Joe O'Connor will be one of two seniors in the Cougar's starting outfield in 2014. Kean athletics photo

By Shawn Spence
for D3baseball.com

In the past 20 years, if you won the New Jersey Athletic Conference, you were probably the best team in the region. But then perennial regional qualifier Johns Hopkins broke through, won the region, and then went back and nearly won a national championship. Now there’s a whole new gang of powers becoming entrenched, as programs such as Keystone, Alvernia, and even more recently Misericordia have formed a nouveau riche of the region to go with the old-money powers.

• 2014 preseason All-Americans
• 2014 preseason Top 25
• Regional sites announced

It might be a new era in the Mid-Atlantic, but those fast-rising programs still have to reckon with the top New Jersey program, and lately that’s usually been Kean. The Cougars won the region in 2013 despite a generally young team, and appears to be the team to beat in 2014.

New Faces

Ryan Horning, Franklin and Marshall: Horning was promoted to head baseball coach after serving five years as an assistant coach. Horning, the 47th coach in the history of the program, replaced Adam Taylor, who moved to Christopher Newport as an assistant. Horning has been firmly entrenched in all aspects of the program during his time as an assistant, serving as the defensive coach for both infielders and outfielders while also leading recruiting efforts and offseason camp operations.

Conference Summaries

Haverford third baseman Casey Fox returns to lead the Ford's offense. Haverford athletics photo

Centennial Conference

Reigning Centennial pitcher of the year Tommy Bergjans (7-1, 1.41 ERA, 89K) is just one of several returning stars for Haverford. Bergjans, a second-team All-American as a sophomore in 2013, is joined by third baseman Casey Fox (.378, 8 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 23 SB), an All-Region pick who stuffs the stat sheet in almost every way. He even won three games as a pitcher in four starts. William Bannard (.373, 18 SB) is also back. To beat the Fords, you’ll probably have to catch them first – they stole 146 bases last year.

Johns Hopkins used to dominate the Centennial, but the Blue Jays are finding the competition slightly tougher of late. The Jays were an at-large entrant to the Moosic, Pa., regional in 2013 despite a gaudy 37-10 record, and will hope to ride a full four-man rotation of returning pitchers in 2014. Tyler Goldstein (8-3, 2.58 ERA) headlines that group. But Hopkins’ coach Bob Babb, who needs 10 wins to reach 1,000 in his career, will need to rebuild the entire infield. He’ll start with an intact outfield including Colin McCarthy (.364, 5 HR).

Star outfielder Al Posch (.383, 24 2B) leads Gettysburg’s eight returning starters and three starting pitchers. Posch was a D3baseball.com second-team All-Region pick and shortstop Tommy LeNoir (.351, 13 2B) and pitcher Eric Hungerford (7-1, 2.52 ERA) could also challenge for postseason honors for the Bullets, which broke through with a school-record 30 wins last year. Pitching and defense should make Gettysburg one of the stingiest teams in the region.

Conference tournament champion Franklin and Marshall has an uphill battle if they are to repeat, losing two All-Region batters and a nine-game winner on the mound. Infielder Matt Mezansky (.331, 11 2B) can help the cause greatly by building on his strong freshman campaign. Returning Diplomats pitchers Sean Cosgriff (3-5, 3.07 ERA) and Alex Guerra (4-3, 3.21 ERA) gave respectable showings last year but will need more run support.

Bryan Baquer set a conference freshman record for hits with 56 in 2013. Washington College athletics photo

Washington College hopes youth will be served as it was last year when outfielder Bryan Baquer (.344, 28 SB) set a conference freshman record for hits with 56. Baquer is back, but this year it’ll be the young hurlers that the Shoremen need to be ready to produce in their first year. As many as three freshmen could be starting pitchers as Washington tries to return to its 2012 form when the Shoremen won 28 games. Shortstop Nick Marinelli (.325, 11 2B, 19 SB) can play just about anywhere on the diamond and provides experience and leadership.

Colonial States Athletic Conference

Keystone has clearly established itself as the class of the Mid-Atlantic’s nouveau riche, winning a conference title in for 10 consecutive years, and making six regional trips in a row. They’ll try to keep it going with 12 seniors among their returners, but without the top two pitchers from a team that led the nation in ERA last year. Mike Pembleton (7-0, 1.61 ERA) should inherit the top spot on the staff, but after that the staff is a bit less proven, though there is experience and, as always at Keystone, incoming transfers. Coach Jamie Shevchik tends to play a number of lineups, but one name that will be in the lineup most of the time is third baseman Lymbel Guerrero (.302, 8 HR, 38 RBI), one of the region’s top power hitters. The Giants hit .314 as a team last year, but scored 0 or 1 runs eight times. They’ll be looking for more consistency in 2014.

