| Misericordia is one of three
ranked teams in the Mid-Atlantic Region starting the 2015
season. Misericordia athletics photo |
By Jim Dixon
D3sports.com
It has been some time when the Mid-Atlantic Regional was not the domain of the in-region teams. Last year in the Mid-Atlantic Regional, it was Baldwin Wallace and Wesleyan (Conn.) in the regional final. Nine teams made the playoffs but three were sent out of the region leaving the regional title in the hands of the Yellow Jackets of Baldwin Wallace.
It should be different this year as No. 11 Kean, No. 25 Misericordia and No. 14 Rowan all bring experience to the 2015 season and are the teams to beat. Gettysburg, Moravian, Rutgers-Camden, Susquehanna and Widener had 30 win seasons but it is the Moravian Greyhounds that has shown the most consistency over the last few years and is our pick to repeat their success. Watch out for Keystone as head coach Jamie Schevchik knows how to assemble a winning team.
New Faces
| Scott Baker is one of three
new head coaches in the NJAC in 2015. Richard Stockton athletics photo |
Scott Baker, Richard Stockton: Scott Baker returns to the Garden State after a lengthy career as the head coach at Sewanee. While with the Tigers, Baker became the winningest coach in school history with a 16-4 triumph over Hamilton in 2009.
Mike Dickson, Rowan: Rowan alumnus Mike Dickson returns to lead the Profs following the departure of Juan Ranero. Dickson spent nine seasons as the head coach at Rowan College at Gloucester County. “I am excited about my return to Rowan University as the next head baseball coach,” said Dickson. “I have many fond memories of Rowan both as a player and assistant coach.”
Jared Holowaty, Montclair State: Jared Holowaty is the Red Hawks' new head baseball coach, taking over for longtime mentor Norm Schoenig, who retired in May after 26 years. Holowaty served as acting head coach of the Red Hawks this past season after Schoenig underwent hip replacement surgery in February. He was named the NJAC Co-Coach of the Year after guiding Montclair State to a 13-5 record and third-place finish in the league standings.
Matt Reynolds, Washington College: Matt Reynolds, most recently an assistant coach at the United States Naval Academy was chosen this summer to lead the Washington College Shoreman. "I look forward to connecting with our returning and incoming players, reaching out to our vast alumni group, and getting out on the recruiting trail to ensure that the future of Shoremen Baseball is bright," said Reynolds.
Conference Previews
Centennial Conference: Gettysburg's record setting season was fun to watch but the Bullets did it with a tough senior class that will not be on the field in 2015. Johns Hopkins is the team with the most experience and will improve on their fourth place finish in 2014. The Blue Jays will battle it out with Haverford for the conference title.
| D3baseball.com Preseason
All-American Tommy Bergjans is a two-time CC Pitcher of the
Year. Haverford athletics photo |
Two-time Centennial pitcher of the year Tommy Bergjans (9-2, 108 ERA, 96 SO) is reason enough to have the Fords as a CC favorite. Second baseman Zach Taylor (.320, 9 2B) and catching duo, Sam Kane (.305, 14 RBI) and Nick Ott (.278, 24 RBI) are the Ford's best returning hitters. Haverford will also be a slower team this year as their two top base stealers are gone. The last week in March will show everyone what kind of team Haverford is as they will play non conference contests with Moravian and Rowan with two games against Johns Hopkins sandwiched between the regional favorites.
Johns Hopkins had their worst season in four years but with six position starters and the core of their pitching back, the Blue Jays will move up in the standings. Juniors Carter Burns (5-3, 2.47 ERA) and Trevor Williams (4-1, 2.14 ERA) will join Jake Enterlin (3-3, 2.91 ERA) to form an experienced staff. Sophomore SS Conor Reynolds (.350, 12 SB) will start 2015 with an additional year of experience but it is OF Colin McCarthy (.383, 32 RBI) who will be the offensive leader.
Gettysburg was the story in the CC in 2014 but the core of their success in the last two years was in the class that graduated in 2014. It is not all bad news as Eric Hungerford (7-0, 1.51 ERA, 5 CG) is back for his senior season and has the skills to bump off Bergjans as the best pitcher in the conference. Scott Zanghellini (.365, 28 RBI) was stellar at shortstop and Mike Kielbassa (.318, 23 RBI) will patrol centerfield once again. How the Bullets reload will tell how successful they can be.
| Marty Windisch has a .374
career batting average for McDaniel going into the 2015
season. McDaniel athletics photo |
Dickinson, Muhlenberg, McDaniel, and Ursunus will battle for a spot in the four team tournament. Last year it was the Muhlenberg grabbing a three seed and then pulling off the upset against the CC Pitcher of the Year. The success was short-lived, losing to both the eventual title participants. Each of these four teams will have a kernel to build around in four under classmen who earned conference honors last year. McDaniel’s third-baseman Marty Windisch (.348, 27 RBI, 4 HR) is the only sophomore among the group joined by freshmen Ryan Dolan, Dickinson (.333, 21 RBI, 16 SB), John Icaza Muhlenberg (.322, 21 RBI), and Austin Feuerman, Ursinus (.384, 13 RBI).
