by Matt Plante
Vice President
NCAA Division 1 College Preview for Top Tier Alums Heading into Opening Weekend
Army
Anfernee Crompton is entering his junior season as an infielder and outfielder for Army. Crompton got a ton of playing time his sophomore season, starting in 50 of the 56 games. Crompton hit .222 last season with 4 doubles, 1 home run and 22 RBI’s. Crompton will be looking to be more of an impact offensively this year for Army.
Joe Santoro is entering his junior season as RHP for Army. Santoro has made a total of 30 appearances in his first two seasons at Army. Santoro is 2-0 with an 8.31 ERA, with 34 strikeouts in 34.1 innings of work. Santoro looks to have more of a bullpen role this season.
Austin Peay
Brett Newberg a senior LHP looks to be the guy out of the pen or a starter this year. Newberg came off his best year in 2018 where he threw 57 innings going 3-2 with 6 saves and a 3.79 ERA. In three years at Austin Peay, Newberg has a 5.13 ERA in a 124.2 innings with 107 strikeouts.
Mike Carey a freshman infielder looks to help out wherever he can as the Governors have a lot of upperclassmen depth in the infield.
Belmont
Austin Ehren is a freshman Outfielder for the Bruins, looking to be an impact guy both at the plate and on the basepaths with his speed.
Bradley
Brian Schrimmer is a senior on the mound for the Braves this year. Last year was Schrimmer’s first season with the Braves as a transfer from Heartland CC. Schrimmer earned honorable mention All-MVC making 18 appearances in relief, was 1-0 with 2 saves and a 1.33 ERA. Schrimmer struck out 31 batters in only 20.1 innings of work last season. The Braves look for Schrimmer to be the staple in the back end of the bullpen this year.
Ryan Hodgett enters his junior senior on the mound for the Braves. Hodgett had his best year this past season with a 5.04 ERA in 10 appearances on the mound. Hodgett went 1-1 in 25 innings of work, striking out 22. Hodgett looks to be a good RHP for the Braves this season.
Keaton Rice is a sophomore catcher for the Braves this season. Rice had an unbelievable rookie season last year, where he started 43 games behind the dish, earning All-Missouri Valley Conference Second Team honors for batting .316 with 28 RBI’s. Rice led all MVC catchers last year with a .316 average and was second at throwing out 25 baserunners. Rice looks to have an even bigger impact for the Braves this season.
Ari Gordon enters his freshman season as a RHP for the Braves out of the bullpen.
Bowling Green
Neil Lambert is entering his senior season as a shortstop for the Falcons. Lambert led the Falcons in a lot of offensive categories last year, he was first in steals with 12 and walks with 27 and was second in both doubles with 12 and RBI’s with 21. Lambert finished up with hitting .273 last season and they are looking for him to be the catalyst this year to lead the team. Before being a Falcon, Lambert tore it up at Triton CC after leaving Arkansas State his freshman year where he appeared in 29 games.. At Triton CC he was a mainstay in the Trojans lineup, hitting .384 with 4 home runs, 31 RBI’s and 27 stolen bases.
Chicago State
Matt Sullivan is a redshirt senior outfielder/infielder for the Cougars this season. Sullivan was hurt last season and didn’t play. Sullivan is looking to get back to form this year and regain the stats he had as a freshman where he .308 was Academic All-WAC.
Creighton
Bobby Kametas is a senior RHP at Creighton this year. Kametas appeared in 18 games last season for the Blue Jays, tossing 20.1 innings and leading the team in saves with 7 on the year. Kametas has 19 strikeouts and a 3.54 ERA. Previous to Creighton, Kametas was at St. Joseph's College.
Florida Gulf Coast
Brenden Heiss is entering his junior season as a RHP for the Eagles. Heiss spent last season at John A. Logan CC, where he went 8-1 as a starter with a 2.24 ERA and had 80 strikeouts in 56.1 innings of work. At Arkansas his freshman year, Heiss pitched in 4 games for a total of 5 innings with a 3.60 ERA. Heiss looks to build off his John A. Logan CC stuff last season for the Eagles this year.
