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| Misericordia used their brand of baseball to earn the 2024 National Championship trophy. Before Misericordia raised the walnut and Bronze trophy, it had been 17 years since a Region 4 team did the same. d3photography.com photo by Doug Sasse |
New Faces
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| Lehman alumnus Christopher Delgardo had the interim tag lifted last spring. Lehman athletics photo |
Clemente Sosa, John Jay - With the departure of Matt LaBranche this summer, Sosa took over the head spot in an acting capacity. Sosa brings over 25 years of baseball experience to the Bloodhound coaching staff. He played his collegiate baseball at Division I member, Iona College, in New Rochelle, NY, and for his native country of the Dominican Republic. After a long career in law enforcement, he moved to Texas, where he found Sports Management Worldwide while also serving as the former head baseball coach at Fort Worth Christian School in North Richland Hills, Texas. Coach Sosa takes pride in the development and growth of baseball players on and off the field. Coach Sosa believes that character, integrity, and accountability are very important in a person's development when they enjoy playing America's pastime.
Christopher Delgado, Lehman - Delgado was tabbed as the next head coach for the Lightning. Delgado, a Lehman alumnus, stated "I'm extremely excited about this opportunity. My goal is to help build a winning team and establish a program that values morals, discipline, and hard work." This past spring Delgado served as the interim head coach. Delgado is an accomplished sports professional with a strong background in coaching and athletics administration. Previously, he held leadership roles as the Head Baseball Coach at Warrior Baseball Academy and MVP Baseball, where he demonstrated a commitment to player development and team success. He has a proven track record in enhancing player skills, fostering mental toughness, and achieving outstanding athlete retention rates. While earning his degree from Lehman he was a member of the Lightning baseball team from 2018 -2021.
Joe Godri, TCNJ - Godri was tabbed as the school's interim head coach. Godri most recently served as the head coach at Villanova University from 2002-2016 and becomes just the third Lions coach in the last 43 years. He succeeds Dean Glus, who retired this fall. TCNJ will open a national search for a permanent head baseball coach at the conclusion of the 2025 season. Godri amassed 360 wins in 15 seasons at the helm of the Wildcats, guiding Villanova to two 30-win seasons and two appearances in the BIG EAST Championship during his tenure. His 360 career victories are the second-most in the history of the program. Following 26 consecutive years as a Division I coach, Godri briefly stepped away to serve as the Director of Athletics at Penn State Schuylkill from 2017-2021, but will make his return to the diamond to join a TCNJ program that is just two seasons removed from winning its eighth NJAC title since 2000.
Conference previews
City University of New York Athletic Conference: John Jay (20-21) and CCNY (14-21) battled for the CUNYAC crown in 2024 with John Jay getting the better of CCNY. This is usually the only championship the CUNY teams play for as the association with the North Atlantic Conference was a one year wonder and historically, the CUNY schools has not been able to compete with the likes of the UAA and Coast 2 Coast for the Pool B bids. In John Jay's championship run, Santo Anzalone (.339, 5 HR, 334 RBI) earned MVP honors and is back for a run at back-to-back titles. Keep your eye on last year's CUNYAC Rookie of the Year: Jaxen Gangwish (.369, 20 RBI, 10 SB). There is a reason that CCNY had the top record in the CUNYAC. They had seven players added to the All-CCNY and all should be wearing a Beaver Jersey again. Rick Cirigliano (.281, 3 HR, 30 RBI) was CCNY's best hitter and Erik Rank (6-3, 6.35 ERA, 36K), best pitcher. Baruch (8-17) is the only team in the CUNYAC to make a playoff appearance, making the trip in 2019. Despite a third place finish, Baruch should return the reigning Player and Pitcher of the Year: Joseph Cocozza (.436, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 13 SB) and Jeremy Ramirez (4-4, 4.21 ERA, 61K). Lehman (0-27) never got that win in 2024 but that did not stop Eli Fermin (.422, 5 HR, 22 RBI) who should be back in the fold for his senior year.
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| It would not surprise anyone in the Mac Freedom if Arcadia's Anthony Bruno erns Player of the Year honors in 2025. d3photography.com photo by Mike Atherton |
Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom: Misericordia (44-11) will be entering the 2025 season as the defending champions but repeating is a tough task, especially when so much of the key components from the 2024 team will not be back. Expect the Cougars to play their style of baseball but while the squad will be talented, it will also be very young team. Head coach Pete Egbert will need to rely on many inexperienced players, especially on the mound. Good news is that they have an experienced backstop in Brock Bollinger (.356, 4 HR, 52 RBI, 22 SB) who should be like an onfield coach. Bollinger is also one of the better offensive catchers and when he is at the plate, he will provide run production as well.
