Garden City, N.Y. - With the start of the 2018 season on the horizon, head coach Dom Scala and the Adelphi University baseball team have already announced the signing of seven players for the class of 2022. 

The seven signees, Timothy Feliz (Cortlandt, N.Y.), Robert Affenita (Bayport, N.Y.), Nicholas Siano (Bayside, N.Y.), Cooper Johnson (Newington, Conn.), Scott Thompson (Riverhead, N.Y.), Kyle Olsen (Holbrook, N.Y.) and Ryan Picarello (Mount Sinai, N.Y.), will be coming to Garden City in the fall of 2018.

"I feel the recruiting class of 2019 will meet our needs as our seniors depart. I see these players as future cornerstones to our team. My future goal is to keep a streamlined roster with versatile players. Although you cannot have too much pitching, we will be looking for one or two more pitchers in the spring," Scala said. 

"Our staff is young, so they will grow with this class together. I look forward to watching them progress."

A product of Walter Panas High School, home of the Panthers, Feliz joins the Brown and Gold as an outfielder for Adelphi. The six-foot freshman is a native of Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. and played travel baseball for the Bayside Yankees. At Walter Panas, he is three-year varsity letter-winner, and a team MVP in the 2017 season. Last year, he also earned an All-League recognition and claimed the Comeback Player of the Year award.

"Tim is a five-tool player in my estimation, and a great student as well. That means he can do it all, and he can certainly compete for a starting spot," Scala commented. 

Affenita joins the Panthers from Bayport, N.Y. and the Friars of St. Anthony's High School. The middle infielder, who Scala calls "hard-nosed" with "grit and determination," stands at 5-foot-10 and is a member of the Long Island Storm travel baseball team. As well as excelling on the baseball field, Affenita shows strength in the classroom, having received the Duns Scotus Certification, and appearing on the Honor Roll every semester.

Hailing from Bayside, N.Y., Siano has committed to joining the Brown and Gold as a second baseman, standing at 5-foot-11. The senior is a product of Holy Cross High School and the New York Knights travel team. In the classroom, Siano has appeared on the Principal's List and is a member of the National Honor Society.

"Nick puts the bat on the ball and we look forward to working with him," Scala said. "He will help us no doubt."

An outfielder from Newington, Conn., Johnson hails from Newington High School as a center fielder and outfielder, where he was first team Connecticut All-State in Class LL and First Team All-Conference. 

"He hits the ball hard and has baseball blood in his veins," Scala said of Johnson. "He is very good defensively and can go get it in center field."

The fifth commit for the 2019 baseball season joins the Panthers from Riverhead High School and the East End Aviators travel team. Thompson is a southpaw pitcher who comes to Adelphi as a two-time All-League recipient at Riverhead. 

"Scott compliments his fastball with a quick moving slider that breaks hard in on right-handed hitters and away from left-handed hitters," said Scala. "His love for the game and work ethic is second to none. He will compete for a starting spot."

A native of Holbrook, N.Y., Olsen comes to Garden City from Sachem North High School as an outfielder and first baseman. The six-foot senior has received multiple accolades over his career to date, including All-League, All-County and team MVP as a junior.

Scala calls him "a very strong and polished hitter that covers the whole plate, who can play the outfield and has shown ability to play first base if needed."

The seventh and final signee comes to Adelphi from Mount Sinai, N.Y. and Mount Sinai High School. Picarello is a 6-foot-1 first baseman for the Mustangs and the Steel Prospects/East Coast Lumberjacks, and had his defensive abilities, which include his "great hands and footwork," lauded by Adelphi's 15th-year head coach. 

In high school thus far, Picarello has been a member of the 2016 Suffolk County Class A Championship team, as well as an All-League selection and a Suffolk County Gold Glove Nominee.

---

About Adelphi Athletics
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009, and in the past eight seasons, has collected 25 regular season conference titles, 26 tournament championships, 33 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup four times (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017), while winning six NCAA Division II National Championships.

For the latest on Adelphi University Athletics, follow the Panthers at www.aupanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat.