By Steve Beard, LebCoSports Senior Baseball Contributor
As rain dominated last week’s schedule, teams are scrambling to make up games as they push to make a playoff run. Here is a preview of some of our storylines this week…
Two of the hottest teams in D2 in the nation will square off this weekend.
There’s a D3 team off to its best start ever as it looks to enter the national rankings and set an all time season wins record.
The SEC has powerhouse programs from top to bottom and there is no easy series to be played.
One of the guys we track won both a conference award and garnered national recognition for his efforts. Another guy appeared on a mid-season watch list for the “best player in college baseball” award.
While worrying about classes and the rest of challenges in college, plenty of these guys are banged up with minor injuries or aches and pains that come with being a college baseball player. Still, they all show up to class and practice and games as they look to perform and excel. College Baseball is a tough gig.
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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
April 2, 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 8, 2024
CCBC Essex, Chesapeake
April 8, 2024
#2 Northampton (no change)
March 21, 2024
#14 Central Penn **(according to this post on X)
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 SPOTLIGHT
Deklyn Marks, Albright College (Cedar Crest ’22) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
After jumping out the gate with a couple quick wins, Albright has struggled to win games, even remaining close to their opponent late in games. Despite that, players want to win no matter what their season record might be as they play for pride in themselves and their teammates. Deklyn Marks has consistently appeared throughout the Albright rebuild and showed that “never say die” attitude this weekend. Following a 1 for 4 effort in the series opening loss to Stevenson, the sophomore 2B found himself at the plate in extra innings after entering as a defensive replacement in game two. Marks delivered a walk off sac fly to give the Lions their first conference win this year (Game Stories and Box Scores). Marks again appeared in a late pivotal situation on Sunday, singling in the ninth and scoring on a balk to plate the eventual winning run as Albright put a dent in Stevenson’s playoff hopes, taking the three game series with a 6-5 win (Game Story and Box Score). Marks and the Lions look to be competitive against Weidner, Eastern, and Hood who are all mid-pack in the MAC Commonwealth and will either be the spoiler or a surprise as the season has reached more than halfway.
Class of 2019/2020
Austin Baal, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (Palmyra ’19) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Senior 1B Austin Baal had two walks during a Friday doubleheader sweep by one of the hottest teams in the nation, #12 East Stroudsburg (Game Stories and Box Scores), running their winning streak to 23 games with fourteen in a row in the PSAC. The Ship offense came alive on Saturday, as Baal knocked in two with a single in the first and subsequently scored, leading the Raiders with a 2 for 3 with two runs, two RBI and a walk. East Stroudsburg won game one, 10-8 and finished the sweep in game two by a score of 7-1. The only run came off the bat of the lefty 1B, as he launched his sixth HR (second in PSAC) in the loss (Game Stories and Box Scores). While Shippensburg’s offense has continued to produce, their starting pitching has been lackluster after ace Jaxon Dalena. With Millersville and a resurgent Kutztown on deck, the Raiders at 10-10 in conference will be looking to fend off Shepherd and Bloomsburg (PSAC Standings).
Brian Coburn, Lancaster Bible College, (Palmyra ’20) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Brian Coburn had a walk and a run as the Chargers opened their conference series with Penn State Abington with a 4-3 loss (Game Story and Box Score). Abington pitching was up to the task on Saturday, allowing two hits in a 4-0 shutout in game one. Coburn had two walks as one of the few Chargers to reach base. Nearly as stingey in game two, the Lions held Coburn hitless. Called upon to he gave up a wind aided HR in extra innings to be tagged with the loss (Game Stories and Box Scores). Despite the sweep, LBC remains in second place in United East Volt Division Standings (United East Standings).
Cameron Dubbs, Penn State Altoona, (Palmyra ’20) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Penn State Altoona continues to be challenged to get games in. They had only played four games since their return from Florida on March 9 coming into a Sunday doubleheader with Alfred State. Dubbs’ last action was March 8.
Amani Jones, Millersville University of PA (Cedar Crest ’20) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Jones had a single and stole a couple of bags in game one on Saturday, in which Millersville showed no mercy on Mercy University (see what we did there?), winning game one 8-2. In the second game, Jones singled and scored and swiped another bag, entering the top ten for the day for the PSAC (Game Stories and Box Scores). Drawing a walk in game one on Sunday, Jones played the hero repeatedly in game two. Losing 2-0 and being no hit into the fifth, Jones RBI single broke up the no-no and led to the Marauders tying up the game. Jones wasn’t done playing GOAT—his double in the seventh walked it off and secured the series sweep for the ‘Ville (Game Stories and Box Scores). This VIDEO LINK essentially becomes “The Amani Jones Show” at the 3:45 mark, as Jones does it all in the batter’s box, on the base paths, and on the field. Millersville and East Stroudsburg link up on Friday at the Coop and Saturday in the Poconos for what is set up to be the series of the season in the PSAC East.
