LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Baseball Head Coach Ken Harring has released his 16-player recruiting class for the upcoming 2020 season.
 
The group includes 14 freshmen and two transfers, representing seven states including California, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and North Carolina.
 
"We worked hard on keeping some of the best players in the region home," remarked Harring. "The class is deep, athletic and talented. They will have a tremendous impact on the future of River Hawk baseball."
 
The River Hawks open the campaign in February. Stay tuned for the full schedule release.
 
RIVER HAWK BASEBALL PROFILES
Name: Blake Bennett
Hometown/High School: Amesbury, Mass./Amesbury
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 215
Major: Business Administration
Club Team: East Cobb New England
 
HIGHLIGHTS: Four sport athlete (football, hockey, basketball, baseball) … senior captain for baseball and hockey … 75 strikeouts and four home runs during senior season … lead CAL in RBI … D5 North Finalist for football as a senior.
 
PERSONAL: One of two children of John and Pam Bennett … hobbies include going to the beach … his favorite sports team is the Boston Red Sox … favorite sports figure is David Ortiz … greatest sports moment was playing football during senior year … played four different varsity sports … majoring in business administration. 
 
Name: Keagan Calero
Hometown/High School: Rochester, N.H./Spaulding High School
Position: Infield
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 185
Major: Business Administration
Club Team: Team Nike New England
 
HIGHLIGHTS: Two-sport athlete (basketball and baseball) ... three-time captain … played varsity baseball all four years … New Hampshire Baseball All-State sophomore, junior and senior years … member of the Spaulding Student Athlete Leadership Team sophomore, junior and senior years … Legion Post 7 State MVP sophomore and junior year.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Kike and Becky Calero … has one brother, Dawson … hobbies include solving Rubik's Cubes, playing Connect 4 and hanging with his friends … favorite TV show is Impractical Jokers … favorite professional sports teams are all of the New England teams … favorite sports figure is Derek Jeter … greatest sports moment was winning back-to-back State Championships with Legion Post 7… aspires to play professional baseball and start a sports business with his father and brother … business administration major.
 
Name: Miles Cota
Hometown/High School: Hampstead, N.C./Topsail
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 190
Major: Undeclared Engineering
 
HIGHLIGHTS: Senior captain … State Championship runner-up freshman year… was in the top 10% of National Honors Society students at Topsail
 
PERSONAL: Son of Scott and Julie Cota … has two brothers, Clark and Bryce … hobbies include golfing and working out … favorite TV show is The Office … favorite professional sports team is the Tampa Bay Rays … favorite sports figure is Clayton Kershaw … greatest sports moment was making it to the State Championship … engineering major.
 
Name: Matthew Draper
Hometown/High School: Lowell, Mass./Lowell
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Previous College: Quinnipiac University
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 175
Major: Criminal Justice
Club Team: Lowell Legion
 
AS A FRESHMAN (Quinnipiac, 2019): Went 3-1 in 20 appearances and two starts … struck out 29 batters in 37.2 innings pitched … recorded two saves … recorded a .264 opponent batting average … team advanced to NCAA Tournament after capturing MAAC Championship.
 
HIGHLIGHTS: Two-sport athlete (baseball and golf) … senior captain … two-time MVC All-Star in sophomore and junior season … Division 1 North Champion and Division 1 State Semifinalist as a junior … selected to MBCA Mass Junior Select All-Star Game as a junior … member of National Honor Society.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Scott and Ann Draper … hobbies include traveling and going to amusement parks … his favorite TV show is Impractical Jokers … favorite sports team is the New England Patriots … names Rob Gronkowski, Chris Sale, and Tom Brady as favorite sports figures … greatest sports moment was winning the MAAC Championship … aspiring to enter the criminal justice forensics field after his time at UMass Lowell … criminal justice major.
 
 
Name: Jonathan Gilbride
Hometown/High School: Beverly, Mass./Austin Preparatory
Position: Infield
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 160
Major: Business Undecided
Club Team: ECNE Expos
 
HIGHLIGHTS: Senior captain … two-time CCL All-Star … part of Division 3 State Champion team during junior season … D3 State Semi-Finalist during sophomore season … led team in extra base hits as a senior… honor roll student during junior year.
 
PERSONAL: One of three children of Rich and Judy Gilbride … brother, Rich, played Division I baseball at Siena before transferring to Suffolk … nickname "Johnny" and "Gari"… hobbies include golfing and fishing … his favorite TV show is Game of Thrones … favorite sports teams are the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots … favorite sports figure is Derek Jeter… greatest sports moment was winning the State Championship in 2018 … business major.
 
