The DII Report: The final DII baseball fall reports before opening day PART I
You get not one, but two DII Report newsletters today. With first pitch less than 12 days away, take a look at how some of DII baseball's top teams performed this fall in this two-part special.
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.
THE DII REPORT
Welcome back to the DII Report newsletter. The DII baseball season is set to begin in early February and the preseason Power 10 rankings on NCAA.com are set to be released Jan. 24. We have completed nine conference fall reports, each highlighting the top hitters, pitchers and newcomers from the fall season with a little bit of insight from the coaches.
Previous fall reports: SAC | PSAC | RMAC | PBC | SSC | LSC | NSIC | GSC | MIAA
Unfortunately, our time is wearing thin. While the intention was to highlight each conference in depth, with first pitch less than 12 days away, time is of the essence.
This will be the final report... in two parts (Note: Due to the overwhelming amount of information I received, I nearly blew up Substack trying to fit it into one newsletter. Please be ready for Part II later today). Included this week are players to watch and coaches’ insights on some of the top teams from each conference that should battle for a spot in the 2022 NCAA DII baseball championship tournament come May.
DII baseball fall report: The contenders, Part I
Let’s take a look at some of the top teams from each conference that are expected to contend not only for a conference title, but a spot in Cary, N.C. as well.
CACC
Goldey-Beacom
Head coach: Tom Riley | 2021 record: 22-9
Hitter to watch: Mason Maxwell, SS —Maxwell is a disciplined, left-handed hitter that walks as much as he strikes out with power to all fields. Maxwell is a leader on the team off the field and in the stat sheet: He hit .415 with 11 home runs, 13 doubles and 11 stolen bases last spring in just 30 games.
Pitcher to watch: Jake Heskett, RHP — Riley describes the 6’5 225 righty as “the most consistent competitor I’ve coached. Does not get phased and is huge in all the big games.” He is finally pitching 100% healthy after dealing with hip issues in the past. His fastball sits 86-88 mph and has a plus change-up. He throws two average breaking pitches, but his best quality is his make-up.
Newcomers to watch: Johnny Kampes, C/DH (Wagner — off the charts tools with power and a 6.5 runner) and Cole Fowler, IF — a freshman with a plus-hit tool.
What Coach Riley said: “This should be the most talented team we have had. The top five hitters in our lineup return from last year’s Regional team. As well as Maxwell, 1B Garrett Musey is a major force in the middle of the order. We should have power throughout the line-up and have quality depth. We have a very experienced pitching staff that was ninth in the country last year in ERA. We have a lot of guys that fill up the zone with strikes and a defense that really cares about making plays. As well as Heskett and Jump, we return Mitch Guerrieri, Anthony DiMartino, Justin Jump and Luke Taylor that all started games for us last season. They know they are good, but are more focused on the daily battle of getting better each day with their teammates.”
Conference Carolinas
North Greenville
Head coach: Landon Powell | 2020 record: 34-13
Hitter to watch: John Michael Faile, C — Faile is the reigning Conference Carolinas player of the year as well as a first-team All-American and a contender for the 2022 player of the year award. In his career at NGU, he has appeared in 121 games posting a .413 average with 45 home runs. He has elite bat speed that generates power to all fields, foul-pole-to-foul-pole. According to assistant coach Trey Dyson, “the thing that impresses me the most about his hitting is how well he adjusts to pitch types and locations.”
Pitcher to watch: Brent Herlong, RHP — Herlong has been a consistent steady arm for the past four years. He posted a 1.84 ERA last year over 18 appearances and has a 87-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio for his career. Herlong can throw from multiple arm angles and throws any pitch in any count. Dyson describes him as an “‘anti-power pitcher who prefers to use deception and brains as opposed to trying to blow hitters away. Nothing fazes him. He enjoys being the guy who can get you out without throwing 95 mph.” His go-to pitch is his cutter and he throws in the 80s.
Newcomer to watch: Matthew Taubensee, LHP — The southpaw is a Juco transfer from Lake Sumter State College. He has baseball bloodlines — he is the son of former MLB catcher Eddie Taubensee. Taubensee is expected to start this season.
What Coach Dyson and Powell said: “We return eight of nine starting position players from a lineup that produced one of the best offensive seasons in DII history in 2021. From top to bottom the lineup will feature power, speed and competitive players who will battle with two strikes.
“Our goal is to compete for a national championship, but we also know that will depend heavily on how the pitching staff will perform as a unit. We have some talented arms, both new and old, but a lot of them are unproven. Depending on how well they can adjust to logging more important innings for us, will most likely determine if we are a championship team or not.”