Swarthmore, Washington College and Franklin and Marshall will be looking to improve their fortunes in 2015. Swarthmore has All-CC catcher John Lim (.303, 16 RBI, .987 FLD%) behind the plate to guide the pitching staff and provide some punch in the Garnet lineup. Shoreman’s outfielder Bryan Baquer (.350, 36 RBI, 13 SB) made All-CC honorable mention in his first two years at Washington College. Franklin and Marshall will have some experience on the mound as Alex Guerra (5-3, 2.30 ERA) shoots for the school record for wins, backed up by junior reliever Andrew Green (0-0, 3 saves, 7.84 ERA).
| Gaston Rojas is a key
returning player for Jamie Schevchik's Keystone
squad. Keystone athletics photo |
Colonial States Athletic Conference: Keystone has made the conference title a stepping stone to the regional playoff round, making every one since becoming eligible in 2008. Giant’s head coach Jamie Schevchik will have to replace five All-Conference performers but the story last year was the same. Keystone’s recipe for success includes a roster heavy in junior college transfers so Schevchik is use to the high turnover in his roster. The 2015 squad consists of 15 seniors and juniors headlined by Gaston Rojas (.391, 20 RBI, 12 SB). The top returning pitchers are Darren Lauer (5-1, 4.06 ERA) and James Dunning (3-0, 3.79).
Gwynedd-Mercy and Neumann has been the closest competition to Keystone. Gwynedd-Mercy finished second in the CSAC last year. The number of freshmen on the Griffins squad (13) will outnumber the upper classmen (9) as head coach Paul Murphy rebuilds. With three of the last four conference Rookies of the Year coming from Gwynedd-Mercy, coach Murphy knows how to get quality play from a young squad.
Neumann is the only CSAC team other than Keystone to make the national playoff round, something they did in 2012 and 2013. The Knights have a pair of players in seniors Matt Sheneman (.384, 32 RBI, 13 SB) and Buddy Elgin (.369, 36 RBI, 41 R, 12 SB) to build around for a title run. Sheneman and Elgin will provide the leadership needed to make Neumann a title contender. Neumann has scheduled a number of quality opponents which should get the Knights prepared for a run at another regional playoff bid.
Immaculata edged out Neumann for third in 2014. Pitchers Dan Whalen (5-0, 2.35 ERA, 59 SO) and Nick Campione (2-2, 7 saves, 2.32 ERA) will be key to keeping the Mighty Macs above .500 in the conference standings. Looking to keep Immaculata out of the conference tournament are Centenary, Marywood, and Cairn. Each will need to see significant improvement to knock Keystone off the top of the CSAC standings. Joe Forcellini, Centenary (.466, 33 RBI, 45 R, 15 SB), Erik Pulkkinen, Marywood (.380, 14 RBI, 10 SB) Caleb Lang, Cairn (.449, 44 RBI, 45 R, 14 SB) are returning members of the First Team All-CSAC squad.
| Second baseman Dylan
Glassmire started every game for the Crusaders in
2014. Landmark athletics photo |
Landmark Conference: Susquehanna, who earned their first title in 2014 and went on to win a pair of games in the NCAA Region, is favored to make it two. The strength of the Crusaders will be the pitching staff. The staff contains three of the Landmark's top five leaders in both earned run average and strikeouts from 2014. The top of the staff will include 2014 Landmark Pitcher of the Year Casey Hood (9-1, 2.76 ERA, 54 SO) and Spencer Hotaling (5-3, 2.32 ERA, 52 SO). The Crusaders also bring their top three hitters in Nick Kennedy (.346, 17 RBI, 33 R, 13 SB), Taylor Luckenbill (.360, 22 RBI), and Bryan Palsi (.352, 37 RBI).
Moravian made it three playoff bids in five years with an at-large selection in 2014. A welcome site this spring will be the 2014 Landmark Player of the Year and All-American Matt Hanson (.408, 48 RBI, 13 SB). Joining Hanson will be All-Landmark performers Charles Savite (.343, 47 RBI, 32 R) and Ryan Luke (.367, 39 RBI, 38 R, 13 SB). The biggest question mark for the Greyhounds will be the pitching staff. Head coach Paul Engelhardt went out and recruited the best pitching recruits he has had in the past. Moravian will need their offense to win some early games but if the prospects pan out, it might be the start of four very good years.
| Elizabethtown has moved to
the Landmark conference from the MAC
Commonwealth. Elizabethtown athletics photo |
Catholic, Drew and conference newcomer Elizabethtown will battle for the final two conference tournament spots. Catholic will have holes in their pitching staff due to graduation of several key pitchers and a return to the tournament will depend how a young pitching staff develops. The Blue Jays will bring back their top two starters from last season's staff, Kristopher Davis (2-4, 1.61 ERA) and Kevin Ewell (4-2, 2.39 ERA). Drew got the short end of a three-way tiebreaker and finished outside the Landmark playoffs. The Rangers could make it this year with eight of its nine offensive starters returning from last year's team. Drew’s senior shortstop, Steve Kowalski (.353, 28 R) is the top returning player.
