LOCK HAVEN – Graduate student
Chase Nowak was named the PSAC East Pitcher of the Year and joined four additional East Stroudsburg University baseball players as First Team selections on the 2023 all-conference team, released on Tuesday.
Additionally garnering first-team selections for the Warriors was
Mike Kelly (OF),
Tom Reisinger (SP),
Nick McAuliffe (RP) and
Cameron Hubbard (DH). ESU's five All-PSAC East First Team selections led the conference and were the most in program history since 2016.
Nowak becomes the fifth Warrior in school history to earn Pitcher of the Year and All-PSAC East First Team honors, joining Matt Festa (2016), Jeremy Gigliotti (2011), Christian Saveri (2010) and Mike Balent (1985). A three-time PSAC East and two-time NCBWA Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Week this season, Nowak set the program records for wins (27), strikeouts (292) as well as games started (50) and is 2.0 innings away from eclipsing the all-time innings pitched record of 259.1 held by Mark Cannon (1982-85).
A back-to-back first-team selection, Nowak is 8-3 on the year, holding a 2.31 ERA across a team-high 70.0 innings pitched. Back on April 8, Nowak became the first Warrior since 2002 to fire a 9.0 inning, complete game shutout as the Wilkes-Barre native shutdown #5 Millersville, allowing four hits and striking out nine. Tabbed to the NCBWA Preseason All-America Second Team, Nowak has lived up to the hype, ranking in the top-5 of several major categories in the PSAC East including second in wins, fourth in innings pitched, fourth in strikeouts (72), fifth in ERA and fifth in opposing batting average (.212).
A second-team All-PSAC East selection a season ago at Kutztown, Kelly landed on the first team after recording a .364 batting average, .449 on-base and .402 slugging percentage in 43 games which included 42 starts. The PSAC East Hitter of the Week on March 27 notched 44 hits, including three doubles and two triples, to go along with 20 RBI and 36 runs. On March 26 at Shippensburg, Kelly helped the Warriors to a 6-2 victory over the Raiders going 2-for-2 with 4 RBI and one run scored. The Limerick native is part of ESU's three headed attack on the basepaths, going 31-of-32 in stolen bases which ranks fourth in the PSAC and 22nd in NCAA Division II.
Reisinger recorded a breakout junior campaign to land on the All-PSAC East First Team as the Kulpmont native recorded a 6-2 record and 2.79 ERA to go along with a team-high 89 strikeouts in 67.2 innings pitched. Reisinger saved his best for last as he made his final start of the regular season on Friday at Lock Haven, firing a 7.0 inning complete game shutout in which he surrendered three hits while striking out nine. Making 16 appearances and 12 starts, Reisinger has allowed no more three runs in an outing this season and ranks among the top pitchers in the PSAC including first in strikeouts, first in strikeouts looking (27), third in opposing batting average (.204) and 10th in ERA.
McAuliffe, who is in his first season with ESU, was the Warriors top option out of the bullpen after making 20 appearances which is tied for the fifth most in a single season. The Phillipsburg, N.J. native owns a 5-1 record and 2.40 ERA to go along with three saves and 58 strikeouts in 48.2 innings pitched. Making the start back on March 20 at Shepherd, McAuliffe recorded a season-high 5.2 innings pitched and seven punchouts to earn the victory. Dating back to April 8, McAuliffe has surrendered three runs in 16.2 innings while striking out 15 batters. Among conference rankings, McAuliffe is seventh in ERA, seventh in opposing batting average (.219), ninth in saves and 10th in strikeouts looking.
After transferring from Lehigh, Hubbard earned All-PSAC East First Team honors as the designated hitter in his first season wearing the red and black. The Easton native produced a .299 bating average, .408 on-base and .402 slugging percentage. Making 26 of his 43 starts at DH, Hubbard recorded 38 hits, including five doubles, one triple and two home runs, as well as 32 RBI, 28 runs and 17 stolen bases. In the Warriors third game of the season at IUP, the junior blasted a grand slam and on February 26 against Saint Anselm, Hubbard went 3-for-4 with four RBI.
The Warriors enter the PSAC Tournament as the No. 2 seed in the PSAC East and are set to play PSAC West No. 3 Seed California (Pa.) on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at Slippery Rock's Jack Critchfield Park.