The Raider Baseball staff took members of the Varsity Baseball Team to Millersville University to see Millersville host Mercy College (NY) this afternoon. Thank you @VilleMarauders! ⚾️ #ElcoExcellence @ERbaseball17067 @brad_kreiser @elcosd @LebCoSports1 pic.twitter.com/Ec66tbzPi1
— ELCO Athletics (@ELCOAthletics) April 6, 2024
Christian Kreiser, Stevens Institute of Technology (Palmyra ’20) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Christian Kreiser’s RBI groundout in the first inning was all Stevens really needed, as they knocked off #25 Arcadia, 9-0 (Game Story and Box Score). Stevens doubled down on the upset deal on Saturday, winning game one 7-5, in large part to a critical two RBI single by Kreiser in the fourth to tie the game. That loss likely will knock Arcadia out of the top 25 and will surely benefit Stevens at tiebreaker time, as both teams are now 8-4. Arcadia responded in the finale, taking it 10-0. Kreiser was 1 for 3 in game two. (Game Stories and Box Scores).
Jonathan LaBarbera, Bloomsburg University of PA (Cedar Crest ’20) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Senior infielder Jon LaBarbera singled in a 4-1 game one loss to Shepherd on Sunday. In game two, his RBI single in the fifth helped Bloom earn the split, 5-1. LaBarbera was 2 for 3 in game two and added a stolen base (Game Stories and Box Scores). The Huskies finish up with Shepherd this week and need to win both as they look to make PSAC playoffs in a scramble with Shepherd and Kutztown while chasing Shippensburg.
Tyler Long, Mount Saint Mary’s University, (Annville-Cleona ’20) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
With wins at a premium, the Mount faced a pivotal series against Marist, against who they might compete for the last spot in the MAAC playoffs. With an unfavorable unbalanced schedule in which they do not play most of the weak teams in the conference, a chance to dance in May might come down to the results of a cold April weekend. Long had a single and scored in game one on Saturday, a 4-1 MSM loss. With weather necessitating a double header Saturday as opposed to traditional single nine on Friday/Saturday/Sunday, Long and the Mount evened the series with a 12-9 slugfest win. Long was 3 for 4 with three runs and an RBI double (Video Link), adding a stolen base and getting hit by a pitch (Game Stories and Box Scores). Long suffered a scare on Sunday when he was hit by a ball during BP. Fortunately, he appears to be out for only a few days and should return to action soon to write the final chapter in an outstanding career at the Mount.
Kasey Shugart, Clarion University of Pennsylvania (Palmyra ’20) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
In the same week they announced that they were moving to D1, Mercyhurst outdueled Clarion, 1-0 and 2-0. Like most of the Golden Eagles, Shugart was held hitless in the doubleheader that saw Clarion total six hits on the day (Game Stories and Box Scores). Mercyhurst pitching remained tough on Sunday as Shugart managed one hit and a sac bunt in the doubleheader loss (Game Stories and Box Scores).
Class of 2021
Dylan Beard, Messiah University (Cedar Crest ’21) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Junior 2B Dylan Beard drew a walk in a 15-3 series opening beat down of Hood College, 15-3 (Game Story and Box Score). Hitless in game one Saturday, Beard opened the Falcon scoring in game two with a two run single in the first (Video Link). He added a double in the third and notched a critical sac bunt that put a runner into scoring position, who eventually scored, in a slugfest game two, 16-10 (Game Stories and Box Scores). On Sunday, one day after Messiah reached twenty wins faster than any previous Falcon team, Beard was 2 for 4 with a bunt single and a sac bunt and two runs scored, as Messiah came roaring back from an early 6-0 deficit to win 10-7 over Eastern (Game Story and Box Score). Messiah moved to 21-6 on the season and have a pivotal matchup this coming weekend with York College. The Spartans have hit a rough patch and dropped to third in the MAC Commonwealth while Messiah is in great shape with an 11-1 conference record. York is still in the hunt and will be looking to knock the Falcons off their perch with Alvernia sitting in second with plenty of games left. Messiah looks to get to 29 wins and eclipse a school record.
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
Eck did not throw for the Mounties in a short two game week. They have struggled to play consistently, having only played four games since March 15 when they returned from spring break.
Mason Kepler, Clarion University of Pennsylvania (Palmyra ’21) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
In Mercyhurst doubleheader sweep in which Clarion tallied a mere six hits on the day, Kepler was one of the few Golden Eagles to reach base on a hit, singling in game one (Game Stories and Box Scores). Kepler did not play game one on Sunday and was hitless in game two (Game Stories and Box Scores).
