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| Salisbury was moved into Region 5 this year and is not only the top team in the region but is the number one team in all preseason polls. d3photography photo by David Malamut |
By Mark Fraenkel
for D3baseball.com
No. 20 Catholic dominated the headlines for Region 5 in the 2022 season with their surprise appearance in the D-III World Series. This was not the first time a Region 5 team was a surprise entrant to the D-III World Series as Johns Hopkins appearance in the opening DIII World Series in Cedar Rapids was unexpected as well. While Catholic remains a top team in the region, they are not the favorite to advance out to the last D-III World Series being held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The top favorite is a newcomer to the region - No. 1 Salisbury. With one national title and a runner-up finish over the two years, the Sea Gulls still have the core team that made the trip to Iowa in the last two years. They are expected to match St. Thomas (Minn.) who had a first or second place finish in three consecutive years at the turn of the century.
Past Salisbury and Catholic are Franklin and Marshall, Johns Hopkins and Swarthmore from the Centennial. The Blue Jays are always a top choice and Swarthmore will challenge them as they showed no rust in 2022, emerging from their Covid break. The Diplomats will have a strong team that missed their chance for a playoff spot when the CC tournament was rained out. Alvernia has lost their spot as the top team in the MAC Commonwealth with Lebanon Valley as the preseason favorite. Immaculata emerged as a contender in 2022 and look for them to dominate their conference as Keystone will do in the CSAC if they can get past a rising Wilson team.
New Faces
Justin Perry, Albright: Perry joins the Albright staff following seven seasons as associate coach at Gettysburg. While at Gettysburg, he helped lead the team to back to back Centennial Conference playoffs, coached three academic all-americans, two all-region players, fourteen all-conference players, two scholar-athlete of the year and one NCAA post graduate scholarship recipient. Prior to Gettysburg, Perry was at Trinity (Conn.), Westfield State and Anna Maria College as an assistant coach at each stop. Perry has been a pitching coach throughout his career. "After being on campus and seeing everything Albright has to offer both academically and athletically I knew it was a place I wanted to be," said Perry.
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| Moravian head coach Doug Coe has ties to both Pat Bloom (now at Wash U) and Joe Brown (Cortland). Moravian athletics photo |
Andrew Romanella,Centenary: Romanella is the new head coach at Centenary. Romanella comes to Hackettstown, New Jersey after stops at Division I Fairleigh Dickinson University, FDU Florham, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Mount St. Vincent. The St. Thomas Aquinas alumnus served as the head coach at Raritan Valley Community College for two years. “I am extremely humbled and excited for the opportunity to lead the Centenary Baseball Program moving forward,” the new head coach said in the press release. "I want to thank Director of Athletics, Travis Spencer, and the entire search committee for believing in my vision for this program. I am ready to hit the ground running and begin building Cyclones baseball into a consistent contender in the Atlantic East Conference.”
Cory Beddick, Gettysburg: Gettysburg has tapped alumnus Beddick to be their next head coach. Beddick returns to Gettysburg after spending the last five seasons as the head coach at fellow Centennial Conference school Washington College. Between 2013 and 2017, Beddick began the baseball program at Hood. He also has assistant coach experience at Penn State-Behrend. "I could not be more excited to be rejoining the Gettysburg College family," Beddick said in his introduction press release. "I am grateful to Mike Mattia and the search committee for the opportunity. It is truly an honor to be following in the footsteps of Coach John Campo. My experiences as a student-athlete and assistant coach at Gettysburg helped shape the person I am today, and I am looking forward to providing that opportunity for the next generation of Bullet baseball players," he added.
Douglas Coe, Moravian: Former WIAC Position Player of the Year Coe is the new head coach at Moravian. Coe comes to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania after serving as the assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator at Cortland. Prior to his time in Central New York, he was an assistant at his alma mater the UW-Stevens Point for three years. Coe has also coached as an assistant at Lawrence. For two seasons, he was the head coach at Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay, Wisconsin. "What excites me about the Moravian baseball program is the opportunity to lead the young men that are currently here and have the chance to meet our large and passionate baseball alumni that dates back to 1935," Coe said in the June press release. "Another aspect that is exciting for me is coming into the Moravian community that supports their student-athletes in a way that is second to none,” he added.
Tom Fiala, Washington College: With Cory Beddick leaving for Gettysburg, Washington College tapped Fiala as their next head coach. Fiala graduated from Washington College in 2014 and returned as the pitching coach in 2018. He was promoted to assistant coach in 2020. Fiala has also coached at CCBC-Catonsville and New Hope-Solebury High School. "It is truly an honor and a dream come true to be able to stay in Chestertown where my home has been for nearly 10 years as a coach and student-athlete," Coach Fiala said. "I want to thank Thad Moore as well as the entire search committee for the opportunity. I also want to thank former coach Cory Beddick for everything that he has done for this program and for me. Washington College is truly a special place for my family and when given the chance to stay here it was the easiest decision of my life.
