By Steve Beard, LebCoSports Senior Baseball Contributor
As rainy weather begins the first week of April and the Major League Baseball season kicks into high gear, most of our guys are at or just the halfway point in the season. We’re adding standings for each conference to our column this week, as national rankings don’t figure into playoffs in most circumstances. As April rolls along, we will look at the various playoff structures for each conference or region, as everyone does this a little differently.
Finally, our Featured Player Highlight looks at a guy who looks to have saved the best for last, as Kasey Shugart, Palmyra Cougar alum and current Clarion Golden Eagle, is putting up a career session as a senior.
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The Rankings
April 1, 2024
#14 Alabama (up from #17)
Mount Saint Mary’s
March 27, 2024
Posts Wednesday after our publication
Bloomsburg, Clarion, Lock Haven,#6 Millersville (no change), Shippensburg
March 26, 2024
Posts Tuesday after our publication
Albright, Delaware Valley, Lebanon Valley, Messiah, Stevens, Stevenson, York
Lancaster Bible College, (RV) Penn State- Harrisburg
Mount Aloysius, Penn State-Altoona
Neumann
Virginia Wesleyan
April 1, 2024
CCBC Essex, Chesapeake
April 1, 2024
#2 Northampton (Up from #4)
March 21, 2024
Central Penn
Note: This column will always use the current week poll and only the poll listed above. For that reason, you might see an apparent conflict in our reporting versus what the college websites will say (and they will always use the poll that ranks their team the highest).
FEATURED PLAYER
Kasey Shugart, Clarion University of Pennsylvania (Palmyra ’20) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Despite an abysmal team record, senior OF Kasey Shugart continues to show up every series with offensive highlights. He was on base multiple times and recorded a sac bunt on a Monday doubleheader in which Cal completed the series sweep that had started over the previous weekend (Game Stories and Box Scores). His double was one of only six Clarion hits in the series opener versus IUP on Thursday. In game two, his two base hits led to two runs, scoring on a double in the first and a home run in the fourth as Clarion defeated IUP, 5-3 (Game Stories and Box Scores). Shugart was in the middle of much of the action on Friday game one, as he was 2 for 5 with two runs scored along with a two RBI single to put the game out of reach, as Clarion smoked IUP, 13-4 (Box Score). And despite another 2 for 5 game two with a double and two more runs scored, IUP won the finale of the series, 9-8 (Box Score). The senior outfielder’s .390 average, .460 OBP, and 30 hits lead the Golden Eagles offense. His low strikeout numbers (9, the lowest of qualified Clarion players) and 1.000 Fielding Percentage are equally impressive. While Clarion continues to struggle to win consistently, Kasey Shugart is quietly putting together a body of work that should garner him attention when it comes to PSAC conference awards. Clarion Student-Athlete Advisory Committee named Kasey Shugart as their male athlete of the week for March 18-25, 2024.
View this post on Instagram
Clarion Student-Athlete Advisory Committee announced on March 30 that Kasey Shugart was named male “Athlete of the Week” for the week of March 18-25, 2024. “The mission of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is to enhance the total student-athlete experience by promoting opportunity, protecting student-athlete welfare and fostering a positive student-athlete image,” according to the SAAC website. / Photo Credit: Clarion SAAC Instagram
Class of 2019/2020
Austin Baal, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (Palmyra ’19) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Baal was 2 for 5 in an early week loss to Seton Hill (Game Story and Box Score). In a Friday weekend opening doubleheader sweep of Shepherd, Baal was hitless in game one, but made up for that in game two. His first inning RBI double put Ship up 2-0, backing it up with an RBI double in the second. He added a third double in the fifth to finish the game 3 for 4 with two runs and three RBI (Game Stories and Box Scores). Shepherd turned the tables on the Raiders on Saturday, winning 13-4 and 4-1. Other than a game one home run, Baal had a quiet day at the plate (Game Stories and Box Scores). Baal is near the top of multiple statistical categories in the PSAC, including third in OPS (1.186), total bases (59), and Slugging Percentage (.686). Ship hosts Goldey-Beacom on Tuesday and continues conference play against #12 East Stroudsburg.
Brian Coburn, Lancaster Bible College, (Palmyra ’20) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
In a wild 15-15 game that ended due to darkness after 11 innings, the senior SS was 1 for 5 with three runs scored (Game Story and Box Score). LBC utilized the turf at Cooper Field in Millersville on Friday to host a doubleheader with the St. Mary’s Seahawks. Coburn was 2 for 3 with an RBI (sac fly) as the Chargers took game one, 6-5. He added two more hits in game two as LBC swept the Seahawks to run their record to 14-5-1 (6-1-1 conference) (Game Stories and Box Scores). The Chargers swept the series with a 17-7 Saturday win in which Coburn helped lead a furious comeback after going down 6-0. The senior SS was 3 for 4 with a home run and a double, a stolen base, three RBI and four runs scored (Game Story and Box Score). Mount Aloysius visits Tuesday before LBC and Penn State-Abington lock up for a conference series.