George Washington
Trey Torain is entering his freshman season as an outfielder for the Colonials.
IPFW
Travis Upp enters his junior season for the IPFW as a 1B/outfielder. Last season, Upp earned All-Summit League Second Team hitting .305 with 8 doubles, 2 homers and 21 RBI’s. As a big contributor in his first two years at IPFW, Upp looks to be a middle of the order threat in the Mastodons lineup.
Camden Nisenson enters his freshman season for IPFW as a outfielder/1B.
Illinois
David Craan is entering his senior season as a catcher for the Fighting Illini. Craan has been Academic All-Big Ten the last two seasons. Craan has played in 81 games in 3 seasons, starting in 38 of them. Craan has been utilized as a late inning defensive replacement and pinch-runner for those past few seasons.
Quinn Snarskis is entering his senior season as a RHP for the Fighting Illini. Snarskis has a stellar season last year as a starter where he went 6-1 with a 2.84 ERA in 73 innings of work. Snarskis looks to continue his dominance this season as Illinois Friday night starter.
Zak Devermann is entering his senior season as a LHP for the Fighting Illini. In his 3 seasons at Illinois, Devermann has made 21 appearances out of the bullpen, going 1-1 with a 7.71 ERA in 14 innings of work with 11 strikeouts.
Jimmy Burnette is entering his sophomore season as a LHP for the Fighting Illini. In his freshman season, Burnette made 8 appearances in relief striking out 6 in 6 innings of work. Burnette looks to be a good left handed reliever for Illinois this season.
Kellen Sarver is a redshirt freshman this season as a catcher/1B for the Fighting Illini.
Illinois State
Mitch Vogrin is a redshirt senior on the mound this year for the Redbirds. Vogrin was out all last year, but in his previous three years with the Redbirds he has been a consistent guy out of the bullpen. Vogrin is 4-8 with 2 saves over his career with a 5.68 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 82.1 innings of work. Vogrin looks to be an experienced veteran out of the bullpen this season.
Jordan Libman is entering his junior season for the Redbirds in the outfield. Libman got the bulk of his play in his sophomore season, starting in 32 games, hitting .244 with 6 doubles, a homerun and 21 RBI’s. Libman looks to be a key contributor to the Redbirds lineup this season.
Mike Sebby is entering his junior season for the Redbirds. Sebby had his best production last season as a relief LHP, going 3-1 with a save, with 26 strikeouts in 21.2 innings of work. Sebby looks to be a huge impact arm out of the bullpen this year.
Brady Huffman enters his junior season as a RHP for the Redbirds. Huffman has been a bulldog on the mound for ISU the past two years as a starter. Huffman has a career record of 5-9 with a 4.64 ERA with 109 strikeouts in 137.1 innings pitched. However, Huffman due to injury with probably not be throwing this year.
Jeremy Gaines enters this season as a redshirt sophomore infielder for the Redbirds. Gaines spent the last two years at John A. Logan CC. At John A. Logan CC Gaines batted .324 with 4 home runs, 26 RBI’s and 15 stolen bases. Gaines looks to help add some depth to the Redbirds lineup.
Sean Sinisko enters his freshman season as a LHP for the Redbirds. Due to injury Sinisko will probably redshirt this season.
Louisville
Pat Rumoro is entering his senior season as a catcher for the Cardinals. Rumoro got hit most game time last year as a junior starting his 33 games last year for the National Ranked Cardinals. Rumoro hit .222 with a homer and 12 RBI’s. Rumoro looks to help the Cardinals get back to the College World Series, which he got to experience in his sophomore season.
Maryland
Mark DiLuia is entering his sophomore season as a RHP for the Terps. DiLuia had a solid freshman campaign last year as he appeared in 14 games, getting 12 starts. DiLuia went 3-5 with a 5.62 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 65.2 innings of work. The Terps will look to use DiLuia as both a reliever and starter this season.