The CCAA (note: The CCAA did not have college athletics in the 2020-21 season)
Cal State Monterey Bay
Head coach: Walt White | 2020 record: 13-9
Hitter to watch: Brady Miguel, SS — Miguel is a left-handed hitter with plus power and speed. He broke out as a freshman in the shortened 2020 season. Per Coach White, he has put in a lot of work to increase his speed, strength and power. Miguel hits the ball to all fields and does so with patience and discipline.
Pitcher to watch: Levi Noddin, RHP —Noddin missed all 2019 with surgery after he was in the starting rotation during the 2018 CCAA championship season. He returned to start four games in the shortened 2020 season. He will anchor the rotation in 2022 with a mid-to-upper 80s sinker, slider and change mix. Coach White says he has plus command with some deception in his delivery.
Newcomer to Watch: Ryan Platero, RHP — Platero transfers from Monterey Peninsula College. He has plus command with a live 90-plus mph fastball. His secondaries, a slider and change, are both quality pitches.
What Coach White said: “We have a well-rounded ball club with depth on our roster. It has been a fun group to coach, and I look forward to seeing how we stack up against some of the best in our region. The CCAA is a challenge every week, but I like to think we have a group that is prepared and ready to compete.”
Chico State
Head coach: Dave Taylor | 2020 record: 15-7
Hitter to watch: Grady Morgan, OF — The redshirt-freshman played at a local Juco last spring due to Chico State canceling its season. In turn, he won the Juco national player of the year.
Pitcher to watch: Rylan Tinsley, LHP — Tinsley transferred from Sacramento State to win the CCAA freshman pitcher of the year in 2019.
Newcomer to Watch: Jacob Jablonski, SS/3B — An Arkansas State transfer that is an elite defender with middle-of-the-order pop.
What Coach Taylor said: “Offensively, we have a very nice mix of some pop and speed. Defensively, we match any of our other strong defensive teams in the past 15 years. Pitching will be the biggest key of how we fair in 2022 — we have good arms with not a lot of experience. It could take a couple of weeks for guys to establish roles.”
The ECC
St. Thomas Aquinas
Head coach: Jon Garvey | 2021 record: 26-7
Hitter to watch: Andrew Jemison, 3B — Jemison hit .352 in 2021 from the leadoff spot. He has a great eye at the plate. Keep an eye on Billy Minett. The sophomore catcher did not have a lot of eyes on him being in COVID-19 protocols multiple times last year. He has power at the plate and defensively, he is a great leader behind the plate that pitchers love throwing to.
Pitcher to watch: Aaron Dona, RHP — The senior was 3-1 last year with a 2.21 ERA and will be the Friday-night ace this year. He is an upper-80s, low-90s guy with great command and two off-speed pitches he can throw for a strike. Coach Garvey mentioned the depth in his bullpen as well, singling out Justin Baeyans and James Reilly.
Newcomers to watch: Nick O'Connor, IF — O’Connor will play many roles on the team as a left-handed hitter with a lot of speed.
What Coach Garvey said: “The team will be successful if we have great leadership from our upperclassmen, take what he learned from last year's team and grow and play together.”
Molloy
Head coach: Joe Fucarino | 2021 record: 25-11
Hitter to watch: Matt Overton, OF — Overton is a middle-of-the-lineup bat with a combination of hitting for average and power coming off a first-team ECC campaign.
Pitcher to watch: Charlie Cucchiara, RHP— Cucchiara is 5’10 and controls the game with great tempo and command.
Newcomers to watch: Brian Morissey, RHP (Stony Brook), Matt Yip, C/1B (UNC-Wilmington) and Mike Andreoli, LHP (LIU).
What Coach Fucarino said: “We are returning seven starters and 31 players from the 2021 ECC champion and NCAA East Region finalist squad. This team is experienced and deep in talent.”
The GAC
Oklahoma Baptist
Head coach: Chris Cox | 2021 record: 26-15
Hitter to watch: Dan Pruitt, IF — Pruitt was a Juco All-American in 2019 that more recently transferred from Dallas Baptist. He has plus power to all fields and Coach Cox is impressed with his athletic ability on the defensive side and base paths as well.
Pitcher to watch: Jake Hamilton, RHP — Hamilton was in the weekend rotation last year after transferring from Wichita State. Another former Juco All-American, per Coach Cox, “Jake works at a quick tempo and possesses a live fastball. His mobility, length and short quick arm action carry him down the mound and provide deception. Jake has a fastball, slider and change. His fastball has sat 88-90 mph this offseason, topping out at 94 mph.”
Newcomer to watch: Will Duncan, RHP — A Houston transfer, “ Will moves quick and demonstrates good body control and awareness for as quick as he moves down the mound.” He has a three-pitch mix (fastball, slider and change) and the fastball has touched 97 mph.
