The DII Report: PSAC baseball fall report
Bloomsburg is coming off another PSAC tournament championship, but as always, the conference is very deep. Let's take a look at what's going on this fall.
THE DII REPORT
Welcome back to The DII Report newsletter. Each week, we will delve into the world of NCAA Division II sports, focusing on the teams and student-athletes to watch. Be sure to check out the DII Nation Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Anchor and YouTube for more insight on the world of DII sports.
With the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros heading to Game 3 of the 2021 World Series, it seems like the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is a good place to turn our attention for the next DII baseball fall report. Why, you ask? There is only one former DII baseball student-athlete playing in the World Series, and that is former Millersville Marauder, Chas McCormick.
The PSAC hardly played any sports during the 2020-21 school year due to the pandemic, but baseball was one of the few that looked almost normal. That means we do have some insight on what to expect this spring. Let’s check in with some coaches to get insight on what players we should have our eyes on and continue our look around the DII baseball diamond with the teams of the PSAC.
Previous fall reports: SAC
DII baseball fall report: The PSAC
Per usual, the PSAC had many competitive teams and players in 2021. As one of the larger conferences in DII, the PSAC is split into two divisions. Last season, Millersville won the East Division and Seton Hill won the West. However, it was Bloomsburg which came out of the PSAC Tournament as champions, clinching the automatic berth to the NCAA DII baseball tournament for the second-straight season.
Joining those schools atop the rankings were the usual suspects: West Chester, Mercyhurst and Cal (PA), but there were many intriguing players up and down the board. Pitt-Johnstown’s Dylan Heid garnered national attention with another monster season and was selected in the 11th round of the MLB draft by the Baltimore Orioles. Past players, like McCormick, continue to make a name for themselves. McCormick has stolen some of the national spotlight with a strong performance this MLB postseason and is drawing more attention to the conference. Two years prior, a pair of Mercyhurst pitchers — Matt Minnick and Tyler Garbee — were drafted while playing at the DII baseball championship.
Let’s see what the PSAC has in store for 2022.
Bloomsburg
Head coach: Mike Collins | 2021 record: 24-18
Hitter to watch: Carter Chasanov — CF. Chasanov is a dynamic, athletic player. He has top-of-the-lineup speed and middle-of-the-lineup power. He sprays it all over the field and can steal bases when needed. Plus, he is an RBI machine.
Pitcher to watch: Michael Standen — LHP. As a freshman, Standen was the 2021 PSAC Championship Tournament MVP after a dominant run in the postseason. In back-to-back wins against Millersville and Seton Hill he went 16 innings allowing two earned runs while striking out 21 with no walks. You have to like that his coach calls his most effective weapon “a devastating changeup”. He gets terrific arm-side movement with it and it’s a big-time swing-and miss-pitch. He mixes that along with a lively fastball and sharp breaking ball for an advanced three-pitch mix with command that makes him extremely effective.
Newcomer to watch: Brandon Ernst — 1B/DH. A 2021 NJCAA All-American with a big bat from Lackawanna College (JC). He hit .488 with eight home runs.
What Coach Collins says: “After returning a good portion of our 2021 championship team, I’m excited to get on the diamond this spring. We have some very accomplished fifth-year guys who have had great success in the postseason. I am looking forward to seeing how these players can finish what has been thus far great collegiate careers. The PSAC is a fantastic league and its always an uphill battle to get into the postseason. If we can remain healthy and play our best at the right time, I feel that this team has great potential.”
Millersville
Head coach: Jon Shehan | 2021 record: 30-15
Hitter to watch: Luke Trainer — C/1B. Trainer had a breakout season in 2021 but seemed to slow down as the year progressed due to doing most of the catching duties. This year, he is going to move to first base for part of each weekend, which should allow his legs to stay fresh. Trainer has power to all fields and his bat-to-ball skills are advanced. He is very good at handling a pitching staff as well.
Pitcher to watch: Jeff Taylor — LHP. The PSAC East pitcher of the year is coming back and is Millersville’s ace. Taylor is a prototypical lefty starter. He throws three pitches for strikes, in any count, and his fastball sits in the upper 80s. He is always ahead in the count and competes.
