UMass Lowell River Hawks Add Seven to 2021 Baseball Roster

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LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Baseball Head Coach Ken Harring has announced the addition of seven newcomers to the program, welcoming five, first-year student-athletes and two junior college transfers.

“This is a very complete class that addressed all of our needs,” commented Harring. “The position players offer a lot of athleticism and options for us. On the mound, we feel we have guys who will compete for innings right away. By adding two junior college players, we feel we addressed the youthful nature of this team, adding guys who have been through the process of college baseball. We feel very fortunate to have added such quality players and people to our team.”

The River Hawks welcome seven new roster additions for the upcoming spring, as Roddy Hernandez (Jersey City, N.J.), Zach Zobel (Westport, Conn.), Jimmy Sullivan (East Hampton, Conn.), Zach Fortuna (Newburyport, Mass.), Michael Quigley (Halifax, Mass.), Cedric Rose (Pittsfield, Mass.) and Jake Randolph (Exeter, N.H.) join the squad.

UMass Lowell River Hawks Profiles

Name: Roddy Hernandez
Nickname: Suave
Hometown/High School: Jersey City, N.J. / St. Peter’s Prep
Position: Infield
Height: 5-11 Weight: 170
Club: Northeast Canes
Major/Minor: Business / Nursing

HIGHLIGHTS: Honored with school’s top plays for two consecutive weeks as a senior … Named to the 2020 Preseason Underclass All-Region Team during his junior season … Received First Honors in his senior year and Second Honors for the previous years.

PERSONAL: Son of Maria and Reynaldo Hernandez of Jersey City, N.J. … Has three brothers, Ronny, Roger, and Justin … Enjoys getting outside and playing sports … Lists The Wayans Bros as his favorite TV show … Names the New York Yankees as his favorite professional sports team … Favorite sports figure is Derek Jeter … Favorite sports moment was hitting a grand slam in the championship game of his first 60/90 tournament.

Why UMass Lowell: “I immediately loved the stadium and appreciated the coaches for the opportunity. I like the city of Lowell because it reminds me of home.”

Name: Zach Zobel
Nickname: Zobel
Hometown/High School: Westport, Conn. / Staples
Position: Outfield
Height: 6-0 Weight: 185
Club: Baseball U
Major/Minor: Business / Psychology

HIGHLIGHTS: Two-sport athlete (basketball and baseball) … Captain of his senior squad, named No. 1 preseason team in Connecticut … FCIAC Champions and Two-time Class LL Champions … Helped team secure school record in his junior season, going 28-3 for the most wins, runs, and hits in a single season … All-State and All-Division his junior year … Second Honor Roll during his sophomore and junior year.

PERSONAL: Son of Elizabeth and Ron Zobel of Westport, Conn. … Enjoys anything involving cars and bikes … Lists CatDog as his favorite TV show … Names the New York Yankees and Packers as some of his favorite professional teams … Favorite sports figure is Mike Trout … Favorite sports moment was the entirety of his junior season, winning states and the conference championship.

Why UMass Lowell: “The college itself is a very intriguing environment that I can surely see myself in, as well as the baseball facilities and culture, is second to none.”

Name: Jimmy Sullivan
Hometown/High School: East Hampton, Conn. / Choate Rosemary Hall
Position: Catcher
Height: 6-0 Weight: 180
Club: Connecticut Blue Jays
Major/Minor: Business

HIGHLIGHTS: Played one season for Choate and three for East Hampton High … Two-sport athlete (rowing and baseball) … Named baseball captain as a junior and senior … Choate 2020 Perfect Game All-Region Team Honorable Mention … 2019 Founder’s League Underclass Player of the Year and First Team All-Star … East Hampton 2018 First Team All-Shoreline Conference selection … New England Baseball Journal Player to Watch … Selected to participate in the 2018 CT vs. MA Junior All-Star game … Two-time East Hampton Most Outstanding Player … Three-time Dean’s List recipient … Shoreline Conference Scholar-Athlete Award.

PERSONAL: Son of Aralee and James Sullivan Sr. of Westport, Conn. … His aunt, Jamia, ran cross country/ track & field at Northeastern … Enjoys fishing, kayaking, and traveling … Lists Avatar as his favorite TV show … Favorite professional sports teams are all of the New England teams … Names Tom Brady and Conor McGregor as his favorite athletes … Favorite sports moment was hitting the game-winning three-run homer versus their school’s rival.

Why UMass Lowell: “I chose UMass Lowell because I felt a strong connection to the coaches and baseball program, as well as to the state of Massachusetts. Those reasons accompanied by a strong business program made it an easy choice for me.”