Key Games
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| Immaculata will open their season with two games against No. 1 Salisbury. Immacualta athletics photo |
Immaculata at Salisbury, February 25th: On February 25th, Immaculata will open their season on the road against the 2022 national runner-up Salisbury. The doubleheader is a great challenge for Immaculata head coach Josh Copskey’s team. Getting at least one win against the number one team will be a bullet point in their season's resume.
Lebanon Valley at Shenandoah, February 25th: On the same day as the Immaculata-Salisbury matchup, Lebanon Valley will travel to Winchester, Virginia for a doubleheader against Kevin Anderson's Shenandoah team. Both teams as picked to lead their respective conferences at the end of the year.
York (Pa.) at Lynchburg, March 4th-5th: York will travel to Lynchburg for three games on March 4th and 5th. If the Spartans fall short of a conference title, they will want at least one win to add to their regionally ranked record.
Lebanon Valley at Immaculata, March 21st: Immaculata’s challenging schedule continues on March 21st when they host Lebanon Valley. For the Mighty Macs, the Tuesday game is sandwiched between the conference weekend series against Eastern and Hood. Last year, having the toughest schedule did not guarentee you a playoff spot - ask Case Western. You have to win and win a lot.
Scranton at Ithaca, March 22nd: On March 22nd, Scranton will travel to Freeman Field. Ithaca poses a tough challenge for coach Mike Bartoletti’s Scranton team. A win here for Scranton might upgrade a good season to a great season.
Johns Hopkins at Catholic, March 29th: Johns Hopkins will travel to the nation’s capital to face Catholic on March 29th. This not only pits two of the best team in the region but the coaches have 82 combined years of head coaching experience.
Franklin & Marshall at Swarthmore, April 1st: The Diplomats of Franklin & Marshall will travel to Clothier Baseball Field for a doubleheader on April 1st. Matt Midkiff's Swarthmore team played in the NCAA tournament last season and the F&M team will remember how they got there with the fiasco of the cancelled 2022 CC tournament.
Keystone vs. Wilson, April 21st-22nd: On April 21st and 22nd, Keystone and Wilson will match up in a big CSAC series. Game one will take place on Wilson's campus on Friday in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. The following day, Keystone will host a doubleheader at Christy Mathewson Field in La Plume, Pennsylvania. Last year Wilson matched Keystone's conference record as both finished at the top of the CSAC standings and are the top competition for Keystone's string of 14 straight appearances in the NCAA playoffs.
Conference Previews
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| The Cabrini Diamond Cavs tied the program record for wins in 2022 with 31. Cabrini athletics photo |
Atlantic East: The Mighty Macs of Immaculata (29-14) won the Atlantic East in 2022. Going 14-4 in the Atlantic East, Josh Copskey’s team hosted a regional. The Mighty Macs were a top seed in their playoff regional and return a lot of guys who will only be better with a year under their belts. Catcher Josh Crowding will be in the lineup in 2023. The Mickleton, New Jersey native hit .365 and knocked in 41 runs in 2022. Throwing to Crowder will be their ace in Jason Hughes (7-1, 1.78 ERA, 70 K).
Nick Weisheipl expects his Cabrini (31-11) squad to be a defensive-focused unit in the 2023 campaign. The Cavaliers went 13-5 in conference play in 2022 and beat Gwynedd Mercy in the Atlantic East Conference tournament. Zack Brook (.309, 11 HR, 47 RBI), Dustin Sutton (.297, 1 HR, 29 RBI) and Garrett Laraia (.287, 2 HR, 20 RBI) are a solid offensive core back this season. With key newcomers in the infield and on the mound, Cabrini will be a top team in watch in the Atlantic East.
Gwynedd Mercy (17-22) last won the conference in 2019. The Griffins went 10-8 in Atlantic East play last season but were blown out by Cabrini and Marymount in the conference tournament. Mike Cassidy has Marymount (29-15) rolling. After winning the conference in 2021, the Saints were 9-9 in the conference last year setting the program record for most wins in a season. A stellar group headed by Alex Lemery and Ryan Lee have all moved on from the program but with a great group of returning players coming back to the Arlington, Virginia campus. Marymount is a strong contender in the Atlantic East.
FAVORITE: Immaculata
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| Swarthmore advanced to the 2022 Regional when the Centennial Conference tournament was unable to be completed. Swarthmore athletics photo |
Centennial Conference: Swarthmore (23-19) won the Centennial Conference in 2022 and the conference bid when the tournament was rained out. Swarthmore will be younger than the team that went 14-4 in the conference last season but with experience in key positions. Outfielder Austin Burgess will be one of the top players in the conference this season. The Hughesville, Maryland native is committed to UMass for next season and hit .351 with eight home runs in 41 games last year. Senior Matteo Sollecito (4-1, 4.01 ERA, 27 K) will get a change to be the ace of the staff.
