Roster | Schedule | Statistics
MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – After a 373-day hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Penn State Harrisburg athletics finally returns to competition when the Blue & White baseball program steps back on the diamond on Saturday, March 20. While much will look different this spring due to health and safety protocols, one thing that remains unchanged is the potential of head coach Ryan Bown's deep and talented squad heading into the upcoming campaign.
Look Who's Back
The Lions return 17 players from their 2019 NCAA Tournament team, as well as 11 more from last year's COVID-19-shortened season. The lineup will be anchored by 2019 first-team all-American and 2020 preseason first-team all-American Bret Williams, along with talented hitters including Chase Smith, Ryan McSorley, Tyler Aug, Casey Winters, Ben Closson, and Matt Parks. Williams, McSorley, and Aug were off to especially impressive starts a year ago before the 2020 campaign was cut short. Underclassmen Carson Barge, Jack Rinehimer, Dallas Hite, Robbie Skinner, Simeon Davis, and Brandon Feltman are also back this spring to provide more options at the plate.
The pitching staff is led by a number of returning arms, including 2019 Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) All-Conference Second Teamer Zach Gettys and fellow starter Michael De Leon. Bullpen weapons include top reliever Tyler Jackson and lefty Tyler Stabley. Austin Kunkel and Nick Fitzgerald have each logged starts the past two seasons, while Brad Richards and Kieran Kearns should help bolster the bullpen with their experience. The arms of Luke Myers, Kevin Maiolo, Joel Sneeringer, Everett Horton, Chris Brindle, Hunter Merritt and Tom Westers will also provide valuable depth on the mound.
Newcomers
The Blue & White have 21 new faces joining the ranks this spring, with six new arms being added to the pitching staff and 15 position players stepping on to the Penn State Harrisburg Baseball Field for the first time this season.
On the bump, transfer Drew Harshbarger should help bolster the starting rotation right away. He's joined by freshmen hurlers Noah Karichner, Jimmy Staedt, Cole Mehrman, Alex Lawson, and Cole Boyan. Freshmen Kevin Lehner and Kyle Bosley add to the outfield options, while Matt Isaac, Maddux Ryan, Vinnie Czarecki, Jake Bianchini, Julian Belardo, Owen Zimmerman, Ryan Barthlow, Bradley Carvajal, and Joe Licolli join utility players Chris Flynn and Brian Reiner as new infielders this season. Freshmen catchers Drew Bechtold and Sam Merchant also join the squad this spring.
At the Polls
Penn State Harrisburg was ranked No. 27 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's 2021 Preseason NCAA Division III Poll. It is the program's second consecutive preseason national ranking.
Preseason Honors
Five Penn State Harrisburg players in Tyler Aug, Zach Gettys, Tyler Jackson, Ryan McSorley, and Bret Williams were named to the 2021 Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division III Players to Watch List.
Take Two
Despite officially returning to the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) last spring after spending the prior six seasons competing in the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC), Penn State Harrisburg has yet to play a game against NEAC competition since 2013 thanks to COVID-19 halting last year's campaign. The Lions open conference play at Penn College on March 27 and will look to win its second NEAC Title this season after capturing the program's first-ever league championship in 2013.
Circle the Date
April 1 – at Keystone (DH), 12 p.m.
Penn State Harrisburg will hit the road for the first two games of a home-and-home doubleheader series with the Giants on April Fools' Day that wraps up in Middletown on April 20. The last time the Lions faced off against the 2021 Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) preseason favorites, it took a Bret Williams walk-off grand slam to seal the victory for the Blue & White in 2019.
April 7 – at Penn State Abington (DH), 1 p.m.
Penn State Harrisburg is back in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) and looking to reintroduce itself as one of the league's top programs. The Blue & White will have the chance to do just that when they travel to take on the 2019 NEAC Champions from Penn State Abington in doubleheader action before facing off again in Middletown on April 24.
April 14 – vs. Shenandoah (DH), 1 p.m.
The Lions play host to one of the top teams in the country in mid-April, with the Hornets currently ranking in the top 20 of the D3baseball.com/NCBWA Top 25 Poll. Penn State Harrisburg is 0-3 all-time against Shenandoah but will look to change that and avenge a defeat from the teams' last meeting two seasons ago.
No Spectators This Spring
In adherence to Penn State and North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) policies and in hopes of limiting student-athlete, coach, and staff exposure, spectators are prohibited at Penn State Harrisburg home contests this spring. The NEAC understands the desire to attend athletic contests this spring and recognizes the frustration that exists around the issue. The conference office cannot unilaterally change the current spectator policy or allow spectators on any one member campus. The current stance of the NEAC Presidents' Council is a result of restrictions that remain in place at member campuses that prohibit or severely limit outside visitors to the campus in any capacity. These restrictions are not exclusive to athletics and currently impact admissions and recruitment efforts, as well as academic programs and events. The NEAC Presidents' Council will continue to discuss this policy throughout the spring semester as restrictions change on campuses and in their extended locales.
Follow the Live Action
While spectators will not be permitted at home contests this spring, fans can easily follow all the action with live video and live stats for numerous athletic events at athletics.hbg.psu.edu/live. Fans are encouraged to follow @pshbgathletics on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for the most-timely updates, photo galleries, video, and other multimedia content. Be sure to visit Penn State Harrisburg's athletics website - athletics.hbg.psu.edu - often for the most up-to-date results, recaps, news, features, statistics, schedule changes, and much more. Video and live stats links will be available and distributed on the athletics website, as well as via Penn State Harrisburg athletics' social media platforms.
Opening Day
The Lions begin the 2021 season by hosting Susquehanna for non-conference doubleheader action on Saturday, March 20. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.