We are back! Mother Nature is not being cooperative, but today's single, nine-inning, East Coast Conference affair between the College of Staten Island and Molloy College is on as scheduled.  It has been over a calendar year since the boys in blue and black have taken the field and they get set to start their 2021 season against the ECC Preseason favorites.  CSI finalized at 5-3 in 2020 before their season was cut short, and are facing off against a Lions team that comes in 3-5, but well-rested, having not played in six days.

CSI vs. MOLLOY COLLEGE
Matchup: College of Staten Island (0-0) vs. Molloy College (3-5)
Where:  Mitchel Field Athletic Complex - 1 Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Uniondale, NY
Live Video: https://www.eccsportsnetwork.com/molloycollege/
Live Stats: https://molloylions.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
Spectator Policy:  No spectator access (link)
All-Time Series:  First Meeting
Players to Watch (CSI):  The Dolphins have seven veterans returning for the 2021 season, and another 10 players whose first season with the Dolphins was the eight-game stretch in 2020 before the COVID stoppage.  2019 CUNYAC Rookie of the Year Domenick Castiglione is hoping to pick up the pieces following a tremendous 2019 and a solid three games in 2020 batting .400.  When he went down to injury a year ago, freshman standout Giacchino Virone stepped in and batted a blistering .535 in eight games (five starts) going 8-15 at the dish.  Peter Lombardo, a junior transfer a season ago making his CSI debut, batted .407, leading CSI in hits with 11and RBI with 9.  On the mound, look for sophomores John Esposito and Kevin Ryan to lead the charge.  Esposito was a CUNYAC Pitcher of the Year candidate in 2019, going 4-4 as the ace of the staff with a 1.99 ERA, fanning 48 in 49.2 innings.  Ryan made 14 appearances with four starts, posting a 1-3 mark with a 4.58 ERA.  Transfer Adam Gonzalez and freshman Frank Gulko promise to make a mark as well in 2021. 
Players to Watch (MOL):  Sean Hogan has been leading the charge for the Lions, batting a tremendous .429 through eight games, picking up five extra-base hits to raise his slugging percentage to .679.  James Messina (.367) and Jake McCarthy (.344) are also providing plenty of pop, combining for 14 RBI through eight games and 13 runs scored.  Patrick Hoffman (.292) is the team leader in stolen bases with three and has scored seven runs in the early stages.  Three of Molloy's four starters thus far this season sport under a 5.00 ERA with Timothy Panetta leading the way.  He is 2-1 with a 2.29 ERA, leading the way with 19.2 innings tossed.  Joe Minucci (1-1, 4.50 ERA) has fanned 15 batters in 10 innings, while Charlie Cucchiara (0-1, 4.50 ERA) has fanned 10 in 10 innings as well.
News & Notes: Despite both programs' storied histories, today is the first-ever meeting between the two schools.  It is also CSI's first-ever East Coast Conference game that counts towards the standings in school history, so today's game will go down in history either way.  Despite this being their first full season within the ECC for baseball, the program has plenty of experience against NCAA Division I and II schools in the past.  CSI has played many ECC schools during their history dating back to the late 70's, and CSI did play five games against DII competition just a season ago before the COVID stoppage, including a doubleheader split against ECC-member Mercy College.  As for Molloy, they come in as the overwhelming ECC favorite this year.  They sport a 3-5 record this season, and recently dropped a doubleheader to Dominican College last weekend, by thin margins of 4-3, and 3-1.  Like the Dolphins, they are making their ECC debut today.  The Lions were 7-4 before their season in 2020 was canceled.  Molloy Head Coach Joe Fucarino is entering his 16th season at the helm of the Lions, sporting 350 career wins.