Cameron Dubbs, Penn State Altoona, (Palmyra ’20) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Cameron Dubbs did not pitch this week for the Lions.
Amani Jones, Millersville University of PA (Cedar Crest ’20) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
#6 Millersville put up double digits in both halves of Friday’s doubleheader with Lock Haven, winning 15-4 and 11-6. Jones had a second inning sac fly in game one. In game two, he walked and scored a run in the sixth to start a rally that led to a win, as Millersville set their single game stolen base record (12) (Game Stories and Box Scores). Jones drew two walks and scored a run in a game one 14-0 drubbing of Lock Haven and knocked in a run on a ground out in game 2, a 4-0 Maruader win (Game Stories and Box Scores).
Christian Kreiser, Stevens Institute of Technology (Palmyra ’20) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Following a quiet Friday at the plate (Game Story and Box Score), the senior 1B was 2 for 2 with a walk in a Saturday game one loss to Delaware Valley. In game two, a Stevens win, he was 1 for 2 with an RBI and a run as well as two walks before giving way to a late inning replacement (Game Stories and Box Scores).
Jonathan LaBarbera, Bloomsburg University of PA (Cedar Crest ’20) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
The senior infielder was 1 for 4 with a run scored and a walk as Bloom fell to IUP, 10-7 (Game Story and Box Score). Bloomsburg and Kutztown split the Friday doubleheader with identical 8-7 scores. LaBarbera was hit twice by pitches and scored a run in game one. He was 1 for 4 with an RBI in game two (Game Stories and Box Scores). Bloom swept the Saturday doubleheader. In game one, LaBarbera knocked in a run and scored a run, also drawing a walk. In game two, he was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored ( ).
Tyler Long, Mount Saint Mary’s University, (Annville-Cleona ’20) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Long was on base three times and scored twice, but MSM was unable to complete a furious comeback, falling to Bucknell, 16-14 (Game Story and Box Score). The Mount pitching staff has a year to date ERA north of seven. Long and his team traveled to Oregon for a weekend series against Portland U. Portland swept MSM (4-0, 6-4, 23-3). Long had a hit in game one (Game Story and Box Score), a hit, walk, and run in game two (Game Story and Box Score), and a hit and a run in game three (Game Story and Box Score).
Class of 2021
Dylan Beard, Messiah University (Cedar Crest ’21) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
The PSU-Altoona Lions visited Messiah on Monday and junior 2B Dylan Beard was 2 for 3 with a run scored and sac fly RBI as the Falcons defeated Altoona, 9-3 (Game Story and Box Score). On Saturday at home against Eastern (game one being moved to the following Monday), Beard was 2 for 3 with a run in game one, with a double play as a video highlight for Messiah (Video Link). His sac fly plated the third run for Messiah in game two, in an 11-1 win that drove their conference record to 7-1, one half game ahead of York (Game Stories and Box Scores).
Riley Blatt, Penn State-Harrisburg (ELCO ’21) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Blatt did not pitch this week for PSU-Harrisburg.
Jeremy Eck, Mount Aloysius College, (ELCO ’21) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Jeremy Eck did not pitch this week for the Mounties.
Mason Kepler, Clarion University of Pennsylvania (Palmyra ’21) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
The junior catcher was on base a couple of times in a sweep by Cal U on Monday (Game Stories and Box Scores) and on base once in a doubleheader split on Thursday (Game Stories and Box Scores). Kepler had an RBI single and sac fly RBI in game one in Friday’s game one win over IUP (Box Score). He was hitless in his only plate appearance in game two (Box Score).
Gage Miller, Alabama University (Palmyra ’21) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
The junior 3B received a day of rest on Tuesday during a non-con with Belmont. On Thursday, Miller drew two walks, including a crucial walk in the seventh as the Crimson Tide scored three times late to defeat #16 South Carolina, 4-3 (Game Story and Box Score). Miller’s 3 for 4 night (Video Link) with a walk and a double included scoring two runs and turning a game ending double play (Video Link) to help ‘Bama clinch the series win in game two, a 13-6 victory (Game Story and Box Score). Alabama lost the finale, 9-8, but not without a valiant effort from Miller who continued to scorch the ball. His two run triple in the ninth was the centerpiece of an ill fated rally. He also hit a double and scored twice, driving his team leading average up to a gaudy .449. He is tied for the team lead in HR (11) and leads the Crimson Tide in RBI (36) (Alabama Stat Sheet) and is at the top of most every offensive category.