The Diplomats of Franklin & Marshall (25-14) last won the Centennial in 2013. Going 14-4 in the CC in 2022 and having a record-breaking offensive season, Ryan Horning’s team looks to continue their success into the new season. Right-handed pitcher Kyle Roche will be essential to the team’s success in the new season. The 6 foot 8 inch senior from Sandy Hook, Connecticut throws 89-92 miles per hour with a slider and splitter. He was an All-American in 2021. After hitting .366 last season, outfielder Bobby Falese has a shot to win conference player of the year.
Johns Hopkins (20-18) is always a top team to watch in the mid-Atlantic but Bob Babb’s team had a relatively down year in 2022. The 2021 champions went 10-8 last season in the CC. With Matthew Cooper returning to the lineup in Baltimore, Johns Hopkins has a chance to return to their dominance in the conference.
Like Swarthmore, Washington College (25-16) will also have a younger roster in the 2023 season. The Shoremen went 10-18 in conference play in 2022 before falling to Franklin & Marshall in the conference tournament before the rains came. Erik Risnychok (.315, 18 RBI), Noah Iseman (.324, 2 HR, 22 RBI) and Anthony Sofran (4-2, 5.40 ERA, 35 K) will all return to campus in the hopes of taking Washington College to the next level. Dickinson (22-15) went 10-8 in the conference last year. The Red Devils will open the season with a tough challenge when they face Catholic.
The health and depth of the Haverford (18-19) pitching staff will be the key for the Fords to compete in the new campaign. Dave Beccaria will enter his 23rd season at the helm after going 9-9 in conference play in 2022. Second baseman Harry Genth will be at the top of the scouting report for all opponents this year. Playing 31 games last season, the Baltimore, Maryland native hit .314. With a new head coach, Gettysburg (18-20) will try to begin a new era of baseball in the 2023 season. Cory Beddick inherits a team that went 9-9 in the CC last year. The Bullets will play Norwich, Penn State Behrend, Wheaton (Ill.), Elizabethtown, Northwestern (Minn.), and Thiel during their spring break trip to Florida.
FAVORITE: Franklin and Marshall
Colonial States Athletic Conference: After winning the CSAC tournament last year, Keystone (26-10) will open up the new season on the road in South Carolina and Florida. As a part of the Ripken Experience and the RussMatt Invitational, the Giants will play 10 games against 14 programs. The last game on the southern trip will be against Johns Hopkins. In the NCAA regionals, the Giants beat Immaculata twice but fell at the hands of Ithaca College. Jamie Shevchik’s team went 10-2 over the course of the 2022 season within the conference. They’ll look to run it back as champions in the new year.
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| Keystone is one of three teams to make the NCAA playoffs in every season in the past 15 years. Keystone athletics photo by Spencer Honda |
Wilson (31-11) went 10-2 in conference play in 2022. In 2022, John Poss’s team hit .352 as a team, ranking 4th in the nation in 2022. With eight returning starters, they will have tough outs 1-9 in the lineup Watch out for catcher Michael Marrale in 2023. Last season, he .429 in 30 games played and is going to get looks by the mlb scouts. The talent and experience continues on the mound with Chris Baumann (9-3, 2.52 ERA, 101 K) and Jake Whittington (3-0, 3.16 ERA, 28 K) fronting the rotation.
Cairn ( 25-16) is another team to watch in the CSAC. The Highlanders will open the 2023 season in Radnor, Pennsylvania playing against Cabrini. First baseman Sam Spadea will be a force to reckon with in the lineup. The Yardley, Pennsylvania native hit .385 with 47 RBIs in 37 games in 2022.
FAVORITE: Wilson
Landmark: After beating Shenandoah in the Winchester regional, and then beating Ithaca twice in the super regionals, Catholic (34-16) was the first team from the Landmark Conference to advance to Cedar Rapids. They’ll look to return in the new season with many of the core components that helped them one season ago. Pitchers Tucker Alch (10-3, 3.31 ERA, 117 K) and Danny Fitzgerald (6-3, 4.31 ERA, 54 K) will both return to the rubber in 2023. Outfielder Ben Nardi (.346, 8 HR, 40 RBI) will also be back in Washington D.C. On record watch are Ross Natoli who is three wins shy of 750 and Nardi needing just four home runs to set the program record.
