The DII Report: Conference Carolinas baseball fall report
Take a look at what to watch in the home of the defending DII baseball national champions.
The DII baseball season is slowly creeping towards us. There are many DII baseball fall World Series going on, times when schools split their squads in two and go at each other to set the tone for what’s to come this spring.
One such team was the defending national champion North Greenville Crusaders. Head coach Landon Powell finally got the team over the hump and to Cary, NC, where the Crusaders just blew through the competition en route to the title.
That makes Conference Carolinas the best place to start our 2022 fall reports. The Southeast Region has quietly become one of the premier divisions of DII baseball. While Tampa and the South get a lot of eyes on them, the Southeast Region has the last two national champions (NGU and Wingate) and sent Columbus State to the finals in 2018. If you make it through the Super Regional and to Cary… you are a title contender.
Conference Carolinas 2022 final standings
If you’re a long-time follower, you know these are quick hits, highlighting some players to get on your radar as the season approaches. If you are new, welcome to the DII Report: DII baseball fall reports.
The DII fall report: Conference Carolinas
North Greenville
Head coach: Landon Powell
Returning players to watch: John Michael Faile, C. Faile is my player of the year candidate. The three-time All American was the triple crown winner in the Conference last year. Over the course of the last four years including the COVID-19-shortened season, he has a career average of .415 with 253 RBI and 61 home runs. His receiving and blocking have improved every year. His throwing is accurate and timely, and he calls his own game behind the plate.
Also watch Marek Chlup, OF, the reigning Conference Carolinas player of the year and All American. Fun fact, Chlup spent the fall interning at an athletic facility in his native Czech Republic and also competed for his country in the World Baseball Classic. The guy is simply a winner: He won the national championship for the Crusaders, won a championship in the MLB Draft League for the West Virginia Black and then beat Spain in the WBC qualifiers to earn a spot in the WBC March.
Pitcher to watch: Reece Fields, RHP. The Conference Carolinas pitcher of the year last year and MVP of the DII baseball championship. Has an array of pitches that keep hitters off balance and a cutter coaches call “elite at our level.” Able to throw his fastball multiple ways, Fields has a slew of pitchers: four-seamers (89-91), two-seamer (90-91), cutter (83-87), slider (78-81), spike curve (74-77), and developing change (80-82).
Also watch: Noah Takac, RHP. Lead the nation in multiple categories last season including the following ERA and WHIP. Has a five-pitch (fastball, sinker, cutter, slider, curve, change) arsenal that can hit the upper-80s and dip to the low 70s. Nate Roof (RHP) gets a lot of swing-and-miss with a 94-mph fastball and a slider out of the bullpen.
Newcomer to watch: Jalen Vasquez, SS. The sophomore transfer from South Carolina had a big fall posting a 1.128 OPS. Could bat leadoff with some pop. He can play all over the infield as well.
Under-the-radar player to watch: Pat Monteith, “Super Utility”. There are utility players and then there is Monteith. After two years at the hot corner, he will play some centerfield this year. Both Powell and Trey Dyson said they believe he has the tools to be drafted, and can play any position.
Mike “The Nightmare” Rodriguez, LHP. How do you not love that nickname — what else do you need to know? He’s huge, listed ay 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds with a “nasty” ¾ arm slot. He’ll play in the Cape Cod Baseball League this summer with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. Coaches report this fall, “his FB has been 91-92, curveball 82-85, change 84-87 and cutter 86-88. He is a “nightmare” against lefties but strikes out everyone on every side of the plate.
What Coach Powell said: “Exciting times at North Greenville University, after coming off a national championship season a year ago. This year, we have brought in the best recruiting class that we have had since I have been coaching at North Greenville. I’m very pleased with the progress that we have made this fall. With all of the experienced guys returning, and the new guys looking to make a name for themselves, we should once again, have a team that is capable of returning to Cary this year. That is the goal.”
UNC Pembroke
Head coach: Paul O’Neil
Returning players to watch: Christian Jayne, CF, is a two-year starter that bats and throws lefty. He makes good contact and is trouble on the base paths (19 stolen bases in 25 tries). Ethan Ott is the reigning CC freshman of the year after slashing .345/.522/.433 with 10 home runs and seven stolen bases. The infield bats and throws righty.