Name: Jiovel Lantigua
Hometown/High School: Spring Hill, Fla./F.W. Springstead
Position: Infield/Outfield
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 230
Major: Business Administration
Club Team: Phipps Park Barracudas
 
HIGHLIGHTS: Triple Crown candidate as a senior … tied his high school's home run record with 13 home runs during senior season … high honors student all four years.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Robin and Ruth Lantigua … has two siblings (Joshua and Naobi) … hobbies include fishing, working on cars and hiking … favorite TV shows are Ballers and Planet Earth … favorite sports team is the Boston Red Sox … names David Ortiz, JD Martinez and Kobe Bryant as his favorite sports figures … greatest sports moment was hitting three home runs in a single game… fluent in Spanish … business administration major.
 
Name: Sean Letarte
Hometown/High School: Byfield, Mass./St. John's Prep
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 205
Major: Undeclared
Club Team: Legends Baseball
 
HIGHLIGHTS: Three-sport athlete (baseball, basketball and football) … Super 8 Finalist in his senior, sophomore, and freshman year.
 
PERSONAL: One of four sons of Daniel and Jennifer Letarte… nickname "Big Sean Seany"… hobbies include fishing, hanging out with friends and working out… favorite TV shows are The Simpsons and Family Guy … his favorite professional sports team is the Boston Red Sox and favorite sports figure is David Ortiz … greatest sports moments were pitching in the State Championship and in Perfect Game Tournaments … undeclared.
 
Name: Nick Marola
Hometown/High School: Scotia, N.Y./Scotia Glenville
Position: Infield
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 187
Major: Political Science
Club Team: Adirondack Heat
 
HIGHLIGHTS: Two sport athlete (basketball and baseball) … played varsity baseball all four years … named captain as a junior and senior … two-time Perfect Game All American … All-Conference First Team member as a junior and senior … named District All-Star as a senior … set school record for most hits during senior campaign.
 
PERSONAL: One of three children of Tom and L Marola … enjoys cooking, making music and golfing … favorite TV shows are Shark Tank and Game of Thrones … favorite sports teams are the New York Yankees, New York Giants, Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins … names favorite sports figure as LeBron James … political science major.
 
Name: Harry Painter
Hometown/High School: Essex, Mass./Manchester Essex Regional
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 200
Major: Exercise Science
Club Team: East Cobb Expos
 
HIGHLIGHTS: Two-time captain … made All-Conference sophomore year… Division 4 State Champion during senior season … Cape Ann League Player of the Year and Boston Globe All Scholastic Team as a senior … 558 batting average, 7 home runs, 28 RBI's during senior campaign … volunteered for the Local Little League … DECA participant.
 
PERSONAL: One of two children of Keith and Jennifer Painter … hobbies include traveling, fishing and going to concerts … his favorite TV shows are Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones … favorite sports teams are Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots … names Tom Brady as favorite sports figure … greatest sports moment was winning the State Championship during his senior year … majoring in exercise science.
 
Name: Ryan Proto
Hometown/High School: Centerville, Mass./Barnstable High School
Position: Catcher
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 170
Major: Criminal Justice
Club Team: Team Cape Cod
 
HIGHLIGHTS: Two-sport athlete (hockey and baseball) … three-time captain … broke school record for most career varsity games his senior year… led the team in hits, doubles and runs scored his senior year… OCL All-Star all four years… Under Armour Preseason All-American heading into junior and senior years … Boston Herald player to watch sophomore, junior and senior years … Perfect Game All Region Honorable Mention … was a Cape Cod Challenger Club volunteer.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Daniel and Susan Proto…has one brother, Casey … his cousin, Mike Proto, played baseball at Clemson (1998-2001) … hobbies include working out and reading … favorite TV show is Entourage … favorite professional sports team is the Boston Red Sox … favorite sports figures are Alex Bregman and Mookie Betts … greatest sports moment was playing in a national championship for Team Cape Cod … criminal justice major.
 
Name: Garret Roberts
Hometown/High School: Stratham, N.H./Exeter
Position: Outfield
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 170
Major: Business
Club Team: Team Nike New England
 
HIGHLIGHTS: Two-sport athlete (soccer and baseball) … senior captain in both sports … two-time State Champion as a sophomore and junior… two-time Perfect Game All-American as a sophomore and junior… .390 batting average during senior season … two-time All-State during junior and senior seasons … New Hampshire Scholars member.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Garret Roberts and Jennifer Pilicy … has one sibling, Brynn … hobbies include skiing, traveling and the stock market … favorite TV show is Game of Thrones … favorite sports figure is Mookie Betts and favorite sports team is the Boston Red Sox ... greatest sports moment was winning a State Championship … business administration major.
 