Arcadia (33-14) finished second to Misericordia, losing the best of three conference finale by single runs in two contests. Like Misericordia, Arcadia will be filled with new faces in 2025. The level of play should still be high but there will be question marks with so many newcomers that can only be answered as the season progresses. Graduate student Anthony Bruno (.352, 13 HR, 81 RBI) put up big numbers in 2024 and should be on everyone's short list for D3 Player of the Year. Another graduate student, Will Conroy (5-0, 2.52 ERA, 46K) will front the rotation with a grad transfer from Gwynedd Mercy, Mitchell Bramsway (3-3, 9 saves, 4.50 ERA, 93K) be counted on in the back end.
This might be the year for Stevens (24-16). With the perennial favorites rebuilding, pitching and offensive depth will be strengths of the team. This years group also has significant veteran leadership which gives us options for a breakout season for our program. on the mound, Erik Sibbach (9-3, 1.97 ERA, 65K), a returning All-American and MACF Pitcher of the Year, will be the go-to pitcher for the staff. Justin Doyle, a pitcher who started out at Stevens and spent some time at D1 Northwestern, is back. Jordan Fisse is also back, returning to Stevens after one year at Boston College where we was a top relief pitcher. He will be another top arm for the Ducks. For run production, much will fall on Eli Somers (.413, 4 HR, 25 RBI).
Lebanon Valley (18-19) and DeSales (18-23) were neck and neck in the standings with DeSales holding the tie breaker. DeSales will be one of the teams this season that will feature a long-time coach heading into retirement as head coach Tim Neiman has already announced his intentions. JT Anderosky (.404 avg, 18 2B, 33 RBI, 21 SB) is the Bulldogs best hitter but the eyes of the conference are on LVC. Lebanon Valley moved to the MACF in last year after winning the the MACC in 2022 and 2023, but were depleted with injuries in 2024. The Dutchmen return a healthy team, and several transfers that can make a huge impact. One of these transfer players is OF Spencer Butz with All American potential. He should fit well with seniors Logan Brewer (.314, 8 HR, 31 RBI) and Jace Fetterman (.357, 6 HR, 27 RBI). Owen Berry (.300, 2 HR, 7 RBI; 0-2, 7.59 ERA, 12K) will be counted on as to make plays at shortstop and on the mound. LVC is set to be a conference contender for 2025.
FDU-Florham (14-26), King's (11-24), and Delaware Valley (13-24) will have work to move up the standings. Look for an King's offense led by senior Zach Day (.368, 4 HR, 24 RBI). The pitching rotation will need some tinkering with junior SP Matt Masala (3-8, 6.33 ERA, 30K) leading the rotation.
New Jersey Athletic Conference: Ramapo (29-16) won the 2024 NJAC tournament and are favored to stay at the top of the standings. With the NCAA tournament experience, just about every key piece, and reinforcements in the recruiting class, a successful season is in the cards. Shortstop Zack Bailey (.384, 6 HR, 40 RBI, 13 SB) was a huge difference maker last year coming over from Hofstra. He will be counted on more than a bat as he is a leader on the field. Bailey is just one of six starters that are either seniors or graduate students and often the makeup of championship teams are senior laden like the Roadrunner offense. The same can be seen in the rotation where upper classmen will get the ball every day. Senior Jack Martin (7-2, 3.44 ERA, 60K) has the best stats but you do not lose much as you move through the rotation. Since the NJAC has four conference games over three days each week, you need a good and deep staff and this is exactly what Ramapo will have in 2025.
Along with Ramapo, Rowan (29-15) was a NCAA playoff team, earning an at-large bid following a loss in the NJAC championship game. The Profs will feature a squad with plenty of depth but how they come together will tell how far Rowan will do this year. High praise is coming in for first baseman Tyler Cannon (.387, 8 HR,. 42 RBI, 15 SB) from Rowan's conference opponents but he might not be the player with the highest potential. Phil Sedalis (.340, 9 HR, 40 RBI, 11 SB) is a two-time All-Region outfielder and the best athlete in the program. As for the pitchers, it is another fifth-year player that is drawing raves in Mike Shannon (8-3, 3.19 ERA, 69K).
