EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – East Stroudsburg University is proud to announce the induction of Christian Rishel, Justin Ertel, and Matt Walewski into the prestigious "Bat Club" as part of the 13th class. The induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 4, at Creekview Park, following the annual ESU Baseball Golf Classic at The Shawnee Inn on Friday, October 3.

In addition to these celebrations, ESU is introducing the Robert Shebelsky Legacy Award to honor the assistant coach whose 12-year tenure made a lasting impact on the Warriors baseball program. This award recognizes alumni who exemplify leadership, loyalty, and legacy. Brandon Snyder has been selected as this year's honoree for his outstanding commitment to ESU Baseball, both as a player and as a coach.

Weekend festivities will include an intra-squad scrimmage, an alumni and family picnic, and a Sunday matchup against NCC. Additional details, including registration and sponsorship information, are available at the link below.
Schedule of Events
October 3 – Baseball Golf Classic
October 4 – Bat Club Ceremony (10:30 a.m., Creekview Park)

• Intra-Squad Scrimmage 
• Robert Shebelsky Award Recognition
• Alumni/Family Picnic

October 5 – Scrimmage vs. NCC
  Bat Club Inductees
Matt Walewsk
Walewski was a cornerstone of the Warriors' record-setting 2016 team, which won 38 games and secured the program's third NCAA Tournament berth in six seasons. A consistent performer at the plate and in the field, Walewski ranks among ESU's all-time leaders in several categories, including a .342 career batting average, 145 hits, 32 doubles, and 104 RBIs. Defensively, he recorded the second-most putouts in a single season (391) and ranks seventh in career putouts (624). In 2016, he batted .392 and contributed two career grand slams, tied for second-most in program history.
Christian Rishel
Rishel was a two-time All-PSAC East selection at designated hitter and earned Academic All-District and Academic All-America honors. He helped lead ESU's 38-win season in 2016 and finished his career with a .333 batting average, 184 hits, 128 RBIs, 18 home runs, and 39 doubles. Rishel also holds the single-game hits record (6 vs. Post) and ranks among ESU's leaders in several offensive categories.
Justin Ertel 
Ertel was a reliable presence on the mound, finishing his career with a 12–14 record and a 3.81 ERA, which ranks 12th in program history. He is among the top 15 in innings pitched, strikeouts, and complete games. Ertel's standout 2016 season included a 6–1 record and a .857 win percentage. He also made an impact offensively as a freshman, ranking among team leaders in runs scored and walks.
 
Robert Shebelsky Legacy Award
The Robert Shebelsky Legacy Award celebrates the enduring impact of longtime assistant coach Bob Shebelsky, whose passion and dedication shaped ESU Baseball for more than a decade. Serving as pitching coach for 12 seasons beginning in 2005, Shebelsky guided Warriors pitchers to top PSAC rankings and helped develop three PSAC East Pitchers of the Year—Christian Saveri, Jeremy Gigliotti, and Matt Festa. Under his leadership, ESU captured the 2013 PSAC championship and reached the NCAA Division II Tournament three times.
 

Brandon Snyder (2009–13) Snyder has been a pillar of the ESU baseball program—first as a player, and now as a coach. During his playing career, he helped lead the Warriors to their first PSAC championship since 1971 and a school-record 34 wins in 2013. A versatile contributor, Snyder made 26 pitching appearances—primarily as a left-handed relief specialist—and also filled roles at first base and as a pinch hitter. He posted a career ERA of 2.23 across 25.3 innings, striking out 22 batters while allowing just 16 hits. He didn't allow an earned run until his final appearance as a freshman and recorded sub-2.00 ERAs in both his sophomore and senior seasons.

Today, Snyder continues to serve the program as a dedicated coach, bringing the same passion, integrity, and team-first mentality that defined his playing days. His leadership has helped shape the culture of Warrior baseball, mentoring student-athletes and fostering a standard of excellence both on and off the field.

This honor celebrates not only his contributions as a player, but his ongoing commitment to the ESU baseball family. Snyder's legacy is still being written—through every practice, every game, and every young athlete he inspires.

 
Golf Outing

The cost is $125 per golfer and the fees include golf, a bucket of range balls, a boxed lunch, hot dogs and hamburgers during/after play. The format for the outing will be a four-person scramble that also includes longest drive contests, a closest to the pin challenge and an opportunity to win a car for a hole in one.

On the day of the outing, registration is set to begin at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start scheduled for 12 p.m.

Individuals will also have the opportunity to make additional contributions through the sponsorship opportunities listed below.

Gold Sponsor ($2,000 and above)

• Foursome in tournament
• Signage on beverage cart
• Signage located on putting green

Silver Sponsor ($1,500)

• Signage on beverage cart
• Signage located on putting green

Bronze Sponsor ($1,000)

• Signage located on putting green
• Tee Sponsors: $200 each hole

Reservations can be made online at www.esufoundation.org/baseballgolf2025 or returned by mail (East Foundation, 200 Prospect Street, East Stroudsburg, Pa. 18301). Please make checks payable to ESU Foundation :
Baseball Golf Link
  Scrimmage & Alumni/Family Picnic
The Warriors' scrimmage is scheduled to get underway at a time to be determined at a later date on Saturday at Creekview Park. At the conclusion of the scrimmage, an alumni/family picnic will be held with free food and drinks.
For questions, more information, or if you're interested in attending any of these events, please contact ESU head baseball coach John Kochmansky at (570) 422-3263 or jkochmansky@esu.edu.