Jacob Gumaer
Contributing Writer
The ESU baseball team is looking to open the season victorious down south in Wilson, NC with four games in three days.
The Warriors will try to begin the 2024 campaign on the right foot with two games against the Felician Golden Falcons, alongside two more versus the Barton Bulldogs.
After weeks of conditioning, workouts and scrimmages, the squad is eagerly awaiting their first live game action of the year. The Warriors enter 2024 hoping to build on a strong 2023 campaign in which they finished with a 36-14 overall record and 16-8 conference record, earning them second place in the PSAC East. They were later eliminated from NCAA D-II Championship contention after losing two of three games in the Atlantic Regional round.
More success is expected from ESU this season, as the PSAC Preseason Coaches Poll tabbed them to finish third in the PSAC East for the second year running. ESU also got attention from the NCBWA Division II Preseason Top 25, a poll in which they were voted 22nd in the nation.
In addition to some new recruits, the Warriors have many strong bats and arms returning to the team this season in hopes that they can help the team to improve on last season. In December, head coach John Kochmansky revealed the team’s captains for 2024.
The list consists of OF Ben Piripavel, SS Jeremy Piatkiewicz, C Tim Haverstick, SP/RP Nick McAuliffe and SP Brent Francisco.
A season ago, Piripavel experienced much of his success on the basepaths, going 31-37 (83.7% success rate) on steal attempts. He also was a valuable asset at the plate, sporting an on-base percentage of .442 with a team-high 48 walks. Through four seasons, Piripavel is 2nd in the all-time ESU rankings for walks (111) and stolen bases (85).
The Warriors look for senior shortstop Jeremy Piatkiewicz to be the anchor of their infield yet again after he started all 50 games in his junior season and started 57 games in 2022. However, Piatkiewicz is valuable for more than just his fielding and durability. Last year, the Fogelsville native slashed a line of .278/.448/.438 with 4 home runs and 33 RBIs.
Redshirt senior catcher Tim Haverstick has been a force behind the plate in his ESU career and looks to build on a successful 2023 in which he threw out twelve baserunners and earned ABCA Atlantic Region All-Defensive honors. He currently holds the ESU record for putouts with 1,064.
He looks to form another winning season with his pitching staff, led by seniors Francisco and McAuliffe, a duo that earned All-PSAC First Team honors in 2023. Francisco, the program’s lockdown starter, sported a career-low 3.33 ERA last season over 16 appearances and 14 starts. In his first year at ESU, Nick McAuliffe brought his best stuff to the bullpen, pitching to a 2.51 ERA over 22 appearances and two starts.
Look for the Warriors to hit the ground running down in North Carolina as they begin their 2024 campaign.