Name: Zach Fortuna
Nickname: Tuna
Hometown/High School: Newburyport, Mass. / St. John’s Prep
Position: LH Pitcher
Height: 6-0 Weight: 205
Club: North Shore Freedom
Major/Minor: Business

HIGHLIGHTS: Played in 10 games for the Eagles during his junior year … Helped team advance to the Super 8 championship round as starting pitcher … 1.19 ERA and 43 strikeouts on the season.

PERSONAL: Son of Susan and Chris Fortuna of Newburyport, Mass. … Has two siblings, Emma and Quinn … Enjoys skiing and hanging out with his friends and family … Lists the Sopranos as his favorite TV show … Favorite professional sports teams are all of the New England teams … Names Marcus Stroman as his favorite athlete … Favorite sports moment was making it to the Super 8 championship.

Why UMass Lowell: “I chose UMass Lowell because of the great combination of athletics and academics, providing both baseball and my major of business.”

Name: Michael Quigley
Nickname: Quigs
Hometown/High School: Halifax, Mass. / Silver Lake Regional
Position: RH Pitcher
Height: 5-11 Weight: 180
Major/Minor: Business

HIGHLIGHTS: Varsity baseball starter all four years … Captain of his junior and senior squads … MIAA Preseason All-American in his final season … Patriot Ledger Player of the Year as a junior … Patriot League MVP and All-Star in his junior year … Under Armour and Perfect Game Preseason All-American … Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic honors … Recorded no-hitter in first varsity start during his sophomore season … Honor roll student.

PERSONAL: Son of Susan and Brian Quigley of Halifax, Mass. … Has four brothers, Ryan, Stephen, Christopher, and Jack … His brother Ryan currently plays baseball for Wheaton College … Enjoys quadding and swimming … Lists his favorite sports team as the Red Sox … Names Francisco Lindor and Marcus Stroman as some of his favorite athletes … Favorite sports moment was throwing his third no-hitter, after making a bet with his coach that if he did, he could wear his jersey in the next game.

Why UMass Lowell: “I loved the campus as soon as I got to step foot on it. I thought the coaching staff and baseball program were great!”

Name: Cedric Rose
Nickname: Cedi
Hometown/High School: Pittsfield, Mass. / Taconic
Position: Catcher / Infield
Height: 5-11 Weight: 205
Major/Minor: Business

PREVIOUS SCHOOL (Herkimer Community College, 2019-20): Appeared in 33 games his freshman year … Recorded a .378 batting average, including 32 RBI’s and four home runs … Recorded 60 putouts with four assists.

HIGHLIGHTS: Helped his senior squad to the MIAA Division III championship game … Two-time First Team All-Western Mass … Western Mass Super 7 selection … MIAA Division I State Champions in his junior season … Second Team All-Western Mass during his sophomore campaign.

PERSONAL: Son of Michelle Johnston and Carl Rose of Pittsfield, Mass. … Has three older siblings, Kirk, Ashley, and Amber … Enjoys gaming and watching Troll Hunters … Lists the Lakers and Detroit Tigers as some of his favorite sports teams … Names Malcolm Jenkins as his favorite athlete … Favorite sports moment was winning the Division I state title.

Why UMass Lowell: “When I got to visit the campus it just felt like a really good spot for me. Being back in my home state where my parents don’t have to go far is definitely a bonus!”

Name: Jake Randolph
Nickname: Randy
Hometown/High School: Exeter, N.H. / Exeter
Position: LH Pitcher
Height: 6-6 Weight: 225
Major/Minor: Economics

PREVIOUS SCHOOL (Central Alabama Community College, 2018-20): Appeared in eight games his sophomore year … Posted a 1.80 ERA and seven strikeouts over five innings.

HIGHLIGHTS: Two-sport athlete at Exeter, participating in basketball and baseball … All-New England Baseball Second Team in his final season … All-New England Baseball Third Team as a junior … Selected to the First Team All-State during his sophomore campaign … Honor roll student … Member of the chess and Future Leaders of America club.

PERSONAL: Son of Janet Sowinski and John Randolph of Exeter, N.H. … Has one younger sibling, Luke … Enjoys hiking and spending time with his family … Lists the Red Sox as his favorite sports team … Names Clayton Kershaw as his favorite athlete … Favorite sports moment was throwing a one-hit shutout during the semifinal game in his sophomore year.

Why UMass Lowell: “UMass Lowell has the perfect balance of good academics and athletics.”