Season Preview
Captains: Serving as captains for the Warriors’ 2023 season are graduate student Victor Cruz, redshirt seniors Chase Nowak and Mike Yates as well as redshirt junior Tim Haverstick.
“These are guys that have been in our program along time,” said Kochmansky. “They know what it takes to win and have been in every situation possible in this game. They will provide the leadership to our young guys, as well as a road map of what it takes to be an ESU baseball and successful at this level.”
Infield: In the infield, shortstop Jeremy Piatkiewicz returns after making 74 starts over his freshman and sophomore campaigns. The Fogelsville native is a career .306 hitter, boasts a .964 field percentage and set the ESU single-season record for assists (172) in 2022. The reigning PSAC East Freshman of Year, Jack Rothenhausler, figures to play at first and third base as well as serve as one of many designated hitters after setting ESU freshman records for hits (55), doubles (17), home runs (7), RBI (35), runs scored (36), extra base hits (26) and total bases (97) a season ago.
Three-year starter Logan Stirr is back to man first base following his absence in 2022 as the Canadensis native enters his final season with 28 extra-base hits and a .282 career batting average. Also expected to receive playing time alongside Stirr at first base will be freshman Matt Tankred, who will additionally see some time on the mound in long-relief situations.
After transferring from Mercer County Community College, Matt Ervolina will plug into the starting role at second base following a pair of All-Conference and All-Region selections in two seasons for the Vikings. Ervolina will be a threat on the basepath after stealing a program record 42 bases last year. Joining Ervolina as a transfer from Mercer is Colin Houck, as the redshirt sophomore will see time at third base, as a designated hitter as well as opportunities are first base.
Graduate student Victor Cruz will serve as a utility player on the infield, second and third base as well as getting chances as the DH. Also lobbying for time in the infield will be highly skilled freshman Tanner Vicensese at shortstop and redshirt sophomore Tyler Cassella at second base.
Three-year starter Tim Haverstick is back after making 91 starts behind the dish. Haverstick recorded the ESU single-season record for putouts (424) in 2022 and was an All-PSAC East Second Team selection in 2021. The Warriors’ coaching staff is also excited about freshman Connor Reilly, who figures to provide Haverstick with some relief.
Following a solid fall and preseason, junior Tommy Ajjan will be the Warriors’ No. 3 catcher and serve as a designated hitter against right handed pitchers, alongside fellow classmate Jerome Repetz, who will come off the bench to pinch hit.
Outfield: The Warriors will look to fill in two holes in the outfield as All-PSAC East First Team selection Ben Piripavel returns to his left field position. The Bethlehem native enters the season ranked sixth all-time at ESU in career stolen bases (54).
Kutztown transfer Mike Kelly will take over the reins in center field as the redshirt junior was an ABCA All-Region Second Team and All-PSAC East Second Team selection for the Golden Bears in 2022. He hit .372 with 58 hits, 32 runs scored and 16 RBIs to go along with stealing 19 of 20 bases.
Junior transfer Cameron Hubbard has the ability to play all three outfield positions as he appeared in 24 games, making 19 starts in center field at Lehigh.
Freshman Chaise Albus (Bethlehem Catholic) and redshirt freshman Parker Frey (Liberty) will split time in right field as the duo heralds from the Lehigh Valley.
Depth in the outfield includes redshirt sophomores Jack Gensemer and Jack Chapman as well as freshman Shanley Wall.
Pitching: ESU will lean on a deep pitching staff to begin the season as the Warriors return a pair of All-PSAC First Team selections from a season ago in Chase Nowak and Brent Francisco. The 1-2 punch for ESU both made 16 starts and combined for a 15-3 record, 3.08 ERA and 207 strikeouts across 178.1 innings.
ESU also returns junior right hander Tom Reisinger, who made 16 starts in 2022, and welcomes the addition of Nick McAuliffe. McAuliffe spent time at Kutztown, Mercer County Community College and New Orleans before making his way to the Poconos. The Phillipsburg, N.J. native will serve as both a starter and reliver for the Warriors.
Out of the bullpen, ESU has five experienced arms in Jack Nielson, JP Nolan, Alec Snyder, Mike Yates and Scott Shamany. Nolan will often serve as a “bridge-pitcher”, getting the Warriors key outs during the middle innings and Quinn Warmkessel will be in long relief for the Warriors.
A trio of left handed pitchers in Vincent Cenname, Reuben Costin and Ethan Reccek will look to make an immediate impact as left-handed specialists in their first seasons with the Warriors.
The Warriors’ coaching staff also expects Ryan Dewees and Jaden Newton to be effective right away , while fellow freshman Ben Junker will have the opportunity for relief work.
The Coach: Kochmansky, who led the Warriors to a PSAC Championship in 2013 and four NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, enters his 16th season as the head baseball coach in 2023. ESU is coming off arguably the most successful in season program history as the Warriors had a second place finish in the PSAC Tournament and were the runners-up at the NCAA Atlantic Super Regional. The Warriors set the school record for wins (41) as well as single-season program records for home runs (58), stolen bases (140), innings pitch (502.1), and strikeouts (522). On April 30, 2022, Kochmanksy notched his 400th career victory with a 3-0 triumph over Lock Haven and enters the season with a 410-278-5 record at ESU.
Preseason Rankings: The Warriors enter the season ranked tied for 23rd in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division II Preseason Top 25 and were picked third in the NCBWA Atlantic Region Preseason Poll. In the annual Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Preseason Coaches Poll, ESU was tabbed to finish third after receiving a trio of first-place votes.
