2010 Championship Ring Ceremony

2010 was a great year marked by an America East Championship and the first ever NCAA Regional win in program history. Today was a celebration of that 2010 season. We received our rings in a ceremony prior to the basketball game and were brought out on the court during a break in the game to be honored in front of friends, family and fans. Fellow team members who were a part of that team and graduated came back for the ceremony. Dyer, Maier and Barbot were there but Purington, Stephan and Ech were unable to make it. It was great to bring the team together again to celebrate the season and to kick off the coming season on a positive note.

Travis getting his ring

Video of a couple guys getting their rings:

Team Shot

Before headed out to the court

The goal for this season is to come back for another ceremony like this again next year. Getting a ring makes you more hungry to get another one and this season coming up for us shows a lot of promise. We not only want another ring but we want to make it as deep as possible into the NCAA tournament. Be sure to follow throughout the season to check up on our progress towards that goal. There will be more posts to come leading up to the season and throughout.

Player Profile: Zach Uher

Player Profile of the Day:

Zach Uher #41

Bio: Zach is a 6'4" 210lb FR left hand pitcher from Long Beach, NY. He was home schooled throughout high school and ended up graduated from Upper Room Christian, here at Stony Brook he currently studies the Arts & Sciences. In high school Zach was named captain as a senior going 8-0 with a 0.98 ERA. He also hit .497 with 5 HR and 47 RBI, helping lead his team to a 22-2 record. As a junior he went 3-1 with a 2.93 ERA while he hit .576 with 3 HR and 35 RBI. That season he helped lead the team to a 19-1 record. 

**As a freshman Zach entered as a two way player but being a left hand arm he finds himself now as just a pitcher. He sees the transition as a way to focus and get better at a single aspect of his game and it should benefit him and the team as well. He has put in a lot of work throughout the fall and preseason and wants to help the team in anyway possible off the mound. He should see time out of the bullpen this year and his arm just as all others this season will be a huge asset to our success.

Zach at the annual Halloween game

Zach on the Bump

Zach sits down and analyzes his coming season and what he expects of 2011:

What did you do this off season to help better yourself for the coming year?

  "I did a lot more PFP work than I've done before and made sure to concentrate on keeping a strong front side when pitching."

Who do you try to emulate with you game?and why? 

  "Mariano Rivera and because he's so calm and composed on the mound, even in the toughest situations."

Do you have any rituals or superstitions? 

  "Not really superstitions but I read Psalms 27 before almost every game. and mentally prepare myself by picturing myself throwing in tough situations."

If you had to advise a younger player or teammate looking to play at a higher level, what would be the most important thing you would tell them? 

  "Work hard early and get on a specific schedule. I regret not having a schedule when I was younger."

What are your goals for this coming season? 

  "Just to get innings and throw strikes. Everything else is out of my hands."

What type of non physical prep do you do to get yourself prepared for playing? 

  "Just reading Psalms 27 and going over what I have to do if called on in a tough situation, it's very similar to my rituals."

When your not playing or training what do you do to get away if you have to? 

  "Play the guitar when I'm home but at school I usually just relax with some friends or play some Call of Duty or Madden."

Check back daily for more players and look for new posts as the season approaches!!

Alumni Spotlight: Tommy Koehler

Alumni Spotlight:

Tommy Koehler #55

Bio: Koehler is a 6'3" right handed pitcher from New Rochelle, NY. He went to New Rochelle H.S. and graduated from Stony Brook with a degree in History. While in high school he played 3 years on varsity. Excelling on the mound he earned Rawlings All-Northeast, Section I Pitcher of the Year, spring athlete of the year, All-Section and All-State his senior year. He went 6-1 with 108 strikeouts with just 12 walks and a 0.86 ERA in 58 innings of work. He was also All-League as a junior going 5-1 with 54 strikeouts and earned rookie of the year in 2002.

