LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Baseball Head Coach Ken Harring has announced his incoming class for the 2018 season.
 
"The overall class is loaded with talent and continues to add to our athleticism and depth all over the diamond," commented Harring. "We continue to focus on hard-nosed blue collar players that fit the mold of River Hawk baseball. This class will be part of our first postseason at the Division I level. All of these players play at very successful high school programs where winning is a priority and this attitude will translate directly into our program."
 
The group of eight includes three from New Jersey and Massachusetts, with New Hampshire and New York with one representative each. The program welcomes Joey Castellanos (Nutley, N.J.), Henry Funaro (Lowell, Mass.), Vinnie Martin (Lodi, N.J.), Kyle Maurice (Greenland, N.H.), Trip McCaffrey (Mullica Hill, N.J.), Jeff Mejia (North Reading, Mass.), Lucas Sossei (Canajoharie, N.Y.) and transfer Jack Riley (Worcester, Mass.).
 
RIVER HAWK BASEBALL PROFILES
Name: Joey Castellanos
Hometown/High School: Nutley, N.J./St. Mary
Position: SS
Bats|Throws: R|R                                                                                                                                    

Height: 5'10" Weight: 170
Club Team: Jersey Mudcats
Major: Criminal Justice
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Enters his senior year as reigning The Record's North Jersey Player of the Year and Non-Public Group B State Sectional Champion ... led state with 53 hits and 43 RBI with a .552 average ... earned First-Team All-League and All-County honors ... named to All-State Second Team and All-State Non-Public First Team ... picked up All-League First Team accolades as a sophomore, and Second-Team honors as a freshman ... honor roll student and a member of the Spanish Honors Society.
 
PERSONAL: One of eight children of Jose and Annette Castellanos ... enjoys reading and going to the gym ... lists The Walking Dead as his favorite TV show ... favorite sports teams include the New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys ... names Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano as favorite sports influences ... greatest sports moments are getting his 100th career varsity hit and winning a State Sectional title ... plans to major in criminal justice with a minor in sports management.
 
Harring on Castellanos: "Joey is the reigning North Jersey Player of the Year. He brings a strong arm, great glove and solid bat. We expect him to find the diamond quickly as his physical skill coupled with his intangibles will make a push for playing time early on."
 
Name: Henry Funaro
Hometown/High School: Lowell, Mass./Lowell
Position: RHP
Bats|Throws: R|R                                                                                                    

Height: 6'3" Weight: 220
Club Team: Lowell Post 87 American Legion
Major: Business Administration
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-sport athlete at Lowell (football, baseball) ... captain of both teams as a senior ... MVC All-Star selection and Defensive Lineman of Year as a senior ... named baseball MVP and MVC All-Conference, as well as Lowell Sun All-Area First Team as a junior ... MVC All-Star as a sophomore ... honors student ... member of National Honor Society, International Language Club and president of Pep Club.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Fran and Nancy Funaro ... has one sister (Nora) ... cousin, Rachel Silk, played soccer at UMass Lowell ... lists The Office as favorite TV show ... favorite sports teams include Red Sox and Patriots ... sports influence is Manny Ramirez ... greatest sports moments were throwing consecutive no-hitters in 2016 Legion season and beating Haverhill on Thanksgiving as a sophomore ... planning on majoring in business administration.
 
Harring on Funaro: "Henry is a big strong athletic RHP with a power arm coupled with a sharp breaking slider. His frame and arm speed along with his highly competitive nature, should put him in the mix to be a weekend contributor early on. Keeping another local player home is a big win for our program."
 
Name: Vinnie Martin
Hometown/High School: Lodi, N.J./Bergen Catholic
Position: OF
Bats|Throws: L|R                                                                                            

Height: 5'11" Weight: 195
Club Team: Indiana Prospects
Major: Undeclared
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-sport athlete at Lodi (football and baseball) ... starting linebacker in football as a senior ... named to All-Big North First Team and All-Bergen County Third Team as a junior ... batted .370 and started every game ... two-time Perfect Game Preseason All-American two times ... named All-Big North Second Team as a sophomore, and ranked #1 outfielder by PBR-NJ ... honor roll student and member Leadership Council.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Vincent and Janine Martin ... has two sisters (Alyssa and Olivia) ... enjoys fishing and working out ... favorite shows include Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Sportscenter ... names the New York Yankees and Giants as favorite sports teams ... lists Derek Jeter and Kobe Bryant as greatest sports influences ... has yet to declare a major.
 
Harring on Martin: "Vinnie comes from one of the best athletic programs in New Jersey, in Bergen Catholic. He is a powerful left handed hitter who will be a middle of the order hitter as he develops. A captain of both his football and baseball teams, he will be a leader on and off the field."
 
Name: Kyle Maurice
Hometown/High School: Greenland, N.H./Exeter
Position: C/1B
Bats|Throws: R|R                                                                                    

Height: 5'11" Weight: 245
Club Team: Seacoast United
Major: Business
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-sport athlete (track & field, baseball) ... as a junior was named NH Division II Player of the Year and Division II All-State First Team ... earned All-New Hampshire First Team honors ... state finalist in the shot put ... hit the second-most home runs in Division II as a freshman and was named NH Division II All-State Third Team ... honor roll student.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Dereck Maurice and Wendy Halligan ... has three siblings ... nicknamed "Mo" ... favorite TV show is Fresh Prince of Bel Air ... lists the Red Sox, Celtics and Patriots as favorite sports teams ... greatest sports influences are Tom Brady, Jason Varitek and Manny Ramirez ... names hitting a walk-off home run as a freshman as his greatest sports moment ... planning to major in business.
 