Gavin Neal, Lock Haven University of PA, (Palmyra ’21) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Neal was hitless on Tuesday against Pitt-Johnstown (Game Story and Box Score). Neal scored a run in game one and drove one in during game two as the Bald Eagles were swept in a Friday doubleheader at home versus Millersville (Game Stories and Box Scores). Lock Haven only managed four hits in game one on Saturday, a 14-0 loss, and Neal did not play game two (Game Stories and Box Scores). He did make a phenomenal play in game one, captured on video (Video Link).
Dalton Reinhart, Stevenson University, (Cedar Crest ’21) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Reinhart drew three walks as York pounded Stevenson 13-2 in game one of the three game set (Game Story and Box Score). While Stevenson was swept on Saturday as well, the games were more competitive (11-4 and 5-1), but the Mustang offense struggled against the Spartans. While he only saw one at bat in game one, he did his part with a double and a walk in game two (Game Stories and Box Scores).
Thomas Zeigler, Messiah University (Palmyra ’21) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
The junior RHP/OF did not see action this week for Messiah University.
LebCo College Baseball Prospect Tracker: March 26, 2024
Class of 2022
Austin Beard, Northampton Community College (Cedar Crest ’22) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
For the second week in a row, the #4 Northampton Community College Spartans turned to their tall righthander to act as the “Stopper.” On the heels of taking down the number one team in the nation last week, Beard was tasked with stopping a two game losing streak while facing the number three team in the nation, the Brookdale Jersey Blues. For the second week in a row, the sophomore RHP did his job. Twirling a complete game three hitter, Beard led the Spartans to the front end win of a doubleheader sweep, striking out eleven while allowing two earned runs (Game Story and Box Score). On Monday, NCC moved up to #2 in the nation, with pitcher Austin Beard is fourth in the nation in wins (5) and fifth in strikeouts (49) in NJCAA Division 3. On Monday, Beard was named Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Player of the Week (Link to Region XIX Website).
Braden Collazo, Penn State-Harrisburg (Lebanon High School ’22) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Collazo did not pitch this week for PSU-Harrisburg.
Jacob Deimling, York College of Pennsylvania (Palmyra ’22) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Jacob Deimling delivered a pinch hit single and scored a run as the Spartans pounded LVC, 19-5 (Game Story and Box Score). He appeared as a defensive replacement against Stevenson.
Caleb Fisher, Chesapeake College (Palmyra ’22) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Chesapeake has not posted all game results from last week as of publication time.
Noah Gonzalez, Northampton Community College (Cedar Crest ’22) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
The Spartans were no hit in their finale versus Middlesex, and despite three hard hit balls, Gonzalez was among the hitless (Box Score).
Deklyn Marks, Albright College (Cedar Crest ’22) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Marks had a walk and scored a run as the Lions knocked off Muhlenburg on Monday, 12-5 (Game Story and Box Score). The sophomore 2B was hitless in a game that saw a total of three Albright singles in an 11-0 loss to Neumann (Game Story and Box Score). Marks had one of Albright’s three hits in a 14-0 loss on Friday to Alvernia (Game Story and Box Score). Alvernia swept the Lions with two Saturday wins, 11-1 and 10-1 was Albright’s pitching woes continue. Marks played in game two and was 2 for 4 (Game Stories and Box Scores).
Class of 2023
Robbie Best, CCBC Essex, (Palmyra ’23) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Robbie Best did not play for CCBC Essex this week.
Dylan Byerly, Virginia Wesleyan University, (Northern Lebanon ’23) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Byerly did not see action this week for VA Wesleyan.
Bronson Coburn, Lancaster Bible College, (Palmyra ’23) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Bronson Coburn took the win in relief on Friday, throwing 2.2 innings and allowing two runs in a 10-6 win over PSU Berks (Box Score).
Jared Ecenroad, Delaware Valley University , (Northern Lebanon ’23) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Jared Ecenroad did not play this week for DelVal.
Brian Lowen, Central Penn College , (Northern Lebanon ’23) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
In a short week of only two Monday games, Lowen was 1 for 1 with a run scored, an RBI, two stolen bases and a walk in game one (Box Score) of a double header sweep over Bucks County Community College. In game two, Lowen had one hit in two plate appearances (Box Score). (Game Stories)
Nick Pagano, Neumann University, (ELCO ’23) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
The freshman infielder entered as a pinch hitter at DH in an 11-0 win over Albright (Game Story and Box Score).
Deklyn Marks and Nick Pagano, travel teammates on the Lebanon Longshots and hockey teammates from their CPIHL days, catch up on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 following Neumann vs Albright. /Photo Credit: Chris Pagano (Reader Submitted)
Jordy Polanco, Lebanon Valley College, (Lebanon High School ’23) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Polanco did not pitch this week for LVC.
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