It was a season of ups and downs for the Red Hawks. Rensselaer Head Coach Karl Steffen reached the 500-win milestone; Luke Calzone pitched a complete game no hitter; and RPI rattled off an 11-game winning streak; but unfortunately, the season ended earlier than most for Steffen and company. For the first time since 1991, Steffen’s squad failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament.
The Red Hawks finished up the regular season with a two game sweep of Clarkson, a win over Hartwick, another twinbill sweep against Hamilton, and a split against Rochester. Rochester snapped RPI’s win streak at 11, winning game two of that doubleheader which was also the last regular season game for the Red Hawks.
Luke Calzone won game number nine of the streak in stunning fashion as the Bethel, Conn. native no-hit Hamilton in the second game of their doubleheader. “He’s capable of being that dominant all the time,” Steffen boasted about his sophomore pitcher.
RPI got on the board with five runs in the first two innings, with Mike Passante driving in two with an RBI double in the second. That was more than Calzone needed. Only one runner for Hamilton even reached second base, and that was in the first off a walk and a wild pitch. Calzone finished with two walks, one hit batsman, and fanned eight over the seven innings.
The Red Hawks had built a ton of momentum going into the playoffs, just one loss removed from their 11-game winning streak. RPI was ranked No. 18 in the nation, and received the second seed in the Liberty League tournament. However, the loss to Rochester proved not just to be a bump in the road, but rather a major road block.
“We were the No. 2 hitting team in the country, and among the national leaders for runs scored.” Steffen then added, “We went in feeling like the favorites.”
On the first day of the double elimination tournament, RPI took on number three seed Clarkson. Clarkson was a victim during the winning streak, but came back with a vengeance in the postseason. Even though the Red Hawks jumped out to an early lead, the Golden Knights staged a comeback in the later innings.
Pitching blunders and defensive mistakes basically handed RPI a 4-0 lead in the second. Jason Pollard knocked in a run with a single, and three other runners crossed the plate due to a pass ball, and an error in the field. The Golden Knights, however, refused to let Chris Sullivan and RPI hold the lead.
Clarkson scored in each of the last five innings, including three runs in the seventh when the Golden Knights connected for three consecutive hits off Sullivan. Tim Klein came in, but could not hold the game to a one run contest, and Clarkson cruised to the 7-4 victory.
In a must-win situation the following day, RPI played fourth seeded St. Lawrence. SLU struck first, as two of the Saints’ first three batters crossed the plate. The hits kept coming for the Saints who would score five more runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Trailing 7-1 heading into the final three innings, however, the Red Hawks came alive, scoring three in the seventh and two more in the eighth to come within one. Unfortunately, that would be all the Rensselaer bats could muster as they fell to the Saints 7-6.
“We were fighters, I thought all season,” Steffen admitted, but the late inning heroics were too little, too late. Troy Lassial came in for the Saints and pitched a perfect ninth to end the season for the Red Hawks.
The loss to SLU marked the first time in the ten year history of the league that the Red Hawks were not crowned the champions. Under Steffen’s leadership the team won nine Liberty League (formerly known as UCAA) tournaments in a row.
“We didn’t get the big hit when we needed to, and our pitchers weren’t making the pitch to get out of the inning.” Steffen put it very plainly, “We were cold.”
Many of the student athletes were given postseason honors. Joe Ihnatolya was named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District 1 College Division Baseball team. Ihnatolya was also selected as the third baseman to the All-Liberty League First Team. Joining him on the first team were junior outfielder Michael Passante, sophomore catcher Jason Pollard, senior starting pitcher Chris Sullivan, and freshman designated hitter Stevan Slusher.
Slusher was also selected as the designated hitter on the All-ECAC Upstate All-Star Team. Senior first baseman Dan Quinn was named to the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-New York Region Baseball First Team for his outstanding offensive production this year.
The seniors that played their final games this spring will be sorely missed. Leadership as well as production will be missed from offensive standouts such as Dan Quinn and Nick Parenteau, defensively minded BG Porter, and “big game pitcher” ace Chris Sullivan. However Steffen feels confident in his returning players that they will be able to step up and fill the voids.
“The last four years, we’ve had excellent recruiting classes. We still have a good crew,” reassured Steffen.
One thing is certain. Coach Steffen’s teams continue to perform well year after year, and next year will be no different. Steffen very proudly said that it “looks good for the future.” Look for the Red Hawks to be hungrier next season with a new desire to return to the NCAA tournament after a heartbreaking year off.
