PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – Senior shortstop Stephen Bryant (Center Moriches, N.Y./Center Moriches), senior outfielder Erik Matz (Medford, N.Y./ Patchogue-Medford) and senior right-handed pitcher Matt Triola (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) of the Plattsburgh State baseball team have been named captains for the 2021 season. In addition, sophomore right-handed pitcher and infielder Christian Ott (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) and junior right-handed pitcher Lucas Rodriguez have been named assistant captains, as announced Tuesday by head coach Kris Doorey.
 
"Stephen, Erik and Matt have been around the Plattsburgh State Baseball program for four years," Doorey said. "They have fought through adversity and have shown resilience throughout their time as Cardinals. They have also helped guide newcomers within the program. Christian and Lucas are well respected by their teammates and will further add to the leadership of this group."

Bryant, who is a team captain for the second year in a row, became the 19th student-athlete in program history to eclipse 100 career hits when he went 3-for-3 at the plate during game one of a doubleheader at Maritime College on March 1, 2020. In 2019, Bryant was named to the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) All-Conference Second Team. That season, he led the SUNYAC in assists with 102, while ranking third in stolen bases with 20, tied for fifth in triples with three, sixth in on-base percentage at .443, ninth in batting average at .327 and tied for ninth in walks with 19. Bryant has been named a NCAA Division III Player to Watch for 2021 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

Triola has been a stalwart member of the Cardinal pitching staff for the past three seasons. He has appeared in 23 games, including four starts, during his Plattsburgh State career. In 2019, Triola set career highs in innings pitched (28 2/3) and appearances (12). Triola is a team captain for the first time.

Matz enters his fourth year as a member of the Plattsburgh State outfield. In a COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, Matz compiled a career-best .313 batting average. In 2019, he tallied career highs in games played (29), runs (21), hits (21), RBI (11) and stolen bases (9). Matz has played 56 games in a Cardinal uniform and is a team captain for the first time.  

This is Ott's first season as an assistant captain after he batted .500 during a COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. In addition, he also tossed a scoreless inning in his pitching debut at The College of New Jersey on March 7, 2020. Ott has been named a NCAA Division III Player to Watch for 2021 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.   

Rodriguez is entering his first season as a Cardinal. Named a NCAA Division III Player to Watch for 2021 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, he previously attended SUNY Orange where he pitched to a 3-4 record with 36 strikeouts in 39 1/3 innings.
 
Plattsburgh State is set to begin the 2021 season with a non-conference doubleheader at SUNY Cobleskill on Sunday, March 21, at 12 p.m.