By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — After leading Monroe Community College to its 25th regional championship, Matt Brooks (Auburn), Connor Lewis (St. Marguerite d’Youville), Luke Tomczyk (Churchville-Chili) and Zach Vennaro (New York Mills) all have their sites set on winning the Tribunes’ eighth district title this weekend. Their academic and athletic careers beyond this season, though, have already taken shape.
In what has become a familiar rite of spring along East Henrietta Road, the MCC nine compete for championships and graduate student-athletes to four-year schools.
“It goes without saying that I’m forever in debt to MCC and its coaching staff for the opportunities it has given me the past two years,” Tomczyk commented. “The coaching staff made it clear from day one that if we give our heart and soul to play for the team, that all the other things will take care of themselves.”
In 13 appearances this spring, the 6-5 right-hander has a compiled a record of 4-3 with four saves. He has fanned 57 in 39.1 innings of work. Tomczyk will study Business at UMass-Lowell starting in the fall.
“I can’t even begin to explain the role Monroe has played for me over the past two years,” Tomczyk added. “I am unbelievably blessed to have the opportunity to continue my career at UMass-Lowell.”
Brooks will continue his career at Nova Southeastern (NSE) where he will study Business Administration.
“Going down to play two more years at NSE is a great opportunity,” Brooks stated. “It means the world to me. It’s always been my dream to go down south and play in some warm weather, competitive baseball in one of the best conferences in Division II. It’s truly a blessing and I’m grateful for it. Blessed to have the opportunity.”
J. D. Martinez of the Detroit Tigers as well as Carlos Asuaje, one of the Boston Red Sox top prospects, played their collegiate baseball Nova Southeastern.
“My game has grown so much these past two season at Monroe,” said Brooks noting the influence of head coach Dave Brust along with assistant coaches Cory Brownsten, Adam Curynski and Mark Perlo. “They’ve enhanced my game to the level where I should do very well down there.”
Vennaro will head to Mount Olive this fall.
“When I came for my visit here everything just felt right, so I ended up picking here,” said the 6-5 right-hander who also considered St. John’s and UMass-Lowell out of high school. “I think it was the best decision I ever made. I love coach Brust.”
Vennaro will be a part of the Sports Management program at the Division II school which plays in Conference Carolinas. More than 20 Mount Olive Trojans have been selected in the MLB draft over the years.
“I am very excited to be able to continue my career at Mount Olive after being at Monroe,” Vennaro said.
After playing in the spring of 2014, Lewis took a semester off before returning to Monroe for this school year.
“Words can’t explain what he has done for me and the rest of the guys,” Lewis said of Brust and his staff. “I know it means a lot to him to see the guys move on to play at bigger schools and pursue bigger dreams for their baseball careers.”
Lewis will head to Tennesee Wesleyan next school year.
“Coming back was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life so far,” Lewis continued. “The coaching staff is one of the reasons I chose to come to MCC in the first place.”
“It’s great for them because they were able to capitalize on the opportunity and were able to benefit from quality instruction from a quality program,” Brust explained. “On the flip side of the coin, the program now benefits from their success because it aids in our recruiting efforts.”
Brust and his staff provide working models for the current Tribunes. A third-team All American in 1987, Brust hit .423 with 11 home runs for legendary MCC coach David Chamberlain. Brust drove in 49 runs that year. He went on to play at Ball State and was named captain and MVP of the Cardinals squad earning an All-MAC conference selection in 1989. Brust went on to play three years in the Atlanta Braves system.
Brownsten guided the Tribunes to a third-place finish in the 2008 NJCAA World Series. The Lockport, N.Y. native earned NJCAA Gold Glove honors for his work behind the plate. He continued his education at the University of Pittsburgh where he garnered an All-Big East Tournament nod his senior year. The Atlanta Braves chose Brownsten in the 2010 draft. He also played four years in the minor leagues.
Curynski was part of Monroe’s 2007 team which won a district championship under the direction of current Athletic Director, Skip Bailey. Curynski finished his college education at Southern Illinois where he earned Missouri Valley Conference Honorable Mention honors leading the Salukis with a 5-1 record and a team-best 2.37 ERA. Curynski coached at the Air Force Academy before returning to Monroe this season to serve as the team’s pitching coach.
Perlo played on the 1977 and 1978 Tribune teams, and he was the captain of the 1978 club which reached the NJCAA World Series. Perlo finished his college career at Niagara University. Soon after graduation, he founded Xerographic Solutions. By 2009, the company’s revenue exceeded more than $10 million.
Tomczyk follows in the footsteps of former Tribune, Danny Mendick, who played two years under Ken Harring at UMass-Lowell. The Chicago White Sox selected Mendick in the 22nd round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.
Harring and Brust were teammates in the Atlanta Braves’ system.
MCC annually sends more than seven student-athletes a year on to four-year schools. The entire list can be viewed here.
More than 30 former Tribunes have been chosen in the MLB draft and/or played professional baseball.
Monroe (30-14) opens the 2016 East District Championship against Westchester Community College (35-14-1) of Region 15. The two teams met in last year’s championship with the Tribunes coming away the winner. A 10 a.m. first pitch is scheduled for Saturday morning. Monroe will play Dean College (19-20) of Region 21 at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon. The championship will be decided on Sunday.
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