What Coach Cox said: “I feel this group has this ability to be dynamic in many ways offensively. It's a group that possesses power, but one that's also very athletic and can produce runs in multiple ways. On the mound we return some key pieces that have developed significantly and have also added a few key transfers that will make an immediate impact for us in the rotation and in the bullpen. It's a hardworking group that's a pleasure to be around and has the potential to do big things.”
Southern Arkansas
Head coach: Justin Pettigrew | 2021 record: 30-16
Hitter to watch: Brett McGee, C — McGee has plus power and is a high-OPS guy. He hit 14 HR in 2021 and there’s no reason for him to not put up big numbers in 2022.
Pitcher to watch: Jacob Womack, RHP — Womack won eight games in 2021 in just under 90 innings while striking out just about one per inning. He is a fierce competitor that is able to locate multiple pitches in any count. He’ll be the anchor for the 2022 staff.
Newcomer to watch: Brandon Nicoll, 3B — A transfer from Galveston College that has shown plus power and the ability to barrel the baseball at a high rate during his time at SAU. He is expected to be a middle-of-the-order bat.
What Coach Pettigrew said: “Our assistant coaches did an outstanding job addressing our needs on the recruiting trail. Pitching and defense will be key for our club this year. We look forward to seeing what our deep pitching staff can accomplish in 2022. Our lineup will be dynamic and be able to score with a blend of power and speed.”
The GLIAC
Davenport
Head coach: Kevin Tidey | 2021 record: 33-16
Hitter to watch: Nolan Anspaugh, CF — Coach Tidey sees Anspaugh as a player-of-the-year candidate because he is a true five-tool player. He hit 12 home runs in 2021 but is also the fastest player he’s ever had (6.28 60). Tidey gives his arm a 90-plus, so paired with that speed he is a centerfielder that can stick at the next level. Also watch Noah Marcoux. The first baseman is a big left-handed hitter with power and solid defensively.
Pitcher to watch: James Kohl, LHP — Kohl can run his fastball up to the low 90s, but his movement on his pitches and ability to throw three pitches for strikes is what makes him so special. He won his last four starts last year and was dominant down the stretch. Keep an eye on Ricky Clark who is 100% healthy after losing some of last season to injury.
Newcomer to watch: Cam Hart, 3B (Michigan) and Tyler Hill, RHP (Ball State)
What Coach Tidey says: “This should be a very competitive team this year and will be fun to coach. We set the school record with 55 home runs and 46 of those are in the lineup this year. We are also fast, so we should be able to put pressure on our opponents. The key to our success though, and taking another step, is our pitching staff. We return some really good arms, but the addition of some new quality arms should give us a lot more depth on the mound.”
Northwood
Head coach: Jake Sabol | 2021 record: 29-17
Hitter to watch: Jacob Rybicki, OF — The right-handed hitter is a returning second- team All-GLIAC and All-Region in 2021. Coach Sabol thinks he “has transitioned his game into a five-tool player” after leading the team in home runs (12) and stolen bases (25) last year while playing centerfield with plus-arm strength. Multi-dimensional offensive threat with the power tool and the ability to hit for average.
Pitcher to watch: Derek Clark, LHP — Clark was the GLIAC freshman pitcher of the year in 2021 and on the first-team All-GLIAC. He has a four-pitch mix that features an 85-88 mph fastball, curveball, slider and change. He threw a combined no-hitter in first collegiate start.
Newcomer to watch: Cam Schuelke, RHP — A transfer from Florida Gulf Coast that will immediately have a chance to become an impact arm. He was Northwoods League pitcher of the year in summer 2021. He throws three pitches for strikes from multiple arm slots with his fastball sitting at 84-88 mph.
What Coach Sabol says: “This team possesses the characteristics to be the most complete team we’ve had at Northwood in the four years that I have been here. We return seven all-conference players and have added some excellent competitors to our culture that will immediately make an impact on and off the field. We look forward to the challenge of getting Northwood to the DII baseball championship for the first time in school history.”
Wayne State (MI)
Head coach: Ryan Kelley | 2021 record: 23-16
Hitter to watch: Hunter DeLanoy, OF — DeLanoy has a good combination of power and speed. Hitting coach Aaron Hepner believes, “through his work progression, we plan to witness a power jump this year.” He has a solid approach with tools for the next level and the ability to take over a game.
Pitcher to watch: Karter Fitzpatrick, RHP — Fitzpatrick features a low-to-mid 90s fastball. After his first full season as a starter in 2021, he spent the offseason focused on generating consistency with his off-speed stuff.
Newcomer to watch: Jimmy Love, RHP — Per pitch coach Brendan Kelly, “Love has found his way into the starting rotation conversation after having an outstanding freshman fall and offseason.”
What Coach Kelley says: “After a quality fall semester academically and developmentally, we look forward to witnessing successful results on and off the field. Team chemistry, leadership and depth are standout components this 2022 team has exemplified early.”