Scranton, Merchant Marine, and Juniata are picked to finish last in the Landmark. The Royals will have to wait for the basketball season to end before their All-Landmark first baseman, Ross Danzig joins the team. The Mariners was a surprise team in the Landmark playoffs last year, but without All-American 2B Warren Hartmann and All-Region SS Danny Collins a repeat performance is not expected.
| Mike Elfreth was the top
freshman on the Widener squad in 2014. Widener athletics photo |
MAC Commonwealth: Widener was tabbed as the favorite to claim the conference crown in the coaches preseason poll. The conference also released a list of players to watch and in this case it was the Pride that dominated the Commonwealth list. The quest for a second straight Commonwealth title and an eighth tournament appearance starts with the offense. Shortstop Nicholas Enos(.294, 22 RBI) and third baseman Mike Elfreth (.369, 20 RBI, 45 R, 14 SB) will anchor the infield while Bob Barnett (.321, 18 RBI, 42 R, 17 SB) and Matt Scherer (.305, 29 RBI, 40 R) return to the outfield. A couple of freshman will get a chance at the end of the rotation but the big games will fall on the shoulder of the Widener ace, Rob Barth (7-2, 2.62 ERA),
Alvernia was edged out of the pole position in the conference preseason rankings by a single point, receiving some support as the top team in two first place votes. The Crusaders almost earned the conference playoff bid but in the 204 conference final lost to Widener by a score of 3-2. Avernia saw their top hitter and pitcher graduate in 2014 but will have plenty returing players. Shortstop Richie Ricciardi (.352, 25 RBI, 36 R), DH Ben Sawyer (.362, 12 RBI), and C Chris Burns (.353, 19 RBI) return. Ryan Sheekey (5-0, 3.92 ERA, 31 SO) is the Crusaders best returning starter. Alvernia will have the services of their record setting closer for one more year, Kevin Becker-Menditto (1-2, 10 saves, 2.74 ERA).
Messiah and Stevenson each
earned a first place vote in the preseason poll but are the
third and fourth place team in the preseason rankings. Messiah
graduated nine seniors and have holes to fill in both the lineup
and leadership. The majority of Messiah's strength is in a trio of
outfielders. Derek Drake (.315, 18 RBI), Ben Sollenberger (.284, 22
RBI), and Jon Heisey (.241, 11 RBI) have a combined for 232 starts
in their careers. Stevenson graduated their All-Conference
centerfielder and found a transfer from D-II Wilmington in Brody
Tennant that has the promise to put together the best single season
of any previous Stevenson player. With the returning players and
some key pickups, scoring should be up and if pitchers coming off
injuries are true to form, a MACC title might be in the offing.
The MACC preseason poll has Lebanon Valley the
first team finishing out of the tournament. Last year the Flying
Dutchmen were young and overachieved and will face the same
problems on the offensive side of the ball as in 2014. All three
outfielders have departed and head coach Keith Evans’ first
job is to find some production from the new outfielders. With most
of the starting pitching and the entire bullpen back for another
year, Lebanon valley might surprise a couple teams and slip into
the end of the season tournament. Arcadia,
Albright and Hood rounded out the
poll in respective order.
| Mike Comerford let the
Cougars with seven home runs in 2014. Misericordia athletics photo |
MAC Freedom: It is no surprise to see the No.
25 Misericordia Cougars selected as the favorite
in the Freedom Conference heading into the 2015 season. The Cougars
have won the last four Freedom Conference titles and return seven
position players and their top four pitchers. Ryan Dorosh (10-1,
2.33 ERA, 92 SO) and Tim Burek (6-2, 2.44 ERA, .202 b/avg) will top
the starting rotation, giving head coach Pete Egbert the time to
develop a trio of freshmen right-handers from this year’s
requiting class. Mike Comerford (.323, 49 RBI, 7 HR) and Kyle
Lindsey (.374, 36 RBI, 15 SB) will highlight an offense that should
give the pitching staff plenty of run support.