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| Reece Miller was a big part of Stockton's first ever regular season crown in the NJAC in 2024. Stockton athletics photo |
Stockton (22-18) head coach Rich Gawlak steered an Osprey team that was ranked seventh in the NJAC preseason coaches poll to the top of the standings with a 12-6 conference record. Offensively, Stockton led the league in hit by pitch (91) and finished second in triples (14) while the pitchers were second in saves (12). These stats will be challenged as all the key players from 2024 should be back intact in 2025. In the bullpen will be Reece Miller (2-0, 8 saves, 2.91 ERA, 26K) who was honored with NJAC Fireman of the Year and All-Region honors. On the offensive side, Max Kaplan (.308, 4 HR, 25 RBI), Robbie Ford (.280, 1 HR, 22 RBI, 10 SB), and Tony Gatti (.358, 24 RBI, 25 SB) all should be swinging a bat in 2025.The Ospreys should be ready for the best the opposition can bring because they will not be undervalued in preseason polls this season.
Kean (27-15) tied with Stockton for the best record in the NJAC but without a conference bid, the selection committee left them out of the NCAA Playoffs. The Cougars have seven position players and three key pitchers back in 2025 and should stay at the top of the standings again in 2025. Tops with the bat is Junior Tyler Stone (.396, 4 HR, 36 RBI, 17 SB) who has all the tools to be the best player in the NJAC this season. Rob Salvatore (6-1, 2.56 ERA, 37K) and Jason Gilman (4-4, 4.75 ERA, 70K) will form a potent 1-2 at the top of the rotation with Noah Rivera (4-1, 4.31 ERA, 18K) in the bullpen.
Rutgers-Camden (26-15) and TCNJ (23-17) also made the NJAC tournament with different results. Rutgers-Camden made an early exit but TCNJ was one win from the NJAC championship game. TCNJ will be under new management with a potential new head coach in 2026. If Joe Godri wants to take away the interim tag, he will have to make a positive showing this season. Montclair State (26-13), New Jersey City (14-23), William Paterson (11-27), and Rutgers-Newark (19-19) each had a season to forget. Out of this quartet, Montclair State had the best season, with a 18-3 non-conference record. Head coach Dave Lorber has a lot of returning pitchers with good potential and bolstered the pitching staff with a recruiting class that is heavy with transfer players. Jack Haveson (7-1, 1.24 ERA, 56K) is enrolled as a graduate student and is a big reason that the pitching staff is a strength of the program. The offense will be mostly new, and will need to develop if the Red Hawks want to escape the cellar.
United East Conference: Last year the UEC played in divisions as they merged with the CSAC with schedules already set. This year, divisions are gone and as scheduling allows games between teams in different conferences in 2023. Penn State-Harrisburg (35-11) took the top spot in the Volt Division with a perfect conference mark and earned an at-large pass into the NCAA playoffs after they lost the UEC Championship game. Hitters Carlos Irizarry (.350, 7 HR, 55 RBI) and Brendan Henn (,364, 6 HR, 34 RBI, 16 SB) are expected to lead Harrisburg to another successful season. On the mound, the Lions will have plenty of depth and experience headed by senior Danny Eden (7-2, 2.91 ERA, 65K). Relief specialist All-American Josh Berzonski will be taking his skills to D1 Virginia Tech but plenty of talent remains in the bullpen.
Keystone (34-13) was the Skye champions last year and needed the conference bid to make the playoffs. They swept Penn State-Harrisburg to do just that, putting two UEC teams into the NCAA's. Playing in a conference with significant competition has helped Keystone to be a more complete team and this should help the Giants get to the playoffs for the 16th time in as many years. The 2025 Keystone squad will have a versatile offense that will be able to put up runs, swipe bags, and hit for some power. Senior CF Darren Hagan (.392, 6 HR, 42 RBI, 24 SB) will not only be a tough out at the plate but play All-American level defense. Expect an improvement on the mound with the addition of graduate transfer lefty Brandon Girod rightly sophomore Leam Powell. As well as providing quality innings, they will make a senior laden pitching staff better.