Newcomer to watch: Colby Gromlich — RHP. Gromlich redshirted last season, but there is a lot to like. His fastball sits in the low 90s with three plus off-speed pitches. So far this fall, and during his stint in the Valley League this past summer, he has been a strike machine.
What Coach Shehan says: “The staff is as deep as it’s been over the past five years. Obviously with Jeff coming back, we return a legitimate ace, but we have a few arms that have taken jumps, too. Connor Cook was PSAC East rookie of the year. Harry Prince started the regional final last year and has above-average stuff. Colby Gromlich has been really good thus far, as has Ben Wilchacky. And the bullpen is stacked—both Kris Pirozzi and Christian Wingard are back providing a veteran presence there.
“Offensively we lose [some key pieces] but we added guys like shortstop Thomas Caufield from UNC Charlotte, and return a few really good bats like Trainer, PSAC East player of the year Bren Taylor, Tyler Wright and a healthy Jimmy Losh as well. We have a few jobs that need to be won, but for November 1, I feel like we are in a good place. The league and region will be very good again this year, but I think we have a shot if we stick to the process and stay healthy.”
Seton Hill
Head coach: Marc Marizzaldi | 2021 record: 39-8
Hitter to watch: Jack Oberdorf — 3B. His stats last year don't jump out at you (.281 average, seven home runs and 37 RBIs), but it was a solid season for his first full year of college baseball. His baseball IQ, defensive abilities and leadership are elite. Expect the power numbers to increase this year.
Pitchers to watch: Caiden Wood, RHP, and Nash Bryan, RHP. There is a two-headed monster back in the Griffins’ bullpen with seniors Wood (17 appearances, 6-1 record, 1.07 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 25 innings) and Bryan (17 appearances, 7 saves, 1.13 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 24 innings). Both pitchers are low three-quarter-slot pitchers that sit in the upper 80s with plus sliders.
Newcomer to watch: Braden Durham — C/OF. A transfer from USC Upstate, Durham is a versatile athlete that can run and give the Griffins depth behind the plate and another offensive option in the outfield.
What Coach Marizzaldi says: “We are coming off one of our best seasons in history, but we will look very different this year with 21 new players. We lost 18 seniors to graduation, including PSAC West player of the year Tom Pellis, as well as All-Region outfielder Derek Orndorff and pitcher Ben Vicini. We do return some talent, depth and experience on the mound, but we will be playing a handful of freshmen position players.”
West Chester
Head coach: Mike LaRosa | 2021 record: 20-11
Hitters to watch: Justin Horn, SS, and Mike Ferrara, 1B. Horn has an advanced approach at the plate, with the ability to drive the ball to all fields. He can beat you with a bunt hit just as easy an opposite-field home run. Horn has great plate discipline, ability to execute situationally and gets great reads and jumps on the bases. He can be tops on the team in stolen bases.
Ferrara has plus power with a very low swing-and-miss rate. The big righty had nine home runs and just nine strikeouts in 67 ABs last year. He is great at taking whatever the pitcher gives him.
Pitcher to watch: Braeden Fausnaught — LHP. Fausnaught will most likely be the Friday starter. His fastball sits 87-89 and tops out at 90. He has three other pitches with a plus-changeup, a good feel for his curveball and a plus cutter. Fausnaught will throw any pitch in any count, works both sides of the plate well and is very good at controlling the running game as well.
Newcomer to watch: RJ Kuruts — RHP – The grad-transfer from St. John Fisher will compete for a conference starter role.
What Coach LaRosa says: “We return most of the contributors from our lineup in 2021, which saw us bat .346 and slug .605 with 52 home runs in 31 games. We have added depth on the mound in addition to returning our four conference starting pitchers from a year ago.”
Mercyhurst
Head coach: Joe Spano | 2021 record: 27-15
Hitters to watch: Jack Elliott, 3B, and Matt Gibson, OF. Elliott returns after leading the team in home runs and RBI. He is a big-time power weapon from the left side. Gibson was an All-Region player in 2021. He is a solid bat-to-ball hitter, leading the team in hitting, but has pop as well.
