TEANECK, N.J - Third-year Fairleigh Dickinson baseball head coach Rob DiToma announced 23 additions to the Knights' squad on Wednesday, pushing his 2021-2022 roster to 39 men.
 

"This recruiting class is the reflection of the excitement level around our baseball program right now," DiToma said. "In a very different time period in the recruiting world, we feel we were able to bring in a very dynamic class of student athletes who will help in every phase of the game. Coach [Stephen] Adkins worked tirelessly at assessing all of our needs and bringing in all types of players, from different regions, ages and class levels. We expect to see some great accomplishments on and off the field from this group right away." 
 

The incoming class brings athletes from nine different U.S. states, including four New Jersey natives. The newcomers consist of 13 freshmen and ten transfer students featuring three catchers, three outfielders, six infielders and 11 pitchers.

 

Ian Barrett

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va.

High School: First Colonial

Previous College: Bryant & Stratton

Barrett was named MVP and received All-Region Second Team honors as a high school senior. At Bryant & Stratton, he led in appearances and strikeouts and received Dean's List honors for four semesters. His projected major at FDU is business administration 

 

Luke Cantwell

Position: Infield

Hometown: Warrington, Pa.

High School: Archwood Bishop

During his four years on varsity at Archwood Bishop, Cantwell received All-Catholic First Team Honors and was the first to be named captain two years in a row. After graduating with honors, Cantwell plans on pursuing his degree in sports management at FDU.

 

Nick Evangelista

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Hometown: Washington Township, N.J.

High School: Washington Township

Previous College: Rowan College at Gloucester County, Virginia Commonwealth University

Evangelista contributed to two conference championships at Washington Township high school and took home an Atlantic 10 conference championship with Virginia Commonwealth University in 2021. He will be pursuing his Master's in business administration at FDU.

 

Jack Giovenco

Position: Catcher/Outfield

Hometown: Allentown, Pa.

High School: Parkland

Giovenco graduated from Parkland High School with honors and clipped a .379 AVG, .486 OBP and .586 SLG in his high school career. His projected major at FDU is computer science.

 

Brelon Harden

Position: Infield

Hometown: Chesapeake, Va.

High School: Great Bridge

Previous College: Harford Community College

Harden was awarded All-State, All-Region and All-Conference First Team honors at Great Bridge where he graduated with academic honors. His intended major at FDU is psychology.

 

Joseph Janiszewski

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Hometown: Magnolia, Texas

High School: Magnolia

Janiszewski graduated from Magnolia High School where he graduated with honors and played varsity baseball and football. His intended major at FDU is finance.

 

Brenden Katz

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Hometown: Miami, Fla.

High School: Dr. Michael M Krop Senior

In high school, Katz played three years on varsity where he notched a 1.61 ERA over 74 innings. As captain his senior year, Katz earned All-State honors and was named District 7A-14 Pitcher of the Year. His intended major at FDU is sports management.

 

Christopher Mattioli

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Hometown: Staten Island, New York

High School: Monsignor Farrell

Mattioli received Perfect Game All-Tournament Team honors and was nationally ranked in Perfect Game's Top 1000. His intended major at FDU is sports administration.

 

Joshua Milleville

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Hometown: Lockport, N.Y.

High School: Starpoint

At Starpoint, Milleville played three years on varsity where he received an All-Western New York Second-Team selection, and a pair of All-League First-Team honors. After graduating with honors, he plans to pursue mechanical engineering as a major at FDU.

 

Matthew Milone

Position: Outfield

Hometown: Farmingville, N.Y.

High School: St. John the Baptist

Previous College: Lackawanna College

Milone batted a .323 AVG during his three years on varsity at St. John the Baptist, receiving MVP and All-League Honors. His intended major at FDU is business administration. 

 

Edward Novoa

Position: Catcher

Hometown: Pembroke Pines, Fla.

High School: American Heritage

Novoa was named to the All-District Team, HSBN Second Team and received All-County Honorable Mention while at American Heritage. His intended major at FDU is biology.

 

Devin Pelletier

Position: Infield

Hometown: Southington, Conn.

High School: Southington

Pelletier served as captain at Southington where he received All-CCC Conference and All-Record Journal Team selections. Pelletier serves as a little league volunteer and umpire, and was a member of National Honor Society. His intended major at FDU is business.

 

William Pope

Position: Catcher/Utility

Hometown: Woodbridge, Va.

High School: Woodbridge Senior

Previous College: Chesapeake College

Pope received All-District and All-Region honors as a high school senior. At Chesapeake College, Pope batted a .310 AVG with a .429 OBP his sophomore year. Academically, he was a member of the Dean's List and received NJCAA Academic All-American honors. His intended major at FDU is biology.

 

Gavin Price

Position: Infield/Right-Handed Pitcher

Hometown: Worcester, Mass.

High School: Quabbin Regional

Price is a three-time Perfect Game Preseason All-American and was named MVP on his high school varsity team. He is nationally ranked under Perfect Game's Top 1000.

 

Matt Puello

Position: Infield/Outfield

Hometown: New York, N.Y.

High School: St. Thomas More

Puello clipped a .380 AVG during his high school career and is nationally ranked on Perfect Game's Top 500. His intended major at FDU is business.

 

Rich Racobaldo

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Hometown: Turnersville, N.J.

High School: Washington Township

Previous College: Rowan College of South Jersey

Racobaldo, a three-time All-Olympic Conference selection, put up a 1.83 ERA with 149 strikeouts during his varsity career. At Rowan College, he contributed to an 11-1 record while being named to the Dean's List in 2019. His intended major at FDU is sports management.

 

Jake Simon

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Hometown: Boynton Beach, Fla.

High School: Palm Beach Central

Previous College: Chipola College

Simon played in the 2021 South Florida Collegiate Baseball League All Star Game and was a member of the Dean's List at Chipola College. His intended major at FDU is individualized studies.

 

Joan Sosa

Position: Infield

Hometown: Bronx, N.Y.

High School: Cardinal Hayes

Previous College: Monroe College

At Monroe College Sosa batted a .324 AVG. He was coached under Orlando Encarnaccion at Cardinal Hayes High School.

 

Thomas Spiwak

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Hometown: Toms River, N.J.

High School: Toms River South

Spiwak was nationally ranked in Perfect Game's top 1000 as a senior captain at Tom's River South High School. His projected major at FDU is science.

 

Evan Stewart

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Hometown: San Diego, Calif.

High School: Francis Parker

Previous College: Middlebury College

Stewart is a graduate transfer from Middlebury College where he was named to the New England Small Conference Athletic Conference's All-Academic Team and graduated Cum Laude. At FDU, he will be pursuing his Master's in sports management.

 

Cooper Symmons

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher

Hometown: Winter Springs, Fla.

High School: Lake Mary

During his high school career, Symmons was a two-time Perfect Game Preseason All-American and was named a 2020 Tournament Elite Pitcher. An honors graduate, Symmons will be pursuing a degree in business at FDU.

 

Ryan Wheet

Position: Outfield

Hometown: Trenton, N.J.

High School: Council Rock South

Wheet graduated with honors from high school and will be pursuing a degree in computer science at FDU. He played varsity baseball under Greg Paprocki.

 

Zack Will

Position: Infield

Hometown: Virginia Beach, Va.

High School: Princess Anne

Previous College: Bryant & Stratton College

Will batted a .281 AVG and was a member of the Dean's List each semester of his JUCO career. He is pursuing a degree in sports management at FDU.
 

Knight's baseball is set to begin play in February 2022. Follow the Knights on Twitter and Instagram, @FDUKnightsBASE.