**His career at Stony Brook was outstanding as well. As the years progressed so did his time on the mound and the influence he had on his team. In 2005 as a freshman he appeared in 18 games starting 8 of them. He had 42 K's in 44.1 innings while only walking 17. He picked up his first collegiate win against Princeton throwing seven innings while striking out six, and allowing  only one run.He also had a solid outing scattering eight hits with six strikeouts over six innings of work in a win over Hartford.
**In 2006 as a sophomore he finished the year ranked in the top ten in the America East in both innings pitched with 71.1 and strikeouts with 57. This year earned him being named All-America East Second Team. He had a few standout performances including; striking out 3 in 6.2 innings to pick up the first win of the season against Bucknell, allowed only 1 unearned run in 7 innings in a win over Maine, struck out 8 in 8 innings in a win over Hartford and threw 7 solid innings in a must-win victory over UMBC. He was second on the team in wins and K's.
**2007 he saw increased time starting a team high 13 games with 85 innings pitched over the season leading the America East. He also led the conference in strike outs with 87. He struck out at least 10 batters in a game four times. He pitched well against many teams, including; striking out 10 in 5.1 innings against Quinnipiac, struck out 10 allowing 2 runs in 7 innings against NYIT, pitched a season-high 8 innings with 10 K's at Hartford and threw 8 innings of shutout baseball to beat Vermont.
**His senior year was one which brought the Seawolves a championship. He went 6-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 14 starts. Leading the America East in innings pitched with 93.1 and strikeouts with 111. He also ranked 19th in the nation with a 10.71 K/9inn. He pitched well leading the team through the season and into the Tempe Regional hosted by Arizona State. He was named All-America East second team for his efforts through the season.
** Tommy finished his 4 year career second in the programs history in innings pitched with 293.1 and third in strikeouts with 297. He was drafted by the Marlins in the 18th round of the 2008 MLB first year player draft. Koehler was promoted to the Suns last April. The previous season, he went 4-1 with a 3.38 ERA in six starts for the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Advanced-A Florida State League. Last season, he went 16-2 with a 2.61 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 28 games for the Jacksonville Suns, the Double-A affiliate of the Marlins. Named the Southern League's Most Outstanding Pitcher, he led the league in wins and ranked second in strikeouts and innings pitched (158.2). His 16 wins also equaled a Jacksonville franchise record. Entering this season he was invited to Spring Training with the big league club and is aiming for a spot on the Marlins roster.

Pitching for SBU

Last season with Jacksonville

Tommy is a proud Alumni of Stony Brook University and is poised in the near future to be on the big league roster with the Florida Marlins. He answers a few questions about his career thus far:


What do you feel defined your college career?
  "To me winning the 2008 championship was the perfect way to end a college career. When I look back at my 4 years I dont really remember specific games or number, what I remember was 4 years of hard work and friendships leading to victory."

How do you think your experience in college affects you in the professional game?
  "What I learned must about in college was maturity and accountability. College for me was more about growing as a person, then the physical stuff will eventually take over. when you learned to work hard in college it will transfer over to the professional game."

What, if anything, do you miss about Stony Brook?
  "I made alot of great friends while at Stony Brook, and I would have to say i miss them the most, in college everyone is working towards one goal. I miss Coach Senks speeches and of course Taras"

Who do you think influenced you most so far in your career?
  "I dont know if anyone person directly influenced me, I know my parents raised me to always do my best and work my hardest in everything i do, they were the ones who drove me to constant practices and games, to with out them I would not be playing."

Explain how it felt the day you found out you would be playing professionally?
  "when i got drafted it was a great feeling, and like everyone who plays you cant wait for that day, but t me that joy lasted only a short period of time because then i set a new goal, and that is to be a Major Leaguers."

What differs from the college game at the higher levels?
  "I dont know if anyone person directly influenced me, I know my parents raised me to always do my best and work my hardest in everything i do, they were the ones who drove me to constant practices and games, to with out them I would not be playing."

What do you think helped you get where you are now and what will get you to where you want to end up?
   "I think my drive has gotten me to where im at, i never want to be one of those people who look back and wish they did it another way, i want to know that i worked me b@lZ off everyday. Never being satisfied, always pushing striving to be the best."