Name: Ethan Sarmiento 
Hometown/High School: Warwick, N.Y./The Harvey School
Position: Infield
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 220
Major: Engineering
Club Team: New York Nighthawks
 
HIGHLIGHTS: Two-sport athlete (soccer and baseball) … MVP, Silver Slugger and All-League during senior season … two-year varsity player … led his team in batting average, home runs, and RBI as a sophomore and freshman … coach for town soccer league … yearbook club.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Victor Sarmiento and Susan Lovegree … has one sibling, Emma … enjoys hanging out with friends … his favorite TV show is The Office … favorite sports team is the Boston Red Sox … names David Ortiz as favorite sports figure… greatest sports moment was hitting the tying home run in the last inning and coming back to win to advance to the championship … aspires to either play professional baseball or continue his career as an engineer … engineering major.
 
Name: Cameron Seguin
Hometown/High School: Woburn, Mass./Austin Preparatory
Position: Left-Handed Pitcher
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 175
Major: Business Administration
Club Team: ECNE Expos
 
HIGHLIGHTS: Two-time captain … three-sport athlete (soccer, track, baseball) … earned 22 wins and struck out over 200 batters … 2017 Division 3 North Sectional Champion during sophomore year … two-time First-Team Conference All-Star … Jimmy Geanoulis Tournament MVP in senior campaign … MBCA North vs South Senior All Star game Most Valuable Pitcher … participated in Best Buddies program and honor roll student throughout high school.
 
PERSONAL: One of two sons of Norm and Kelly Seguin … hobbies include spending time with family/friends, fishing, reading and hiking … favorite TV shows are The Office and Ozark … his favorite professional sports teams are the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots … favorite sports figures are Derek Jeter, Kobe Bryant and David Ortiz … greatest sports moment was being on the mound to win the State Championship … business administration major.
 
Name: Trevor Thompson
Hometown/High School: Eastvale, California/Norco
Previous College: Cypress College
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 195
Major: Sociology
Club Team: Impact Player Baseball
 
AS A REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE (Cypress, 2019): Made 15 appearances out of the bullpen … struck out 28 batters in 17.1 innings pitched … picked up two saves.
 
AS A SOPHOMORE (Hartford, 2018): Appeared in 11 games with 10 starts … recorded three hits with two RBI and one run scored … registered 68 putouts with four assists and two errors.
 
AS A FRESHMAN (Hartford, 2017): Made 13 starts in 23 appearances … registered nine hits, including two doubles … scored seven runs and drove in three … recorded 14 putouts and one assist with one error … named to America East honor roll.
 
HIGHLIGHTS: Played varsity all four years … led conference in home runs as a senior … won Big VIII Conference during sophomore year….348 batting average as a senior… two-time All-Conference team member during junior and senior season.
 
PERSONAL: One of three children of Donald and Tami Thompson … hobbies include going to the beach and fishing … his favorite TV shows are The Office and Fresh Prince of Bel-Air … favorite sports teams are the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Steelers … favorite sports figures are Chase Utley and David Ortiz … greatest sports moment was winning home run derby during senior year… inspiring to become a firefighter or a college baseball coach … sociology major.
 
Name: Frankie Venezia
Hometown/High School: Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst
Position: Right-Handed pitcher
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 190
Major: Exercise Science
Club Team: Complete Performance Baseball Academy
 
HIGHLIGHTS: Three sport athlete (baseball, football, and basketball) … All-League First Team for three years … All-Bergen County Second Team as a senior … high honors student all four years.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Frank and Nadine Venezia… has two siblings (Adam and Abigail)… cousin, Vinnie, currently plays baseball for UMass Lowell … enjoys watching movies… favorite TV show is Seinfeld … his favorite sports team is the New York Yankees … favorite sports figure is Justin Verlander … greatest sports moment was throwing a no-hitter… can juggle … exercise science major.
 
Name: Max Walker
Hometown/High School: Milton, Mass./Winchendon
Position: Catcher
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 195
Major: Criminal Justice
Club Team: Boston Prospects
 
HIGHLIGHTS: New England Small School Champion during senior season … .350 batting average and four home runs in senior campaign … Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic and Bay State Conference All-Star in junior season … honor roll student.
 
PERSONAL: Son of John and Mary Jane Walker … brother, Jake, currently plays baseball for UR I… hobbies include fishing … his favorite TV shows are The Office and Game of Thrones … names Jason Varitek as favorite sports figure and Boston Red Sox as favorite sports team … greatest sports moment was winning the New England Championship … criminal justice major.