Gage Miller, Alabama University (Palmyra ’21) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
In a week that saw him recognized on The Golden Spikes Award MidSeason Watch List (Link), Gage Miller continued to do Gage Miller things. Miller scored on a home run following his lead off walk to open the game. He hit a two run home run in the sixth (video) and added a solo shot in the ninth (video). He ended the game 2 for 4 with 3 runs, 3 RBI, and two walks as ‘Bama won 11-10 (Game Story and Box Score). In weekend game one with #15 Kentucky, one of the hottest teams in Division One, Miller extended his on base streak to twenty nine games with a hit by pitch, but suffered a rare hitless night against grad year transfer Trey Pooser (Game Story and Box Score). Miller reached base for his thirtieth consecutive game on a HBP on Saturday, but Kentucky’s pitching staff again held him hitless in a 7-0 loss (Game Story and Box Score). Amazingly, following two hitless games, Miller entered Sunday with a .424 batting average, a gauge of how good Gage had been thus far. The Wildcats completed the sweep on Sunday, as Miller was 1 for 4 with an RBI groundout in the 10-1 loss (Game Story and Box Score). Miller has now reached base safely in all thirty one games he has played in, closing in on Taylor Dugas’ 34 game streak in 2012 to start the season as part of his program leading 46 game streak that started in 2011. ‘Bama looks to right the ship with an upcoming nine game homestand.
Gavin Neal, Lock Haven University of PA, (Palmyra ’21) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Neal was out on concussion protocol this week for Lock Haven. We wish Gavin a quick recovery and return to action.
Dalton Reinhart, Stevenson University, (Cedar Crest ’21) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Looking to gain some ground in the Mid Atlantic Conference Commonwealth standings, Stevenson aimed to sweep last place Albright and took the first step in Saturday game one with a 5-2 win. Reinhart got the party started early with an RBI single in the first enroute to a 3 for 3 game. The “sweep hopes” were dashed in game two, when Albright won in extra innings at the hands of former CCHS teammate Deklyn Marks who hit a walk off sac fly. Reinhart was 2 for 5 with an RBI and a run in game two, a 5-4 loss (Game Stories and Box Scores). The junior OF/DH/LHP was 2 for 4 in the finale as Stevenson’s playoff hopes took a hit, falling to Albright 6-5 (Game Story and Box Score). At 4-8 in conference tied with Hood and Eastern and with upcoming conference series with Alvernia (9-3) and Messiah (11-1) the tiebreaker they hold over Widener and the final series against Eastern should be critical in Stevenson’s playoff hopes. Hood holds the tiebreaker against Stevenson, so the Mustangs will look to upset the Golden Wolves and the Falcons over the next two weekends.
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: April 2, 2024
Class of 2022
Austin Beard, Northampton Community College (Cedar Crest ’22) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
On Wednesday, April 3, 2024, Northampton Community College sophomore RHP was named National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III National Pitcher of the Week for the week of March 26-April 2 (Link). Beard received the accolade for his complete game 11k performance versus #3 Brookdale. NCC adjusted the rotation and Beard is anticipated to start on Tuesday against Camden and Saturday against Lehigh-Carbon Community College.
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
Deimling appeared as a pinch hitter against nationally ranked Salisbury (Game Story and Box Score).
Caleb Fisher, Chesapeake College (Palmyra ’22) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Sophomore LHP Caleb Fisher had another stellar outing for Chesapeake on Sunday. In the second half of a doubleheader versus CCBC Dundalk, Fisher threw a seven inning complete game, scattering seven hits and two runs in a 3-2 triumph (Box Score). Now 3-2 on the year, Fisher leads the (qualified) Skipjacks staff in wins and ERA. Chesapeake sits mid-pack in Region XX.
Noah Gonzalez, Northampton Community College (Cedar Crest ’22) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Sophomore OF Noah Gonzalez had a stellar day for NCC on Sunday in game one against Union Community College. Entering late in the game, Gonzalez was 2 for 3 with a run scored as the Spartans put up crooked numbers in game one, winning 19-0 (Box Score).
Class of 2023
Robbie Best, CCBC Essex, (Palmyra ’23) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Robbie Best appeared on Sunday against Harford, playing at first base for CCBC Essex. He was 0 for 1 with a walk in a 10-0 loss (Box Score).
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
Freshman RHP Bronson Coburn was tagged with a Friday loss to PSU Abington, 4-3. Coburn gave up a double to lead off the sixth in a 2-2 game, but quickly worked out of it with a strikeout and ground out. He allowed an unearned run in the eighth and a run in the ninth (Game Story and Box Score).
Jared Ecenroad, Delaware Valley University , (Northern Lebanon ’23) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
The freshman infielder appeared as a pinch hitter in the Aggies’ loss to King’s on Sunday (Game Story and Box Score).
Brian Lowen, Central Penn College , (Northern Lebanon ’23) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Freshman SS Brian Lowen was 1 for 3 with two runs scored and an RBI as CPC defeated Christendom in game one on Saturday (Box Score). He did not appear in game two.
Nick Pagano, Neumann University, (ELCO ’23) Season Stats Upcoming Schedule
Pagano did not play for Neumann this week.
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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