Alumni Roundup: Week Five

March 19, 2024


Now over a month into the college season, we’ve seen Tier alumni put together outstanding performances - this week was no different. Hit streaks and homers are this week’s headline, and pro alum, Aidan Miller, receives tons of social media attention with Max Clark after Breakout Series game.

Alum of the Week


It didn’t take Luke Napleton long to adjust to the Division I level. A Quincy University (Division II) transfer, Napleton had quite the career for the Hawks. In his final season for Quincy, Napleton hit 29 homers and drove in 87 runs while hitting for a .352 average. Now, as a middle-of-the-order hitter for Louisville, Napleton has launched six homers and is hitting .375 a month into his senior season. 

On Friday, March 15, Napleton had a three homer game in the Cardinals’ ACC opener against Virginia Tech. He drove in five on the day en route to a 9-6 victory for Louisville.


Luke Napleton is a 2020 St. Rita (IL) grad from LaGrange Park, Ill. Napleton joined Top Tier’s youth program at 14U and finished his travel career with our 17U team.

Notable Performances


Graham Mastros (Saint Louis) is well on his way to a Freshman All-A10 type of season. He picked up another four hits, including two XBH, on the weekend in a road series against Southeastern Louisiana. He’s hitting .328 and found himself in the starting lineup 18 times so far this season for the Billikens.

Sam Antonacci (Coastal Carolina) remains among Sun Belt Conference leaders in a few offensive categories, such as average, 2B, walks, HBP and on-base percentage. Antonacci has hit safely in six of his last seven and continues to be a large part in the Chanticleers success, helping them to a 17-3 overall record and a No. 13 ranking.


Noah Edders (Bradley) picked up win No. 3 on the year, this time against Butler. Edders went 5.1 IP allowing three earned on three hits. He K’d six in his outing. He improves his overall record to 3-2.

Cade Kurland (Florida) and the Gators sit at 12-7 and just took the series against then No. 4 Texas A&M. Kurland went 1-for-4 in each of the three games against the Aggies. In Friday’s opener, Kurland homered and walked, helping Florida to a dramatic victory.


Daniel Pacella (Illinois State) continues to have a good season 16 games in. In a midweek win against Indiana on March 13, Pacella went 2-for-4 with a homer and three knocked in. He had a rather quiet series against UT-Martin but posted a hit and knocked in four on the weekend.

Vytas Valincius (Illinois) has reached safely in his last 12 games. This weekend, against Southern Indiana, Valincius tallied three hits. Valincius and the Fighting Illini host Bradley on Tuesday, March 19 before beginning conference play against Indiana this weekend.

Blake Wright (Clemson) and the Tigers are rolling, having won 13 of their last 14. Wright has been a large contributor to Clemson’s success this season. In five games last week, Wright collected nine hits. He also homered three times and knocked in eight. In a two game set against Manhattan and three against Duke, the Tigers went 4-1 and sit at No. 4 in the D1baseball.com poll.


Khyle Radcliffe (Southern), reigning Tier Alum of the Week, homered against Texas Southern while hitting a double in the contest as well. Southern would drop the game but Radcliffe continues to hit for the Jaguars.


Despite a good outing, Arizona and Jackson Kent would drop the series opener against Arizona State on Friday, March 15. Kent threw 7.1 innings and struck out five. One unearned run crossed in his outing. The Wildcats fell 3-2.


In a win against Indiana, Hank Liss (Belmont) logged three innings on March 15. Liss allowed one earned but K’d three in a 58-pitch outing. Belmont went on to win 9-3.


Peyton Olejnik (Miami-OH) earned win No. 2 on the season. Olejnik threw four innings against Central Michigan and K’d nine, allowing just two hits in a 70-pitch appearance. Olejnik bounced back from a rough outing a week prior and helped the Redhawks close out a 3-2 win against the Chips.

Benjamin Rosengard (UC San Diego) helped lift the Tritons to a series win against Cal St. Fullerton. Rosengard had a hit and an RBI in two games this weekend. UC San Diego is now 15-4 heading into a Big West matchup against UC Davis.


Colin Husko (Dubuque) has recorded a hit in every game he’s played in this season. He’s tallied 21 hits in 54 AB’s, good enough for a .389 average. He has nine XBH and has driven in 12 - all while striking out just four times. Husko is also working his way up the all-time HBP leaderboard at Dubuque with 24 in his career thus far. Senior teammate Kyle Radi has 28 HBP’s.


Aidan Miller is among the Phillies top prospects and was selected to the Philadelphia Breakout Series roster. This weekend, that team opened up play against the Detroit Tigers. Miller continued to draw attention after a strong showing. He singled and drove in the Phillies only run, later reaching on a catcher’s interference and striking out.


After the game, Miller swapped jerseys with Max Clark of the Tigers. Both first round picks a year ago, Miller and Clark were also teammates on the USA Baseball 18U roster and are still very good friends.

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