Pitcher to watch: Josh Greggs — RHP. Griggs was solid out of the bullpen in 2021 and could be in line for a starting rotation role. He posted a 0.96 ERA in nine appearances with 24 strikeouts to just seven walks in 14.1 innings. Griggs has two strikeout pitches in a 90s fastball with run and a put-away slider.
Newcomers to watch: Ryan Hill, IF, and Tom Colcombe, LHP. Keep an eye on Colcombe. The Pitt transfer has a low-90s fastball with multiple off-speed pitches that can strike hitters out.
Others to watch:
Dylan Broderick, IF, Pitt-Johnstown: Coming off an injury-riddled 2021, Broderick blends contact and modest power into an all-around approach.
Devin Dunn, LHP, Slippery Rock: The VCU transfer sits 88-91 and tops out at 94 mph with his fastball with sharp slider and solid change.
Deven Judy, RHP, Gannon: Judy has a great feel for pitching, throwing multiple pitches that can all be plus. His fastball can touch low 90s with a lot of movement, and he adds a plus changeup with run and sink and a slider/curveball mix that keeps hitters honest.
Jon Kozarian, IF, Slippery Rock: The 2021 first-team All-Region hitter has excellent speed (6.7) with exceptionally quick hands. He’s coming off a successful summer playing in the NECBL for the North Adams SteepleCats.
Ricky Mineo, RHP, Slippery Rock: Mineo should contend for PSAC pitcher of the year. He was one of the top arms in PSAC for two-thirds of 2021 before missing the final stretch with tendonitis. Mineo sits 91-93 while topping out at 95 mph with his fastball. An upright thrower with downward plane, Mineo utilizes an electric four-pitch mix.
Chase Nowak, RHP, East Stroudsburg: A 6'3 power pitcher with more than a strikeout-per-inning over three-year career (129 strikeouts in 98 2/3 innings), Nowak throws four pitches for strikes.
CJ Peechatka, OF, East Stroudsburg: A transfer from Campbell that will solidify the middle of the lineup. He adds another element of speed to the lineup.
Connor Rakow, OF, Gannon: A Tallahassee CC transfer, Rakow is a very good athlete that brings depth to an already strong outfield group.
Brainy Rojas, OF, East Stroudsburg: The Warriors leadoff hitter keeps getting better. He hits for average, has some pop and is ESU’s top base stealer with 30 stolen base-potential. Rojas sprays the ball to all fields, is a top-line defender in center and is coming off a great summer in the Coastal Plains League for Wilson.
Rodney Shultz, RHP, Pitt-Johnstown: Sat 87-89 mph as a freshman and throws from all angles — has potential to be very good.
Brady Walker, LHP, Pitt-Johnstown: Missed 2021 with a torn labrum but was 7-0 the year prior. If he regains his form, he can have a great year.
Ben Werkheiser, UTIL, Shippensburg: A versatile hitter that made starts at catcher (his natural position), second base, shortstop, left field and designated hitter based on the needs of the team in 2021. He’s hit .339 with 12 home runs, 46 RBIs and 18 doubles over the past two seasons.
Brandon Wetherholt, OF, Gannon – A left-handed hitter with good pop and solid numbers over his career thus far. He has built himself into a very polished hitter, getting better each year in almost every aspect.
Shippensburg transfers: Reagan Lawlor, a three-year starter at Lock Haven, Matt Shilling arrives from Liberty, pitcher Nick Zegna arrives from George Mason, pitcher Conner MacNeill arrives from Orange County CC, Cameron Goble arrives from VCU, and Brock Piper arrives from George Mason.
Trevor Hudgins joins the DII Nation Podcast
With the DII men’s basketball season quickly approaching, Trevor Hudgins — a national player of the year and reigning two-time national champion — joined Bethany Bowman and myself to preview the coming season. Be sure to check out what he had to say and please subscribe and follow.