Buddy Elgin is one of two starters returning in 2014 for Neumann. Neumann athletics photo

First baseman Dante Cassano (.371, 12 2B, 3 3B, 4 ER, 40 RBI, 13 SB) hopes to lead Gwynedd Mercy’s challenge of the conference’s established top two programs. Outfielder Rick Elfreth (.398) had a standout freshman year is another tough out that’s back for the Griffins. Both were even better in league play, batting better than .400 against the CSAC. Ace Matt Rakus (6-3, 1.53 ERA) leads a pitching staff that has most of its top arms back.

Back-to-back 30-plus win seasons may be tough to duplicate for Neumann, which is returning just two starters and one starting pitcher. Third baseman Buddy Elgin (.351, 12 2B, 5 3B, 3 HR, 15 SB) will be one of the cornerstones for the rebuilding effort, along with outfielder Matt Sheneman (.347, 9 2B, 44 RBI). It’s a battlefield in practice for innings, as only one experienced starting pitcher returns. The Knights welcome a slew of transfers – mostly junior college but also including Ramapo transfer Kevin Case (.308, 6 2B at Ramapo) that they hope will make the Knights tougher in May than they’re likely to be in March.

Centenary (N.J.) notched its first postseason win in program history in 2013 and nearly the whole gang is back to try for even better. Shortstop Joe Forcellini (.393, 13 2B, 7 3B) was the conference player of the year and staff ace Mitch Renz (4-2, 1.40) has pinpoint control, walking just two batters in 58 innings last year. But Forcellini was the Cyclones’ only .300 hitter last year, and he’ll need some help if Centenary is to challenge the league’s top clubs. Similarly, getting quality starting pitching from more than Renz would greatly boost the Cyclones’ hopes.

Moravian has nine games scheduled against opponents in the Top 25 or receiving votes, including four of the first nine games of the 2014 season. Moravian athletics photo

Landmark Conference

A pair of standout outfielders lead Moravian as the Greyhounds try to make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament after qualifying in 2011 and 2013. Matt Hanson (.377, 13 2B, 5 3B, 15 SB) and Joseph Connell (.359, 10 2B, 4 3B) will be looking for help from the rest of the lineup to support a pitching staff that returns its top four starters, including sophomore Robert Solano (5-3, 3.89), the staff ace as a freshman last year. One thing’s for sure – we’ll know where they stand early in the season. The Greyhounds have scheduled non-conference games against most of the region’s elite programs, as well as some solid programs in the Mideast.

Coming off a tie for the best regular season record, Catholic hopes to extend that success into postseason play after falling five straight times to the same team in their last six games of 2013. The Cardinals return all but two starters, and the entire pitching staff as this year’s senior class hopes to cap off the most successful four-year run in program history under 500-game winner Ross Natoli. Robin Mowatt (7-3, 3.14 ERA) will return to anchor a pitching staff that lacks a high-strikeout presence in the rotation, but manages to be effective despite that. Closer Chris Nee (1-1, 9 SV) does have that capability, striking out 17 in 22 2/3 innings.

A trio of seniors return for Merchant Marine and form undoubtedly the best group of returning hitters. Warren Hartman (.435, 19 2B, 3 3B, 25 SB) and Danny Collins (.403, 2 HR, 16 SB) simply were the top two hitters in the conference last season and led the Merchant Marine to a joint-top finish in the conference. Jake Martin (.336) is also among the top handful of returning hitters in the Landmark. Junior Cameron Stadele (.333, 11 2B, 2 HR, 13 SB) was no slouch either. Where the USMMA must improve to up its win count is on the mound, where Stadele (5-5, 3.84 ERA) was the only starter with an ERA below 5.00.

Shortstop Steve Kowalski (.350, 23 SB) leads Drew’s bid to join the contending ranks in the conference. Outfielder Al Krause (.357, 7 2B) is a tough out, striking out just four times last year. Three starting pitchers return as well, but there’s still room for a talented freshman to carve out a rotation spot.

Kevin Becker-Menditto has 21 saves in his first two years for the Alvernia Crusaders. Alvernia athletics photo

Commonwealth Conference

Alvernia has established itself as the program to beat in this conference, and in 2014 that would mean beating some of D-III’s best arms. Staff ace Mike Weinhold (9-1, 1.46 ERA, 104 K) and relief whiz Kevin Becker-Menditto (6-1, 0.28 ERA, 12 SV) were tapped for preseason All-America honors by D3baseball.com. Becker-Menditto was an All-American in 2013, while Weinhold was an All-Region pick. First baseman Matt Patterson (.331, 15 2B) leads an offense that coach Yogi Lutz will mostly need to rebuild. Two higher-division transfers could help that project.