PSAC EAST
Athlete of the Year – Bren Taylor, Millersville
Pitcher of the Year – Chase Nowak, East Stroudsburg
Freshman of the Year – Julian Costa, West Chester
Coach of the Year – Jon Shehan, Millersville
FIRST TEAM
| POS. |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| Catcher |
John DeMucci |
West Chester |
Sr. |
Swarthmore, PA / Msgr. Bonner & Prendie/LaSalle |
| First Base |
Ross Mulhall^ |
Shepherd |
Sr. |
Morgantown, WV / University / Gardner-Webb |
| Second Base |
Jimmy Losh* |
Millersville |
Gr. |
New Cumberland, Pa. / Cedar Cliff |
| Shortstop |
Thomas Caufield* |
Millersville |
R-Sr. |
West Chester, Pa. / Henderson |
| Third Base |
Joe Kaleck |
West Chester |
R-Jr. |
Southampton, PA / Neshaminy |
| Infielder |
Gavin Troutman |
Lock Haven |
Sr. |
Boyertown, Pa. / Oley Valley |
| Outfielder |
Mike Kelly^ |
East Stroudsburg |
R-Jr. |
Limerick, Pa. / Pope John Paul II (Kutztown) |
| Outfielder |
Eli Riley |
Bloomsburg |
Jr. |
Harrisburg, Pa. / Mercersburg Academy / Lackawanna College |
| Outfielder |
Bren Taylor** |
Millersville |
Sr. |
Hallam, Pa. / Eastern York |
| Starting Pitcher |
Carson Kulina |
Millersville |
Gr. |
Hummelstown, Pa. / Lower Dauphin |
| Starting Pitcher |
Chase Nowak* |
East Stroudsburg |
Gr. |
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. / James M. Coughlin |
| Starting Pitcher |
Tom Reisinger |
East Stroudsburg |
Jr. |
Kulpmont, Pa. / Mount Carmel |
| Relief Pitcher |
Nick McAuliffe |
East Stroudsburg |
Jr. |
Phillipsburg, N.J. / Phillipsburg (New Orleans) |
| Utility |
Gavin Moretski |
Kutztown |
Sr. |
Harleysville, Pa. / La Salle College H.S. |
| Designated Hitter |
Cameron Hubbard |
East Stroudsburg |
Jr. |
Easton, Pa. / Easton (Lehigh) |
SECOND TEAM
| POS. |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| Catcher |
Brandon Ernst |
Bloomsburg |
Sr. |
Limerick, Pa. / Spring Ford / Lackawanna College |
| First Base |
Dansby Keenen |
Bloomsburg |
Jr. |
Cleveland Heights, Oh. / Benedictine / Lackawanna Coll. |
| Second Base |
Brady Ebbert |
Bloomsburg |
Fr. |
Etters, Pa. / Red Land |
| Shortstop |
|
|
|
|
| Third Base |
Connor Dewees |
Shepherd |
Gr. |
Red Lion, Pa. / Red Lion |
| Outfielder |
Justin Byler |
Shippensburg |
Gr. |
Lititz, Pa. / Warwick (Delaware/Louisburg) |
| Outfielder |
Sam Daggers |
Shepherd |
R-So. |
Galloway, N.J. / Absegami / Rowan Gloucester CC |
| Outfielder |
Ethan Martini |
Kutztown |
Jr. |
Trevose, Pa. / Father Judge |
| Starting Pitcher |
Austin Lewis |
Mansfield |
So. |
Altoona, Pa. / Bishop Guifoyle |
| Starting Pitcher |
Jared Marshman |
Bloomsburg |
Gr. |
Berwick, Pa. / Berwick |
| Starting Pitcher |
Jake Skrocki |
Kutztown |
R-Jr. |
Royersford, Pa. / Spring-Ford |
| Relief Pitcher |
Austin LaBarre |
Shippensburg |
Jr. |
Nazareth, Pa. / Pen Argyl |
| Utility |
Mike Heckman |
Shippensburg |
Fr. |
Lititz, Pa. / Manheim Township |
| Designated Hitter |
Wyatt Metzger |
Bloomsburg |
Jr. |