Contending for the conference crown will be Cairn (26-17). The Highlanders will return most of its significant offensive players while adding immediate impact players in their latest recruiting class. Senior 1B Tyler Warr (.429, 5 HR, 49 RBI) is looking to continue his impact on the program after becoming the first Conference Player of the Year in program history. Another hitter to keep your eye on is junior C Zach Bauers (.317, 2 HR, 39 RBI). On the pitching staff all but one arm with significant innings are back. Heading the rotation will be Mikey Gutierrez (7-4, 2.53 ERA, 57K) and when the game is on the line, Greg Jessup (6-0, 2 saves, 1.77 ERA, 35K) will be ready.
A key component of Lancaster Bible (21-17-1) is a team that has meshed well and is hungry to bring home LBC's first ever conference championship. With nine returning starters and a dozen new recruits, there's reason to believe. Junior OF/P Dylan Witkowski (.378 4 HR, 34 RBI, 13 SB; 5-4, 1 save, 9.06 ERA, 47K) is a captain and leader of this team. He's the kind of guy the Chargers wants to have a bat or the ball in big moments. The Achilles heel might be the current infielders. Gone are three of the four infielders who have started for years and how quickly their replacements step up will dictate how the team performs.
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| Harry Middlebrooks was one of Wilson's freshmen All-Stars. Wilson athletics photo |
Wilson (20-17) is a recognized name in baseball but it is more for sporting goods than the Fire. The Blue and White hope to change this. Wilson had a down year in 2024 after posting back-to-back 30 win seasons. Good news is that two of Wilson's first team All-Conference selections are back after quality rookie years with a bat - Kodi Deskins (.387, 1 HR, 15 RBI) and Harry Middlebrooks (.407, 1 HR, 32 RBI, 23 SB). Add senior Jordan Daphney (.428, 35 RBI, 12 SB) and you have a nucleus to get back to a 30 win season. Heading the pitching staff is two-time All-Conference selection Emilio Rodriguez (2-3, 3.82 ERA, 53K). He pitched in a variety of roles with as many starts as appearances out of the bull pen,
Penn State-Abington (13-26), Rosemont (11-28), and St. Mary's (Md.) (12-20) round out the rest of the conference teams that made the eight-team UEC tournament. The 2025 season will be 4th for Rosemont College and the program has 22 seniors. Look for the Ravens to build on earning a playoff spot in 2024 by doing so again and advancing in the new format of the United East Playoffs. Rosemont was handicapped in 2024 by the loss of shortstop Luke Franklin to a season ending injury but he is back as one of a senior laden team.
Penn College (17-21), Valley Forge (14-24), St. Elizabeth (8-29), and Penn State-Berks (7-25-1) missed the eight team UEC tournament. Valley Forge will be a dark horse candidate to make the tournament as they have reached double digit wins for the second time since joining DIII. With increased pitching depth, they plan on playing the underdog role, hoping to surprise a couple teams as they continue to improve.
There are changes in the conference lineup. Clarks Summit (5-34) closed last summer and Notre Dame (Maryland) and Penn State-Brandywine were added. Notre Dame is a new program and will start as many as nine freshman. While young, the coaching staff looks for their team to bring energy and enthusiasm every game. There will certainly be growing pains but it will only set the Gators up for future success. It is the first year for Penn State Brandywine in DIII as they move from the USCAA. The Lions will have the depth and talent offensively to compete. Look for junior IF Ryan Snyder (.385, 27 RBI, 21 SB) to continue to make strides from a successful 2023 and 2024. He will leadoff and could be called on to pitch an inning late in a game if needed as well. There is a question mark about the pitching depth. Like any new team, the expectations around the region and conference are low and they are hoping to surprise some people.
University Athletics Association: New York University (25-13) will have the most mature team in some time as they are bringing back seven starters from last years lineup who can all set program highs by the end of the 2025 season. An experienced lineup provides for team leadership and culture and if they are star players, better. The Violets' coaching staff though that 3B Cam Dunn (.394, 8 HR, 40 RBI, 11 SB) was the best player in the UAA last year. With his NYU degree in hand, he could have jumped to a D1 program but is taking advantage of a NYU graduate program as he finishes up his eligibility. Righty Mason Morello (4-1, 3.68 ERA, 32K) is the top starting pitcher back for the Violets. When he is on the mound and gets in trouble, relief specialist Aidan Dolinsky (2-0, 4 saves, 1.04 ERA, 20K) will be cooling his heels, waiting for his opportunity.