For DeSales, the post Brian Mauro era finally
arrives. The 1B/DH was a fixture on All-American teams for four
years but DeSales was never a one dimensional team, evidenced by an
expected second place finish in the MAC Freedom. Changes in the
baseball equipment used by colleges has put a renewed emphasis on
defense and the DeSales returns their defensive center in catcher
Mike Kacergis (.305, 15 RBI, .991 FLD%), shortstop Danny Laicamara
(.276, 2 RBI, .933 FLD%), and centerfielder Tommy DePaul (.365, 20
RBI, 30 SB). On the mound the Bulldogs welcome back ace
Andrew Schuler (5-0, 3.38 ERA) and closer Cameron Hoos (0-1, 8
saves, 1.45 ERA).
Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham and Manhattanville are predicted to fill out the bottom seed in the Freedom title tournament as both teams will be looking for their first conference title. The starting rotation for the Devils featured two seasoned seniors in Joey Hofmann (2-3, 6.02 ERA, 50 SO) and A.J, Pichalski (3-2, 5.49 ERA) with Bobby Bray (0-1, 7 saves, 4,59 ERA) on the backend of the bullpen. For the Valiants Chris Conklin (.403, 16 RBI, 14 SB) is a player to watch.
Wilkes, Delaware Valley, Eastern, and King's are expected to finish in this order based on the preseason conference poll. The Eastern Eagles are set on the mound with a quality sophomore ace in Ryan Kehr (1-1, 2.74 ERA), backed by two senior lefthanders, Tom Gordon (0-4, 4.62 ERA) and Austin Little (1-3, 5.98 ERA). Eric Rossi (.218, 29 RBI) will anchor an improving offense for Eastern
| Charles Thielmann sits atop
the rotation for the Kean Cougars. Kean athletics photo |
New Jersey Athletic Conference: The championship of the NJAC will go through Kean in more ways than one. No. 11 Kean has to replace only two regulars in Tyler Smarslok and Joe O’Connor from a team that advanced to the tile game of the New York Regional. Also with the addition of lights to Jim Hynes Stadium, the title will be decided on Kean’s home field. Head coach Neil Ioviero’s squad features the 2014 Player of the Year in 1B Sal Taormina (.339, 38 RBI). Joining Taormina is CF Matt Meleo (.328, 12 RBI, 12 SB) and 2B/SS Ryan Reitmeyer (.316, 23 RBI). Reitmeyer will move to second base with the graduation of Smarslok.
No. 14 Rowan will start the season with a new head coach in Mike Dickson but although he will have to learn a lot of new names, the team will not. Eleven key players return and they will be joined by a couple junior college transfers. Steven Todd and Jesse Lammers will step into two open positions on a team that made the 2014 playoff round. Senior OF Ryan Pavlik (.380, 8 2B, 2 3B, 20 RBI) and senior SP Ryan Easterday (5-1, 1.55 ERA, 35 SO) are players to watch in 2015.
| 2015 D3baseball.com Preseason
All-American Joe Brooks is just one in a stellar sophomore class
for the Raptors. Rutgers-Camden athletics photo |
It was a breakout year in 2014 for Rutgers-Camden. In two years, head coach Dennis Barth has taken a 15-24 team and led them to improvements in their overall record of 7 and 8 games in the last two seasons. With their first ever NCAA tournament win, the next step is to capture a regional title and advance to the D-III World Series. The starting nine will have seven sophomores including D3baseball.com Preseason All-American Joe Brooks (.421, 24 RBI, 49 R). With two seniors filling out the other spots, the Raptors are well poised to repeat last years success. New to the team is senior Jeff Singer (6-3, 6.33 ERA) who transferred from Monmouth (N.J.). The senior lefthander will step into the top spot in the rotation.
Montclair State was the only NJAC team in the top four of the standings that did not earn a trip to an NCAA Regional in 2014. The Red Hawks posted a third place finish as they were transitioning from long-term head coach Norm Schoenig to Jared Holowaty. With the Holowaty era starting, Montclair State will find it difficult to improve their standing. Montclair State returns only one All-NJAC performer in SP Michael Macchia (5-3, 1.79 ERA 3 CG).
TCNJ finished the 2014 season at the .500 mark, two games above overall and two games below in the NJAC. Two All-NJAC players return for the 2015 season in 3B Michael Murray (.330, 13 RBI) and OF John Rizzi (.373, 14 RBI, 22 SB, .991 FLD%). Rizzi also was one of nine D-III players to be honored with a Gold Glove award for his stellar outfield play. Ramapo skirted with the .500 mark as well and return the 2014 Co-NJAC Pitcher of the Year, Walker Larson (5-2, 2.22 ERA, 41 SO). The Roadrunner’s best returning hitter is Joe Venturino (.361, 16 RBI, 12 SB).
William Paterson, Rutgers-Newark, Richard Stockton, and New Jersey City finished at the bottom of the standings in 2014. Andy Oliver, Richard Stockton (.280, 8 RBI), Brett Solomen, Richard Stockton (.347, 18 RBI), Eric Giordano, NJCU (.346, 18 RBI) are players to watch in 2015.