Former RI High School Baseball Standouts Starring at URI
Friday, May 24, 2013
The University of Rhode Island Rams baseball team opened up Atlantic 10 tournament play Wednesday in Charlotte, North Carolina as the number three-seed, notching a win over sixth-seeded La Salle 5-2. The Rams have had a great deal of success this season and look to be a serious contender to win an Atlantic-10 championship, as the Rams currently have an impressive record of 35-22. Much of the Rams' success this season is in large part due to the contributions of several former Rhode Island high school baseball standouts. Eight former RI high school stars played major roles this season, whether is be at the plate or on the mound.
Sean Furney and Kevin Stenhouse, who both attended Pilgrim High School in Warwick, have provided senior experience for the Rams this year. Playing in all but one game, Stenhouse has been a solid left-handed bat for URI, hitting .265 on the year with 24 runs batted in. Furney has been dominant as URI's number one starting pitcher, finishing the season with a 7-3 record and a 1.98 earned run average, en route to being named the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year. He also had 71 strikeouts in 91 innings pitched, while holding opposing batters to a .234 average.
Two former Hendricken Hawks, junior center fielder Jeff Roy and left-handed relief pitcher Rob Curran, have both played well for URI this season. Roy, who was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year last season, was tabbed a Second Team All-Conference performer this season. Hitting .293, Roy has been a threat on the bases all year long, reaching safely on all of his 30 stolen base attempts. Curran, has picked up four wins out of the pen this season on 16 appearances, while maintaining a solid earned run average of 2.70.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTShane O'Connell and Chris Famiglietti, both formerly of Cranston West High School, didn't start their collegiate careers with URI, but have turned out to be good contributors to this year's club. O'Connell, who transferred from the University of New Haven, has hit .280 for the Rams, while driving in 25 runs as a red-shirt junior. Famiglietti, a red-shirt senior, has spent the last two seasons with the Rams, earning Atlantic 10 All-Championship Team honors last year and hitting .261, while playing in 42 of URI's 57 games this season.
Joe Landi attended Smithfield High School and has been a good utility player for URI this season. As someone who can play infield, outfield, and also pitch out of the bullpen, the junior has been valuable for the Rams, hitting .270 on the year and not allowing a run in four appearances out of the bullpen. Nick Narodowy, who was dominant on the mound for North Smithfield High School, is now a junior for the Rams this season. The left-handed reliever has appeared in 17 games, posting a 4.05 earned run average and striking out 13 batters in 13.1 innings pitched.
These former RI high school baseball stars will look to continue their success heading into this weekend, as the Rams compete for an Atlantic 10 championship.
