EAST STROUDSBURG -The East Stroudsburg University baseball team returns to the diamond on Saturday with a trip to North Carolina for a three-game weekend series against Barton.

The Warriors are coming off an up and down 2021 season which saw them finish 15-15-1 overall and 13-12-1 in the PSAC.

Captains Nate Fiala, Tim Haverstick, CJ Peechatka and Anthony Torreullas will lead this year's group that was picked to finish fourth in the PSAC East preseason poll after receiving one first-place vote.

Head coach John Kochmansky is entering his 15th season with a 369-259-5 (.587) career record and returns five offensive starters as well as four pitchers who threw at least 10 innings last year.

In the off-season, Kochmansky made a number of changes to his coaching stuff which including bringing on Maddux Minton as the head assistant and recruiting coordinator. Darrin Lenhart is now the lead pitching coach and Kochmansky also added an analytics staff that is spear headed by Jack Packer, who will be assisted by Michael May and Eric Thron.

Kochmansky and his staff have also revamped their scouting system not only for opposing teams but internally for more in depth reports throughout the year which is headed by assistant coach Mitch Pinder.

In ESU's preparation for the season, Oculus virtual reality training was introduced for hitters which allowed them to train against a wide range of pitchers, velocities and more.

Key departures from the 2021 squad include SS Joey Paolini (168 career starts), RHP Connor Johnson (1x All-PSAC East), OF Carson Freeman (1x All-PSAC East, 1x All-Region), LHP Cam Voss (ESU No. 1 in 3 pitching categories and RHP CJ Gonzales.
 

CATCHER

Tim Haverstick, the All-PSAC East second team catcher in 2021, enters his third year with the program after having a breakout season where hit .333/.471/.388 with three home runs, three doubles, 14 RBIs, 15 runs and seven walks. The Marlton, N.J. native will also see time playing first base.

The Warriors added graduate transfer Drew Hefner, who played four seasons at the University of Charleston and was an MEC First Team selection his senior season. In 2021, Hefner hit .333/.467/.455, going 50-for-150 with seven doubles, three homers, two triples 33 RBI, 28 runs, 18 walks and 11 HBP.

Sophomore Tommy Ajjan will also see time behind the plate, at first base and as the designated hitter.

INFIELD

The Warriors have just one returning starter in the infield, welcome back super utility player Anthony Torreullas who figures to play all over after starting all six games in 2021 before a season ending injury.

All-PSAC East selection Brock Kauffman returns to the hot corner for a fifth season after hitting .325/.502/.393 in 139 career games. The Blue Ball, Pa. native ranks sixth all-time in RBI with 122.

Graduate student Victor Cruz figures to plug in at second base after transferring from Rowan, where he played in 62 career games and freshman Walker Zempella will buy for time at the position.

After starting 17 games in the middle infield a season ago, Jeremy Piatkiewicz will serve as ESU's primary shortstop after recording a .973 field percentage as a freshman.

CJ Peechatka returns to the Poconos to serves as ESU's first baseman after stops at Northampton Community College and Campbell but will also see time in the outfield and as the DH. Jerome Repetz will also be available at first base and DH after hitting .273/.455/.429 in his first season.            

In backup roles, freshman Jack Rothenhausler can play third and see some time as the DH after impressing Kochmansky and his staff. Redshirt freshman Shane Fillman will back up Piatkiewicz at short.

Hunter Simpson and Tyler Cassella also provide more depth for the Warriors.

OUTFIELD

Ben Piripavel (LF), Brainy Rojas (CF) and Tommy Dunleavy (RF) will man the outfield for ESU as the trio each started in at least 25 games a year ago.

Piripavel made 25 starts, hit .341 (28-of-82) with a .463 on-base percentage and a .462 slugging percentage while also leading the team with 16 stolen bases.

Rojas, who started at numerous positions in 2021, returns to man center field fulltime. In his career, the redshirt senior has made 129 starts, hit .295/.428/.425 with 119 hits, 111 runs, 21 doubles, six triples, seven homers and 55 stolen bases.

After a slow beginning last year, Dunleavy raised his batting average to .311 before finishing hitting .278/.387/.500 with three doubles, one triple, five home runs, 11 walks, 25 RBI and 20 runs across 28 starts.

Ricky Bromirski made the move from catcher to outfielder and young guys like freshmen Parker Frey and Cooper Gehrig expect to be in the mix. Jack Gensemer, Zach Hynes and Jack Chapman provide depth off the bench for ESU.

PITCHING

The Warriors will lean on the arms of three right handed pitchers as Chase Nowak, Brent Francisco and Tommy Reisinger are expected to start a number of weekend series.

In 27.2 innings last season, Nowak recorded a 2-3 record and a 6.18 ERA but pitched the ninth no hitter in program history and recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts in an 11-0 win at Kutztown.

Making seven starts, Francisco compiled a 2-2 record and 36 strikeouts in 27.2 innings of work. The 46 punchouts were the fifth most by a freshman in a single season.

Across 9.1 innings a year ago, Reisinger notched 17 strikeouts but struggled with command at times walking 14 batters.

Dunleavy, who is also projected to start in the outfield, will see time on the bump again this season after recording a 1-1 record with eight strikeouts across 9.0 innings. Other dual threat options for ESU are the Bethlehem freshmen in Frey and Rothenhausler

Out of the bullpen, the Warriors will turn to a trio of experienced arms in Nate Fiala, Mike Yates and Justin Guidos while also adding into the fold graduate student Connor Takacs, who transferred in from Albany. Scott Shammany, JP Nolan, Jack Neilsen, Nathan Kitchell, Leon Finey, Alec Snyder, Quinn Warmkessel and Patrick Yoder rounds out the staff for ESU.