Selinsgrove, Pa. / Selinsgrove Area |
PSAC WEST
Athlete of the Year – Luke Trueman, Slippery Rock
Pitcher of the Year – Jarrett Heilman, Mercyhurst
Freshman of the Year – Jack Whalen, Seton Hill
Coach of the Year – Marc Marizzaldi, Seton Hill
FIRST TEAM
| POS. |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| Catcher |
Vincenzo Rauso |
Seton Hill |
Sr. |
Gibsonia, PA / Pittsburgh Central Catholic/Alderson Broaddus |
| First Base |
Ian Hess* |
Gannon |
R-Sr. |
Canonsburg, Pa. / Canon-McMillan |
| Second Base |
Santino Marra |
California (Pa.) |
So. |
Uniontown, Pa. / Laurel Highlands |
| Shortstop |
Scott McManamon |
Clarion |
Sr. |
Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin |
| Third Base |
Jack Oberdorf^ |
Seton Hill |
Sr. |
Greensburg, PA / Greensburg Salem |
| Infielder |
Harrison Pontoli^ |
IUP |
Sr. |
Beaver, Pa. / Beaver Area |
| Outfielder |
Dylan Broderick* |
Pitt-Johnstown |
R-Sr. |
State College, Pa. / Saint Joseph's Catholic |
| Outfielder |
Brandon Wetherholt |
Gannon |
Gr. |
Gibsonia, Pa. / Mars Area |
| Outfielder |
Jack Whalen |
Seton Hill |
Fr. |
North Huntingdon, PA / Norwin |
| Starting Pitcher |
Brandon Bergert |
Seton Hill |
Jr. |
Canton, OH / Glenoak |
| Starting Pitcher |
Jarrett Heilman |
Mercyhurst |
Jr. |
Freeport, Pa. / Freeport Area High School |
| Starting Pitcher |
Jeremiah Williams |
IUP |
Sr. |
Chicago, Ill. / TF North |
| Relief Pitcher |
Blake Barker |
Seton Hill |
So. |
Chardon, OH / Chardon |
| Utility |
Luke Trueman^ |
Slippery Rock |
Sr. |
McCandless, Pa. / North Allegheny |
| Designated Hitter |
Markus Cestra* |
IUP |
5th |
Pittsburgh, Pa. / Plum Senior |
SECOND TEAM
| POS. |
NAME |
INSTITUTION |
CLASS |
HOMETOWN/PREVIOUS SCHOOL |
| Catcher |
Justin Stewart^ |
Cal U |
Sr. |
Butler, Pa. / Butler |
| First Base |
Logan Vietmeier |
Seton Hill |
Gr. |
Pittsburgh, PA / Montour/Marietta |
| Second Base |
|
|
|
|
| Shortstop |
Owen Sabol |
Seton Hill |
Sr. |
Irwin, PA / Norwin |
| Third Base |
Jake Ansell |
Pitt-Johnstown |
R-Sr. |
Connellsville, PA Connellsville |
| Outfielder |
Ryan Callahan |
California (Pa.) |
So. |
Bexley, Ohio / Bexley |
| Outfielder |
Eric Chorba |
Mercyhurst |
So. |
North Huntingdon, Pa. / Norwin High School |
| Outfielder |
Alex Robenolt* |
Slippery Rock |
R-Sr. |
Danville, Pa. Danville |
| Starting Pitcher |
Roman Gill |
California (Pa.) |
So. |
Aliquippa, Pa. / Hopewell |
| Starting Pitcher |
Jon McCullough |
Seton Hill |
Jr. |
Cranberry Twp, PA / Seneca Valley |
| Starting Pitcher |
Kevin Vaupel |
Seton Hill |
Sr. |
Pittsburgh, PA / South Park |
| Relief Pitcher |
Jake Kramer |
California (Pa.) |
Fr. |
Greensburg, Pa. / Hempfield |
| Utility |
Zachary Kourous |
Mercyhurst |
Fr. |
Toronto, Ont. / Earl Haig Secondary School |
| Designated Hitter |
Braden Durham |
Seton Hill |
Sr. |
Toledo, OH / St Francis DeSales/SC Upstate |
*Indicates previous first-team selection
^Indicates previous second-team selection