The Blue Jays of Elizabethtown (22-22) won the Landmark tournament last season, beating Catholic and then Susquehanna twice, earning the conference bid to the NCAA tournament. While unlikely to capture the Landmark regular season crown, they will have to put their playoff hopes in the end of the season tournament. They'll begin the 2023 season in Salem, Virginia facing Roanoke. Falling to Catholic in the Landmark Conference Tournament, Scranton (28-12-1) went 14-4 within the conference in 2022. The 2021 Landmark champions will look to build off their 2022 campaign when they begin their season facing Swarthmore, McDaniel, Lycoming, and Montclair State at the Ripken Experience in Aberdeen, Maryland. Outfielder Corey Zientek and right-handed pitcher Daniel Johnson are two players to look out for in Lackawanna County. In 39 games last season, Zientek hit .430 and, Johnson had an ERA of 2.88 in 56.1 innings pitched. Susquehanna (17-25) last won the Landmark in 2019. Denny Bowers’ team looks to build off a 9-9 conference record when they open up the 2023 season with Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
FAVORITE: Catholic
MAC Commonwealth: Going 13-3 in the conference, Lebanon Valley (30-16) won the 2022 MAC Commonwealth. While Jonas Fester’s team would fall to Washington and Jefferson and Mitchell in the Annville regional, they had one of the highest-scoring offensives in the country last year. The Dutchmen will return eight of the nine starters from that team and are poised to make another deep run in 2023. This includes three All-Region players who will return to the diamond at McGill Field - Shane Stossel (.304, 7 HR, 37 RBI), Jace Fetterman (.384, 8 HR, 30 RBI) and Nico Santoro (.374, 1 HR, 45 RBIO, 10 SB). Stossel (5-0, 1.47 ERA, 44 K), a right-handed pitcher and first baseman, is a contender for conference player of the year.
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| Lebanon Valley was picked as the preseason favorite in the MAC Commonwealth with seven of nine first place votes in a survey of MACC head coaches. Lebanon Valley athletic photo |
York (Pa.) (24-9) went 11-5 in the conference before taking a loss to Lebanon Valley in the conference championship. With another season of development for the younger pitchers on Mike Scappa's pitching staff, the 2021 conference champions should continue to be a contender in the MAC Commonwealth. Keep an eye out for Rob Elzinga (.369, 3 HR, 40 RBI), Andrew Santarpia (.333, 4 HR, 31 RBI) and AJ Vincenzi (6-5, 3.65 ERA, 55 K) throughout the 2023 season. The challenge for the Spartans will be replacing the best infield in school history.
Widener (21-20) last won the MAC Commonwealth in 2017. After going 9-7 in conference play in 2022, Kevin Burdick will begin his third season at the helm in Chester, Pennsylvania with a matchup against Kean. Designated hitter Justin Constanzo (.385, 14 HR, 45 RBI) has a real shot to win conference player of the year. Registering a 9-7 conference record, Messiah (20-20) lost to Widener in the conference tournament. Phill Shallenberger's team will begin the new campaign in Fayetteville, North Carolina with games against Methodist, Virginia Wesleyan, and Alma. Dustin Isanogle (.351, 21 RBI, 17 SB) Sam Zercher, (.311, 5 HR, 34 RBI), Evan Wagaman (.293, 2 HR, 26 RBI, 14 SB) and Josh Ammons (.259, 2 HR, 20 RBI) will all return to the plate for Messiah in the new campaign.
Going 10-6 in the MAC Commonwealth in 2022, Alvernia (18-24-1) was eliminated by York in the conference semifinals. In 2023, Yogi Lutz will look to win the program its first conference championship since 2019. Returning from a concussion, catcher Zach Rogacki will be the backbone of Alvernia’s 2023 team. In 34 games last year, the Jackson, New Jersey native hit .339. Falling to Lebanon Valley in the conference tournament, Stevenson (21-40-1) went 14-11 their 2022 MAC Commonwealth slate. Now, with an older team dependent on strong pitching, the Mustangs will begin the new season with a matchup against Wilson. They will miss the program saves leader, Malcolm Edelin, who graduated in 2022.
FAVORITE: Lebanon Valley
Independent: Salsibury (39-12) returns 95% of a championship-caliber team with only first baseman Sky Rahill departing after the 2022 season. With player of the Year candidate Kavi Caster (.411, 12 HR, 65 RBI, 30 SB) and 2022 D3baseball Pitcher of the Year Jimmy Adkins (7-2, 3 saves, 1.87 ERA, 87 K) back, you can look for the Sea Gulls sweeping the major awards when they are awarded in May. Salisbury has already found a replacement for Rahill with transfer Danny Sheeler (.386, 7 HR, 44 RBI) from Washington College. Also swinging a bat will be Cam Hyder (.389, 2 HR, 36 RBI, 20 SB) who fits in to a team that emphasizes defense and speed on offense. Had Jackson Balzan (8-2, 2.45 ERA, 78 K) not missed the World Series with an injury we could very well be talking about a three-peat from the team from Maryland. This year, anything but another Walnut and Bronze, will be a missed opportunity.