2020 Senior Day Celebration: Baseball

The University of Rochester baseball team has reached unprecedented heights over the last four years with these eight seniors leading the charge. As we look back on their careers, we applaud and honor them for their accomplishments and efforts brought the Rochester baseball program and UR community as a whole.

Over three full seasons, UR averaged 20 wins, with the classes cumulative record sitting at 61-56. Rochester also was especially strong in conference play, boasting a 42-23 record in the Liberty League, a winning percentage of .646. The Yellowjackets hosted two Liberty League tournament, earned a conference title and posted the teams first ever NCAA Tournament win.

As first-years, the group helped the Yellowjackets embark on a late season run, winning five of the last six games, but fell just short of a conference playoff berth.

The next season, Rochester was 19-17 overall, but was terrific in the Liberty League, going 16-5 and captured the conference regular season title. During the UR hosted conference tournament, the Yellowjackets reached a winner-take-all game seven but fell one win short of a title and NCAA berth. Defensively, the Yellowjackets excelled in double plays and ranked 12th in the nation in the category.

Last season was a record-breaking year for Rochester. UR once again captured the conference regular season title and this time won four games in three days to earn the programs first ever Liberty League title with a final day sweep of Clarkson. The team qualified for the NCAA Division III Tournament for the third time in school history and then posted Rochester’s first ever NCAA tourney win with a thrilling 2-1 victory at #20 Wooster. The season ended with a 29-17 record and ranks as the second most wins in a single-season at Rochester with the program dating back to the late 1800’s.

In 2020, expectations were high coming off of back-to-back regular season conference crowns and the NCAA berth in 2019, but unfortunately the season was cut short after just five games. While the loss of the senior leaders will be felt, this group laid the ground work for many future years of success for Yellowjacket baseball.

Lets meet the UR baseball class of 2020:

#16 Aaron Craig
Position: Infield
Hometown: Pelham, NY
Major: Biomedical Engineering

Our first senior was honored as a 2nd Team All-Liberty League selection in 2018 and is a two-time Liberty League All-Academic selection. He career year came in 2018 when he hit .325 across 36-games, including a UR record tying six sacrifice flies which ranked in the top-25 in NCAA Division III.  For his career, he appeared in over 60 games, hit .280 and had 33 runs scored and 27 RBI. 2020 was off to a promising start, as he was hitting .364 through UR’s opening five games.

After graduation, Aaron plans to be working in the biomedical engineering field. Coach Joe Reina praises Aaron’s versatility on the diamond and was very happy that he started his senior year off so strong after working so hard during the off season.

“Aaron is a very slick fielding infielder who provided us a player that could play anywhere. He had a breakout season as a sophomore helping us get to the Liberty League championship game. His versatility proved to be big this year as he got a chance to jump in at 3rd base and played very well.”

#11 Jake Hertz
Position: Outfield
Hometown: Briarcliff Manor, NY
Major: Electrical & Computer Engineering

The next Yellowjacket senior was a starter throughout his entire career on the River Campus. Jake played in a total of 86 games during his career, including setting a UR single-season record 46 games in 2019. He was a member of the 2018 Liberty League All-Tournament Team and ranks tied for first in school history with five hits in a single-game, coming against Clarkson in 2017. During his four years, he hit .324, was one hit shy of 100 for his career and added 39 RBI and 48 runs scored.

Off the field he was equally as successful. He is a 3-time representative on the Liberty League All-Academic team and was chosen as 1st Team Academic All-District by CoSIDA as a junior. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi. For his plans next year, Hertz is enrolled at U of R to earn his Masters in Electrical and Computer Engineering and hopes to graduate after just one semester.

His coach says, “Jake was a 4-year starter and is going to be missed. He is one of the best competitors I have ever coached and a player who loved his teammates. I will never forget Jake coming across Fauver Stadium to the field once he was cleared to play [after a season-long injury] with his hands raised. It has been an honor to have coached him.”

#7 Ryland McNabb
Position: Infield
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Major: Finance

McNabb had a key role during his time with UR, being used in big pinch-hit situations in high-leverage situations. Overall, he appeared in 40 games during his career and made 11 starts. The lefty hitter scored 11 runs, had seven RBI and had a keen eye at the plate, drawing 17 walks for an on-base percentage of .400. He also had three walks in a single game on two occasions in his career, tying for fourth most in a single-game in Rochester history.

Defensively, he played virtually every infield position and made just one error in 35 chances for a .971 fielding percentage. After graduation, McNabb will actively be pursuing a career in finance.

“Ryland is another very versatile player on our roster,” says Reina. “He can play any infield position and gave us a good left handed bat in the lineup as well. During his time, Ryland filled in holes where we needed him to and had some really good pinch hit at bats. I had a feeling that Ryland’s bat would have proved critical this season for us.”

#24 Zach Miraz
Position: Catcher
Hometown: Pomona, NY
Major: Political Science

After seeing limited action his first two seasons, Miraz broke into the lineup as a junior and was a key producer in the Yellowjacket lineup. On UR’s NCAA tourney qualifier squad, he hit .275 had 10 runs, seven doubles and 16 RBI, sitting primarily in the middle of the UR order. He slugged three doubles during a Liberty League tournament game versus Clarkson, second most in a single-game at UR.

