name: Robert Gallagher
Hometown/High School: Mullica Hill, N.J./Clearview Regional
Position: Infield
Bats/Throws:
Height: 5-10 Weight: 165
Major: Criminal Justice

HIGH SCHOOL: Finished sophomore season batting over .400 … junior varsity captain … honor roll student … member of SURE Club and Varsity Club.

PERSONAL: One of four children of Robert and Barbara Gallagher … hobbies include hockey, golf and going to the beach … favorite TV show is 30 for 30 … lists the Phillies, Eagles, Sixers, and Flyers as favorite teams … names Conor McGregor as biggest sports influence … greatest sports moment is winning South Jersey Group 4 … criminal justice major.

HARRING ON GALLAGHER:
“Robert comes from a very good program in South Jersey. Tremendous hands, quick feet, and barrel awareness will put him in the mix immediately in the infield. He is a baseball player through and through.”

Name: Drew Guldin
Hometown/High School: Mantua, N.J./Gloucester Catholic
Position: RHP
Bats/Throws: R/R
Height: 5-11 Weight: 165

HARRING ON GULDIN:
“Drew is the ultimate competitor. He comes from one of the best programs in South Jersey, playing against tremendous competition. We expect him to be a high-level arm who will not back down from anyone.”

Name: Andrew Roden
Hometown/High School: Sherill, N.Y./Verona-Sherill
Position: First Base/Third Base
Height: 6-5 Weight: 220
Major: Criminal Justice

HIGH SCHOOL: Two-sport athlete (basketball, baseball) … Tri-Valley League Player of Year as a junior … names to All-Central New York and All-Mohawk Teams … Second Team All-State Class B … senior captain for basketball team … high honor roll.

PERSONAL: One of three sons of John and Ann Roden … nicknamed “Dewey” … enjoys going on vacation, spending time with family and fishing … favorite show is Prison Break … names the Boston Celtics and Dallas Cowboys as favorite teams … favorite athlete is Bryce Harper … greatest sports moments include winning District 5 in Legion, winning sectionals with high school team and making it to sectional finals with basketball … majoring in criminal justice.

HARRING ON RODEN:
“Andrew is a big strong left-handed hitting corner infielder. He has plus power and is a very good hitter. With some added strength, we believe he will be a high-level run producer.”

Name: Blaise Sclafani
Hometown/High School: Souderton, Pa./Souderton
Position: RHP
Height: 6-1 Weight: 190
Major: Business Administration

HIGH SCHOOL: Two-sport athlete (hockey, baseball) … senior captain … World Wood Bat Contender … SOL All-Conference First Team a junior … posted 1.19 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 35.1 innings … started on junior varsity as a freshman.

PERSONAL: Son of Tom and Mary Sclafani … has two sisters … fan of the Philadelphia Phillies, Eagles, Sixers, and Flyers … favorite athlete is Randy Johnson … greatest sports moment is beating North Penn for first place in SOL Continental Division … business administration major.

HARRING ON SCLAFANI:
“Blaise is our first Pennsylvania recruit. He was a highly sought after arm who we feel has the chance to be special. His wipeout slider will be very effective immediately. He has tremendous competitive fire will help our pitching staff quickly.”

Name: Gerlando Siracusa
Hometown/High School: Kinnelon, N.J./Bergen Catholic
Position: RHP/Outfield
Bats/Throws:
Height: 6-4 Weight: 180
Major: Physical Therapy

HIGH SCHOOL: Team captain as a senior … team won county championship as a junior … National Honor Society and NHS for Spanish and World History member … Principal’s List.

PERSONAL: One of two sons of Gerlando and Nellie Siracusa … nicknamed “Gerry” … hobbies include playing video games and watching Game of Thrones … New York Yankees, Giants and Los Angeles Lakers are favorite teams … names Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter as favorite sports influences … greatest sports moment is winning the county championship in 2017 … plans on getting a doctorate in physical therapy … majoring in physical therapy.

HARRING ON SIRACUSA:
“Gerry comes from a very decorated athletic high school. He is a highly competitive player who we think can contribute on both sides of the ball. His body has a lot of room to fill, and when that happens, the sky is the limit for him.”