If you had to advise other players who aspire to play professionally, what would you tell them?
  "advice is simple, dont let anyone tell you that it cant be done, as my child hood idol Roger Clemens would say is " ispiration is not out working others but outworking yourself." Also be willing to learn and be able to be introspective."

Reflect on your last season and explain how it will aid in your success for this coming year.
  "Last season was great. Ultimately it showed me I can be successful at higher levels. At the same time though yesterday was yesterday, and i want to be better tomorrow then i was yesterday. If your not getting better, your getting worse"

Tommy is a great guy and a real influence to many of us who get the opportunity to pick his brain and we wish him the best of luck with this coming season and on into the future. Look out for him this season and remember where he came from. 

Player Profile: Kevin Courtney

Player Profile of the Day:

Kevin Courtney #34

Bio: Kevin is a 6'1" 195lb freshman 1B/Pitcher from Lindenhurst, NY. He went to St.John the Baptist H.S. and is currently studying Arts & Sciences classes here at Stony Brook. Courtney played 3 years at the varsity level while in high school. He was a two-time captain and was named the Long Island Catholic League MVP in 2009. In 2010 he led his team as a two way player to the regular season championship. He had a 6-1 record and a 1.14 ERA on the hill while hitting .515 at the dish. In 2008 he went 10-0 and won the clinching game of the Championship that year.

**Kevin is a solid two-way player who will be in the mix at first base as well as on the mound. Being a left handed pitcher he will see a role out of the bullpen while also mixing time at first base with sophomore Willie Carmona. As a freshman he looks back to his high school experience in championships and also his play this fall to make a smooth transition to the D1 college level. Check back weekly to see how Kevin transitions himself to the college game and the impact he has leading to a championship and on.

Looking to bounce back from injury, Kevin will play a big role this season as a two-way player:

Looking back at the 2010 season what can you say defined your year personally as well as a team?

  "Personally my senior year of high school wasn't what I had hoped for. It was a rough year as far as injuries as I dislocated my shoulder and the first game coming back I broke my wrist. But looking at the 2010 Stony Brook season, what a great season it was. Just hearing and seeing how good the team was doing just made me more and more excited about joining the team in 2011. Seeing them winning the 2010 America East Championship was a great task to accomplish."

What did you do this off season to help better yourself for the coming year?

  "This offseason I worked a lot on my hitting and fielding. Coming off my injuries, I had a lot of work to be done especially if I wanted to compete on the Division I level. "

Who do you try to emulate with your game?and why?
  "I try to emulate my game as a first baseman with Albert Pujols. Just the way he shows tremendous leadership on a baseball field and the way he goes about his work, hitting and fielding, no matter what theres always things to work on to make yourself better. On the mound I emulate my game with Mariano Rivera. No matter what situation he is put in, he always finds a way to succeed because of one pitch and confidence. Every MLB hitter knows his cutter is coming and they still cant hit it. "

Do you have any rituals or superstitions?

  "I really dont have any crazy rituals or superstitions. Every morning of the day I pitch I usually eat pancakes and before every game I listen to my ipod."

If you had to advise a younger player or teammate looking to play at a higher level, what would be the most important thing you would tell them?

  "The most important thing I would tell a younger player or teammate looking to play at a higher level is to always have confidence in yourself. If you get knocked down, get up and try it again. Baseball is a hard game to play, just have fun and always give it your all."

What are your goals for this coming season?

  "My goal for this season as a team is to make it to a regional and beyond that. We have the team to do it and if we get rolling I think it will b very hard to stop us. Personally, i just want to help contribute to the team as much as I can to take us to where we need to be."

What did you take from 2010 do you think will help achieve these goals in 2011?

  "What i took from the 2010 season that will help me achieve my goals for the 2011 season is to just stay healthy and have fun playing the great game of baseball."

What type of non physical prep do you do to get yourself prepared for playing?

  "I like to listen to my ipod as loud as it can possibly go and just stay relaxed and get into the mental mindset that I need to have to have a good game."

When your not playing or training what do you do to get away if you have to? 

  "I like to hangout with my family and friends and when I have a lot of time I like to ski and play football and basketball. " 

Check back again for more player profiles, Alumni Spotlights and More!!