Shortstop Kyle Gable (.378, 22 SB) leads Elizabethtown’s bid to challenge Alvernia for league supremacy. Gable was a first-team all-league performer last season, but the Blue Jays will be looking for a better team performance in 2014. E-Town has seven starters back but will be looking for improved pitching and a return trip to the conference tournament after missing it last year for the first time in coach Cliff Smith’s six years at the school.

Widener will be looking to take a jump forward in the MACC with half a dozen returning pitchers. Robert Barth (4-4, 2.21 ERA) might well be looking for more run support in 2014. Widener does return last year’s starting field, but better defensive play is a must if the Pride are to move up in the league. One regrettable setback is the loss of sophomore Marc Noyalis to injury. He was slated to be a top player after a standout freshman year.

Another team looking to make itself a factor is Arcadia, which returns eight starters and most of its pitching staff. The Knights will be hoping that second baseman David Jacobs (.368) and shortstop George Pagan (.356, 10 2B) can help keep men on base when power hitter DH Elliott Freeman (.301, 11 2B, 6 HR) bats. Jordan Hofferman (4-6, 3.32 ERA) leads a gaggle of returning pitchers, and Arcadia should be able to support with a solid defense.

Albright will look to climb out of the basement in the conference behind the bats of outfielder Colin Hecker (.359, 14 2B, 11 SB) and third baseman Zac Okonski (.385), but the Lions will have to get better defense to support their three returning starting pitchers, all of whom throw strikes but will need help in the field.

Freedom Conference

Brian Mauro, one of the best hitters in D-III baseball, has a .411 batting average at DeSales. DeSales athletics photo

Misericordia will be hosting a regional for the second straight year and looks like the favorite to be a part of it once again. Third baseman Kyle Lindsay (.364, 15 SB) and shortstop Ryan Cacchioli (.354, 16 SB) headline six starters, including the entire infield. Both typify MU’s program-wide emphasis on plate discipline, drawing a combined 66 walks/hit by pitch. Though the Cougars will need to replace three important arms from 2013, Ryan Dorosh (6-1, 2.91 ERA) is back and will likely lead the unit. MU will also count on Cory Vogeli (5-1, 1.37 ERA, 4 SV) to repeat his performance as closer. In 2013, Misericordia got terrific freshman years from several returning starters – including Dorosh and Lindsay – and will be looking for similar debut seasons in 2014.

Brian Mauro (.497, 28 2B) will be the odds-on favorite for top individual honors in the conference and hopes to lead DeSales to a conference championship. If one player can single-handedly do it, it’s the returning All-American. He has some help from fellow seniors Mark Fuse (.366, 13 SB) and Mark Westdyk (.325, 12 2B). The Bulldogs also have three returning starting pitchers and will be looking for an impact freshman to join those experienced hurlers.

Manhattanville’s bright spot in 2013 was shortstop Jordanis Nunez (.326, 12 2B, 13 SB), who took conference honors for top rookie. Improvement in the field would greatly aid the pitching staff and top pitcher Alex Basso (5-5, 4.22 ERA). Outfielder Nick Euvino (.315, 22 SB) also returns.

New Jersey Athletic Conference

Kean “suffered” through breaking in three, sometimes four freshman starters last year, and if you’ve been paying attention you get the joke. The Cougars won the Mid-Atlantic region last year, and all of those freshmen hit .300 or better. A pair of seniors, OF Joe O’Connor (.328, 8 3B, 52 RBI, 29 SB) and 2B Tyler Smarslok (.309, 16 SB, 50 runs), will likely lead the hit parade, but those now-sophomores will give plenty of help. First baseman Salvatore Taormina (.318, 8 2B) showed the best power potential of the freshmen. Charles Thielmann (10-3, 2.33 ERA, 104 IP) will head up the pitching staff, which returns two other starting pitchers. Kean rarely has a problem with pitching depth, so expect plenty more where they came from. Those arms will also have the luxury of one of Division III’s best defenses (.974 fielding last season) behind them. Coach Neil Ioviero’s roster is as loaded as ever, and NJAC and regional championship hopefuls should plan on having to deal with this Cougar ballclub.

Mike Bush was tops in the NJAC with a .522 batting average with two outs. Richard Stockton athletics photo

Rowan is the NJAC’s defending conference tournament champion and the perennially contending Profs will be a factor again in 2014. Coach Juan Ranero often changes lineups, so he returns many players that saw significant playing time last year. Second baseman Mark Benak (.323, 21 2B, 15 SB) will be a fixture on Ranero’s lineup card and a candidate for postseason honors. Ryan Easterday (6-2, 3.41 ERA) will return to the rotation, but Rowan is hoping that Dylan Johannink (4-0, 1.95 ERA) can handle a bigger role after spot starting last year, and that Andrew Lysy is ready for action again after a 2012 injury cut short his promising freshman year and put him out for all of 2013 with Tommy John surgery.