Harring on Maurice: "Kyle is the reigning New Hampshire Division II Player of the Year. Kyle is an advanced hitter who has tremendous power and has the ability to put the ball over the fence on a consistent basis. His advanced approach at the plate should put him in the mix to be a run producer early in his career."
 
Name: Trip McCaffrey
Hometown/High School: Mullica Hill, N.J./Clearview
Position: OF
Bats|Throws: R|R                                                                            

Height: 5'11" Weight: 170
Club Team: All Out Baseball
Major: Economics
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Will be a co-captain as a senior ... made All-Conference First Team, All-South Jersey Second Team, Third-Team All-State and First-Team All-Area as a junior ... during his sophomore season batted .423 and was named All-Conference First Team, All-South Jersey Third Team and Third-Team All-State.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Gene and Kathie McCaffrey, and has one sister (Kaitlin) ... enjoys playing basketball and watching The Sopranos ... lists the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies as favorite sports teams ... Mike Trout is his greatest sports influence ... greatest sports moment was winning a South Jersey Group IV championship ... plans to major in economics.
 
Harring on McCaffrey: "Trip, our first South Jersey player, comes from a very successful high school program along with the best summer program in South Jersey. He has been taught by some of the best South Jersey has to offer and this will allow him to come in and compete right away. He brings confidence and the knack of getting the big hit at the right time. He will leave a lasting legacy with UMass Lowell baseball."
 
Name: Jeff Mejia
Hometown/High School: North Reading, Mass./North Reading
Position: OF
Bats|Throws: L|L                                                                                                

Height: 5'10" Weight: 180
Club Team: Team Boston
Major: Business
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-sport athlete at North Reading (football, track and baseball) ... enters his senior season after winning North Sectional and being a state finalist ... named to CAL All-League First Team after leading league in average, BP and walks ... Perfect Game Preseason All-American as a junior and sophomore ... as a freshman, team was North Sectional Champs and he earned Fort Meyers All-Tournament Team honors.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Jeff and Colleen Mejia ... has one sister (Isabella) ... enjoys going to the gym and watching Friday Night Lights ... names the New York Yankees as favorite team ... lists Bo Jackson and Derek Jeter as sports influences ... greatest sports moment is playing in State Championship in junior season ... planning to major in business with a minor in finance.
 
Harring on Mejia: "Jeff, son of Northern Essex Baseball Coach, Jeff Mejia, brings a wealth of baseball knowledge, growing up in a baseball family. His speed and knowledge of the strike zone project him as a leadoff type hitter. He comes from one of the best public school programs in the state and we are excited to keep a great local talent home."
 
Name: Jack Riley
Hometown/High School: Worcester, Mass./St. Peter Marian
Previous School: St. Petersburg College
Position: LHP
Bats|Throws: L/L                                                                                                    

Height: 6'2" Weight: 200
Club Team: Worcester
Major: Criminal Justice
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Named to ESPN Boston All-State Team and Central Mass. Conference All-Star as a senior ... picked up Worcester Telegram Central Mass. Pitcher of the Year accolades ... two-time captain ... named Central Mass. Conference All-Star as a junior and sophomore ... earned Worcester Telegram Second-Team honors as a junior ... honor roll student.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Edward and Patricia Riley ... has one sister (Cassie) ... father played for the Boston Red Sox (1988-95), St. Louis Cardinals (1995), and Florida Marlins (1996) ... cousin, Joe Consolmagno, played baseball for UMass Lowell ... nicknamed "Jacky Legs" ... enjoys playing racquetball and snowboarding ... favorite TV show is Game of Thrones ... lists Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots and Boston Celtics as favorite teams, and Tom Brady as favorite athlete ... majoring in criminal justice with a minor in business.
 
Harring on Riley: "Jack is the cousin of former River Hawk, Joe Consolmagno. A highly recruited pitcher out of St. Peter Marian in Worcester, he attended UConn out of high school. Jack has a live arm and a major league changeup. He has the chance to be in the rotation on weekends in 2018."
 
Name: Lucas Sossei
Hometown/High School: Canajoharie, N.Y./Canajoharie
Position: RHP
Bats|Throws: R|R                                                                                    

Height: 6'4" Weight: 230
Club Team: Stampede
Major: Accounting
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-sport athlete at Canajoharie (basketball, baseball) ... team captain as a junior ... named to All-Area First Team with 68 strikeouts in 38 innings … named the team's best pitcher and All-Area Second Team as a sophomore year with 64 strikeouts in 41 innings ... member of National Honor Society and Science Club.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Anthony and Allison Laubsch ... has a brother (Anthony) ... hobbies include collecting baseball cards and music ... watches The Office and Alone … lists the New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys as favorite sports teams ... names Derek Jeter and Dwayne Wade as favorite athletes ... hitting a walk-off homerun in Oneonta was greatest sports moment ... planning to major in accounting with a minor in math.
 
Harring on Sossei: "Lucas comes from a highly successful summer program in Albany. His has a projectable frame and arm. With some work he will make him a highly successful pitcher in our conference."