Baseball | February 13, 2020
PHILADELPHIA – After reaching 25 wins a season ago, the La Salle University baseball team brings a balanced attack to the table as the Explorers begin their 2020 schedule on Friday at Furman in South Carolina.
BUILDING MOMENTUM
- In head coach David Miller's second season at the helm, La Salle finished 25-31 in 2019. That marked the fourth most wins in program history, and it was an improvement of 11 wins from 2018.
- Catcher Tatem Levins, who now begins his sophomore season, was named a Freshman All-American last season and earned Atlantic 10 Conference Rookie of the Year honors.
- Graduating seniors Connor Hinchliffe and Peyton Sorrels collected All-Region accolades, while Ben Faso finished his career in the 200-hit club. Hinchliffe set the school record for saves in a season and is currently playing in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.
- Continuing to move the program forward, Miller returns 22 players from last year's team while adding 12 newcomers, including a freshman class that was nationally ranked by Perfect Game. Miller's last two recruiting classes have been nationally ranked, as is next year's incoming freshman class.
IMPACT HITTERS TO WATCH
- It all starts with Levins, who put forth one of the best freshman seasons in program history last year. Levins hit .321 over 52 games with nine home runs, 50 RBI, 35 runs, 17 doubles and a .556 slugging percentage. As a rookie, he finished top 10 in the program in single-season doubles, RBI and homers.
- Ryan Guckin is the lone senior on offense for the Explorers this season and has made great strides in each of his three seasons. Guckin was top-5 on the team in walks (28), homers (6), RBI (33) and OBP (.383) while batting .275 last season.
- Juniors Tommy Toal and Jack Cucinotta also figure to play a crucial role for the Explorers in 2020. Toal became the everyday shortstop as a sophomore, hitting .281 with 38 runs, 35 walks and a .423 OBP. Cucinotta made a tremendous jump from his freshman campaign, finishing third on the team in homers (7), slugging (.477) and OPS (.846) last year.
- Sophomores Nick O'Day and Matt Rivera also contributed as freshmen, as O'Day made 47 starts and scored 32 runs, while Rivera made 19 starts primarily behind the plate before going down to injury. Meanwhile, this summer, sophomore Ross Mulhall hit .295 with 10 homers and 44 RBI in the Prospect League.
IMPACT PITCHERS TO WATCH
- Junior left-hander Colin Scanlon became the team's Friday starter as the 2019 season progressed and he'll look to fulfill that role again this season. Scanlon tied for the team lead with four wins last year and had 43 strikeouts over 18 appearances, including eight starts.
- Junior Mike Jenkins was a perfect 4-0 as a midweek starter last season and had a 1.34 WHIP in 10 appearances. Fellow junior Colin Kennedy led the team with 49 strikeouts and held opposing hitters to a .256 batting average.
- Seniors Matt Holt and Jackson Ray bring plenty of experience as starters and in relief, while fellow seniors Erik Janss and Sebastian Martinez add depth to the bullpen.
UNDERCLASSMEN READY FOR OPPORTUNITIES
- With the departures of Hinchliffe, Faso and Sorrels to graduation, there will be prime opportunities for La Salle's underclassmen to take on bigger roles this season.
- Outfielder Elijah Dickerson could very well end up being one of the best hitters on the team as a freshman. Dickerson hit .550 over 20 games as a senior at Rancocas Valley High School and was ranked in the top 100 nationally by Perfect Game among outfielders in the class of 2019.
- Gabe Rappa comes in as one of the top left-handed pitchers in New Jersey last year and has a chance to solidify a spot in the starting rotation for the Explorers as a freshman. Manny Corporan adds a power arm to the staff as well in his first year after transferring from Fairleigh Dickinson.
- Redshirt freshman Bubba Weigel, freshman infielder David Smith and two-way player Dylan Maria also offer versatility in the lineup.
SERIES INFO VS. FURMAN
SCOUTING FURMAN
- The Paladins finished 26-31 overall and 13-11 in the Southern Conference last year and were 15-14 at home.
- John Michael Bertrand, who was 4-6 with a 4.90 ERA in 2019, will be Furman's Opening Day starting pitcher.
- Infielder Dax Roper was a Second Team All-SoCon player after hitting .278 with nine homers and 33 RBI a season ago. Designated hitter Trent Alley returns after batting .310 with three long balls and 27 RBI last season.