Stockton, which the school’s athletics website implies is the preferred name to Richard Stockton, will try to follow up on a surprising fourth place finish and has the experience to give it a run, bringing back the Ospreys’ top four pitchers, all seniors. None were overpowering, but like ace Brendan Stout (7-3, 3.37 ERA) they were all effective enough to give the Ospreys a chance to win most of the time. At the plate, it's the junior class that carries the load, with George Eisenhart (.305, 12 SB) and Mark Jankowski (.359, 10 SB) leading that group, along with senior Mike Bush (.341, 14 SB). Stockton was 7-1 at home in the NJAC last year, but will look to improve on the road this year to climb higher.

Ramapo is living proof that above water in the NJAC is still pretty darned good. The Roadrunners finished just 9-8-1 in the league but made the tournament championship and that plus a 30-win season was good enough for a regional at-large berth. Ramapo’s graduation losses include a pair of first team All-Region picks, and last year’s top four starters plus a few other arms. Reassembling will start with last year’s leadoff hitter, SS Joe Venturino (.288, 11 SB), and middle-of-the-order bat DH Chris Werr (.301, 12 2B). Both got better in NJAC play last year.

William Paterson seems to have more questions than answers for how they’ll follow up last year’s second-place league finish as the season, but one mainstay will be outfielder A.J. Flores (.381, 19 SB), who will contend for all-league and all-region honors. Trevor Haughney (.345, 9 2B) will be counted on for offense as well as bringing along a pitching staff that loses its top two arms from 2013.

One could excuse New Jersey City catcher Andrew Niech (.326, 11 2B) if he needed some help remembering his teammates’ names at first. Niech could be among as many as six first-year players starting for the Gothic Knights. NJCU is also looking to replace six pitchers, and newcomers could shoulder the bulk of that load. The good news is the Knights have a recruiting class that the program is excited to see in action. And hopefully they’re past the stage of needing “Hello, my name is” stickers.

2013 NEAC Pitcher of the Year Brandon Holsworth ruturns for his senior season. Gallaudet athletics photo

North Eastern Athletic Conference

Last year, Gallaudet and Penn State-Abington tied for the NEAC’s top regular season record at 11-3, but neither school earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA regionals. It was Penn State-Harrisburg which swept through the NEAC tournament and advanced to Moosic. PSU-Harrisburg will not be in the NEAC in 2014, moving to the Capital Athletic Conference in the South region. And it was Penn State-Berks that finished second in that tournament. So that clears everything right up as far as who should be favorite in 2014, right? Of course it does!

Despite the tournament results, and a losing overall record, Gallaudet coach and former big-leaguer Curtis Pride was named the league’s coach of the year. If and when the Bison break through, it will certainly be the feel-good story of that year’s regionals. But will this be the year?

Well, it appears the Bison will be cast in the altogether unfamiliar role of favorites. They return the 2013 Pitcher of the Year in the conference – Brandon Holsworth (5-5, 3.22 ERA, 78 1/3 IP) – and four-year standout and two-time first-team all-region performer William Bissell (.357, 2 HR in 24 games), whose season was cut short by an injury last year. All but three players from last year return, and the 2014 squad has eight seniors that led the Bison’s rise from also-ran and would like nothing more than to cap it off by becoming the first Gallaudet team to play in the NCAA postseason.

PSU-Abington waved goodbye to five of its top six hitters in May last year, and several of them were among the club’s top pitchers as well. If Abingdon is to present a challenge, Tom Ditro (.328, 7 2B, 11 SB), and Kevin Faber (2.05 ERA) will need to lead a major rebuilding effort.

Penn-State Berks first baseman-pitcher Ryan Tantala (.405, 10 2B, 2 HR) led the conference in batting average in 2013, while Lancaster Bible outfielder Matt Taliercio (.388, 11 HR, 38 RBI) was the league’s top power hitter and conference player of the year. Both are back to terrorize NEAC pitchers for another year.

In addition to Holsworth, the league’s returning ERA leaders among starters are Cazenovia’s Zach Levanduski (4-1, 3.62 ERA, 58K in 37IP), Berks duo Tantala (3-3, 4.41 ERA) and Steve Koenig (3-3, 3.69 ERA), and Gallaudet third baseman-pitcher Chris Guinn (4.80 ERA).