Pitcher to watch: Trent Harris, RHP: Posted a strong summer pitching in the CPL after rebounding from Tommy John surgery the year before. He’s described as a strike thrower with a four-pitch mix and a low-90s fastball.
Newcomer to watch: Michael Kocen, a middle infielder with a high level of hitting ability.
Under-the-radar player to watch: Moses Brown, RHP with a low to mid-90s fastball.
What Coach O’Neil said: We have a young group, but we have a good core of returners that should offset any growing pains. This team is one of the more talented groups that we have had here, and we have the potential to do big things providing we can jell quickly.
Belmont Abbey
Head coach: Chris Anderson
Returning player to watch: Ben Ferguson, 1B. The All-Southwest first baseman had a monster 2022, slashing .352/.682/.523 with 14 home runs, 16 doubles, 54 RBI and 52 walks.
Pitcher to watch: Alex Sniffen, RHP is projected as the No. 1 starter for 2023.
Newcomer to watch: Gianni Smith. The right-handed pitcher played at Dyersburg State Community College last year after beginning his career at North Carolina A&T.
Under-the-radar player to watch: Connor Tucker, 3B. Tucker looks to build off an impressive freshman campaign in 2022 (.263 average, .742 OPS, five home runs).
Mount Olive
Head coach: Rob Watt
Returning players to watch: Jack Casbarro, 2B, Alden Cottle, 3B, Vito Patierno, LF – A 2022
Casbarro (an ABCA/Rawlings Second-Team All-American) slashed .345/.610/.427 r as the leadoff hitter while tallying a team-leading 77 hits with 15 home runs, 60 RBI, and 10 doubles while recording 33 stolen bases. Cottle earned Second-Team All-Region status from the ABCA and NCBWA after batting .344 with 61 RBIs and 47 runs scored. Patierno, another ABCA All- Region selection creates havoc as displayed by his 19 doubles and four triples.
Pitchers to watch: Caleb Irwin RHP, and Hunter Stevens, RHP. Stephens, the 2021 NCBWA and D2CCA Southeast Region pitcher of the year, missed nearly all of last year and is back with one of the best three-pitch arsenals (fastball, curveball, changeup) in the region, with pinpoint command and a swing-and-miss fastball tracking in the mid-90s. Irwin can strike people out (75 strikeouts) and reports are that his fastball sits 90-93 with great depth on his breaking ball in camp.
Newcomer to watch: Mike Kenney, C, and JT Stone, 1B. Kenney is a transfer from Scottsdale Community College. He is viewed as “a jack-of-all-trades and has great control of the bat.” Stone returns to UMO after two years of service in the armed forces. As Coach Watt said, “he rakes.”
Under-the-radar player to watch: Dylan Jefferies, CF. Jefferies was described as an elite centerfielder and true threat on the base path in the Conference Carolinas. Following an outstanding fall camp, Watt expects to see an explosive bat and consistent offensive production from Jefferies.
What Coach Watt said: “We got a group of experienced players with high expectations set by our program. It is a roster with depth offensively, defensively, and on the mound. After this fall, I’m excited to see what these guys are capable of this upcoming year.”
Erskine
Head coach: Mark Crocco
Returning player to watch: Armando Becerra, OF and Christian Rivera, C
Pitcher to watch: Johnny Hummel, RHP. The closer sits 90-93 with a “++ cutter.”
Newcomer to watch: Jared Guell, LHP. The freshman from Elite Squad Academy has given up zero runs this fall. He is a true pitch-ability guy that may even may start on Friday Night.
Under-the-radar player to watch: Juan Jaime, SS. The community college product has what Coach Crocco calls pro ability, with a skill set that has a “scary high ceiling.” Crocco says that’s from plus-arm and plus-bat speed. I’m excited, how about you?"
What Coach Crocco said: “Our depth is now the strength of our team. Many new JC additions and a veteran position player group. We are excited to continue to compete with some of the best teams in the country.”