Mercyhurst seeks third consecutive trip to CWS as season begins in West Virginia

The Mercyhurst Lakers’ flag is proudly hung outside the entrance of Coleman Field at the 2019 Division II College World Series in Cary, North Carolina on June 5, 2019. Photo by Jack Butler.

Jack Butler jbutle58@lakers.mercyhurst.edu

ERIE, Pennsylvania – Mercyhurst Baseball has been kicking it into high gear during the beginning of the Spring term by getting in the cages and throwing bullpen sessions. The team is preparing for another long and exhausting season but hoping it ends in June at the College World Series (CWS) again.

Lakers head coach Joe Spano is heading into his 21st season commanding the Mercyhurst squad where lots of familiar names returning. Besides losing the entire starting rotation in Tyler Garbee and Matthew Minnick, playing in the minor league systems of the Reds and Yankees respectively, and Russell Lamovec and Christian Young, Spano brought in recruits while also gaining more trust in upperclassmen. Catcher Hunter Snyder and infielder Dominic Cecere return while each are both working toward earning a master’s degree. Reliable pitchers Adam Jeannette, Nicholas McRandal, Jared Kapturasky, and Tyler Passmore come back expected to be used out of the bullpen repeatedly. Outfielders Matt Gibson and Luke Baranchak will be playing lots of innings in left and right field respectively while third baseman Jack Elliott and designated hitter Josh Surowiec return as well.

With the huge loss in pitchers, more opportunities will be given to Sophomores Corey Shields, Conner DeMoss, Lucas Folmar, and Chris Smith to fire pitches from the rubber. Thus, Mercyhurst as the late Herb Brooks once said, “you don’t have enough talent to win on talent alone,” will be the veteran and team-first culture that Spano creates for his team on and off the field. Having lots of upperclassmen to lead and foster the freshman into college ballplayers is extremely important because one day some of their names will be called upon soon. But for now, Mercyhurst will win most of its games and doubleheaders by getting great starting pitching, timely hitting, good defense, and most importantly relievers closing the door. The Lakers have all four of these key ingredients to make another run in May to be the Atlantic Super Regional Champions, then head to its third CWS in the past six years. This only can occur if the team meshes well together while also meeting the high preseason expectations through national, regional and conference polls.

Last month, Mercyhurst was ranked sixth in the preseason national Division II poll and first in both the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Atlantic Region and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) rankings. Each of these ranking expect Mercyhurst to be highly competitive once again and through covering the team last season the prediction is yet another winning campaign. The team will capture the PSAC West, participate in both the Atlantic Regional and Super Regional and as a result play for a third consecutive CWS.

Mercyhurst opens its 2020 season this weekend as the team travels to Glenville, West Virginia on Thursday, February 20 for three non-conference games. One against Concord University on Friday at 2:30 pm on Friday 21, then another is verse Glenville State College at 11 am on Saturday 22, while the Lakers wrap up the weekend facing Davis & Elkins College at 2:30 pm on Sunday 23. The following weekend the Lakers will return to Glenville to play more baseball facing Concord, Wheeling University, and Fairmont State University each once. Then, Mercyhurst will drive farther south to Wilson, North Carolina to face Shepherd University, Ohio Dominican University, and Lock Haven University. The week following Spring Break, Mercyhurst plays its home opener, a doubleheader versus Davenport University on Friday, March 13. Remember, students, factually and staff are welcome to attend all home games this season at the Mercyhurst Baseball Field.