For his career, he hit .256, had an on-base percentage of .350 and also played a key role as a catcher for the Yellowjacket defense. His future plans include attending Law School.

“Zach did an amazing job getting better each and every year. He was playing well his sophomore year until he suffered a season ending knee injury, and then as a junior, his bat carried us during the middle and later parts of the season.  Off the field, he was a great teammate and brought an energy to our team that was needed.”

#32 Garrett Renslow
Position: Pitcher
Hometown: Castleton, NY
Major: Neuroscience and Psychology

Renslow was an important arm in the UR pitching staff throughout his entire career. Overall, he appeared in 30 games in his four years, making 18 starts. His career numbers include a 10-6 record, 3 complete games, 3 shutouts and 3 saves. He threw over 109 innings and had 107 strikeouts while issuing only 43 walks. His career ERA is 3.12 and batting average against was .258.

His junior season was memorable, as he was a 1st Team All-Region selection by both the ABCA and D3baseball.com. In addition, he was a 1st Team All-Liberty League selection and tossed a no-hitter against RPPI during UR’s Liberty League tournament run. He finished 2019 with a 6-3 record and 2.21 ERA, striking out 62 batters in only 57 innings. 2020 was set up to be another good one for Renslow, as he was a 2020 preseason All-American by D3baseball.com.

Off the field, Renslow was named a 1st Team Academic All-American and he has been honored as a Liberty League All-Academic choice for three straight years. The Phi Beta Kappa and UR Garnish Scholar will be attending Medical School next year.

Reina says, “He is a true number one on the mound in every sense of the term. G has grown tremendously since his first year on the River campus.  Garrett was a work horse for us as a junior and started this year out by throwing well in his first start.  The no-hitter he threw in the Liberty League Tournament was just incredible to watch and I couldn't have been happier that he achieved it. He is the epitome of the student athlete carrying a near perfect GPA with a double major.  We are surely going to miss him on the mound and in the clubhouse.”

#13 David Rieth
Position: Catcher/Outfield
Hometown: Tierra Verde, FL
Major: Financial Economics

A four-year starter with the Yellowjackets, Rieth earned three straight All-Liberty League honors and was an All-Region selection following the 2019 campaign. Additionally, he was a 2-time Liberty League All-Academic honoree and was poised for a strong senior year slashing .556 through UR’s first five games.

For his career, Rieth hit a stellar .333 with 65 runs, 62 RBI and 36 extra base hits, including 27 doubles. His career slugging percentage was .456 and his on-base percentage was .419. He also was stellar behind the plate with a rocket arm and saw time at first base as well. He is top-10 in UR history in runners caught stealing and defensive putouts. 

Next year, he intends to pursue his MBA with a concentration in real estate. Coach Reina says, “David was a four-year starter for us and was key to our late season runs both his sophomore and junior year. Prior to this year getting cancelled, David looked like he was going to have his best year yet. Named team captain for the 2020 season, David was the calm hand every winning team needs. A tremendous athlete, David will leave some big shoes to fill behind the plate.”

#12 Brendan Shamieh
Position: Pitcher
Hometown: Whippany, NJ
Major: Financial Economics

Our next senior had a fantastic season as a junior and translated that into a 2020 preseason All-America accolade this year. Shamieh had the best year of his career last season, being UR’s bullpen ace with a 2-1 record in 23 appearances, also notching a team record-tying nine saves. He tossed 40.1 innings and struck out 38 hitters while holding opponents to a .201 batting average.

In his career, his ERA sits a shade over four across 69.1 innings. He has 63 strikeouts in 41 appearances, 40 of which were from the bullpen. He currently is fourth in UR history in saves and in the top-10 in strikeouts per nine innings. He was offered a scholarship to play a 5th year at Division I Manhattan next year and will be pursuing his MBA.

“Brendan exploded onto the scene last year. After his sophomore year, he dedicated himself to becoming better. He did. As a junior, Shamieh became a force at the end of the games. Also named a team captain in 2020, Shamieh was poised to be even better as a senior.  The progress Brendan made from his first year to his senior year has been remarkable.  It was truly fun to watch the development of him.”

#5 Kyle Trombley
Position: Outfield
Hometown: Wilbraham, MA
Major: Entrepreneurship

The last senior of the 2020 class enjoyed a solid four-year career representing Rochester. Overall, Trombley appeared in 103 games, starting 91 and was a terrific outfielder. He had over 50 runs scored, 40 RBI and swiped 51 career stolen bases in 57 attempts, good for an 89% success rate.

He was a 2nd Team All-League selection in 2018 and ranked 15th in Division III that year in stolen bases per game, stealing 25 bags in 32 games. He ranks inside the top-10 in Rochester history in sacrifice flies (3rd) and stolen bases (7th) for a career. That total includes stealing four bases in a game against St. Lawrence in 2018, tying for second most in a single-game at UR. After graduation, he plans to use his entrepreneurship degree to pursue a career in business.

“Kyle was elected captain by his peers for the 2020 season and has been a staple for us in the outfield. ‘Skeeter’ as he is known to his teammates, can change the game once he is on base. I love watching him toy with the defense which makes the guy hitting behind him able to see better pitches. Kyle is a great teammate and a terrific young man who I am proud to say I have had play for me. Really was looking forward to watching him play this spring.”