Miami (OH)
Steven Hamer enters his freshman season with Miami looking to be a solid contributor in outfielder and on the mound as LHP.
Minnesota
Chase Stanke a freshman will look to get some spot starts behind the plate for the Gophers this year, along with being a good left-handed stick as a DH or PH.
Andrew Wilhite a freshman will look to get some innings in either in corner outfield or corner infield position. He looks to be a really polished left-handed hitter for the Gophers to use a bunch this year.
Noah Berghammer a freshman will look to be mentored this season with some upperclassmen filling out the infield starting spots, looking to get in when he can.
Memphis
Nick Jones enters his freshman season as a catcher for the Tigers.
Missouri State
Collin Clayton enters his junior season with the Bears. This will be Clayton’s 1st year with MSU as he transferred in from John A. Logan CC. At John A. Logan, Clayton hit a club best .397 with 22 doubles and 42 RBI’s. Clayton looks to be huge impact in the outfield for the Bears this season which looks to defend its Missouri Valley League Title.
Dakota Kotowski enters his freshman season as an outfielder/1B for the Bears.
Morehead State
Stephen Hill is entering this season as a redshirt sophomore for the Eagles. He was at South Suburban CC before Morehead State.
Nebraska-Omaha
Cam Fowler is entering his junior season as a LHP for Nebraska-Omaha. Fowler in his first two seasons has only pitched in relief roles, where he is 1-1 with 24 appearances a 6.23 ERA in 34.2 innings with 25 strikeouts. Fowler is looking to expand his role this season.
North Carolina A&T
Scott Meitzler enters his freshman season with North Carolina A&T as a catcher.
Northern Illinois
Mike Fuentes is entering his sophomore season as a RHP for the Huskies. Fuentes saw limited time as a freshman making relief appearances going 6 innings striking out 4. Fuentes looks to make a bigger impact out of the bulpen for the Huskies this year.
Northwestern
Willie Bourbon is entering his senior season as an infielder for the Wildcats. Bourbon has an solid season last year for the Wildcats hitting .275 8 doubles, 3 triples 6 home runs and 34 RBI’s and a slugging % of .455. Bourbon has started in 138 games at his career at Northwestern. Bourbon is looking to build off his really good junior year to an even better senior campaign.
Hank Christie is entering his junior season as a starting RHP for the Wildcats. Christie is a steady performer and looking to regain his freshman accolades. As a Freshman, Christie was selected onto the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, by going 5-4 with a 4.01 ERA in 83.1 innings of work. Last season, as a sophomore, Christie wasn’t as sharp going 3-5 with a 4.61 ERA in 68.1 innings of work. Christie looks to continue to be a weekend starter for the Wildcats this season.
Ben Dickey is entering his senior season as an outfielder for the Wildcats. Dickey has been a mainstay in the Wildcats outfield for the past three years, as he has started in 123 games over that span. Dickey is a career .232 hitter with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 1 homerun, 41 RBI’s and 29 stolen bases. Dickey is expected to be patrolling the outfield again for his senior season.
Charlie Bourbon is entering his sophomore season as a RHP for the Wildcats. Bourbon made one relief appearance vs. Texas last season giving up 0 earned runs on 0 hits in 1 inning of work.
Oakland
Andrew Hoffmann is entering his freshman season for the Golden Grizzlies. Hoffman is expected to get a lot of innings on the mound this season. Hoffman was selected as the Pre-Season Freshman of the Year for the Horizon League by D1baseball.com.
Clay Thompson is entering his freshman season for the Golden Grizzlies as an outfielder.
Cheorkee LeBeau is entering his freshman season for the Golden Grizzlies as an infielder.
Old Dominion
Matt Burch is entering his junior season as an infielder at Old Dominion. Burch spent last season as Wabash Valley CC. At Wabash Valley, Burch earned First Team All-GRAC after hitting .384 with 20 doubles, 3 home runs, 42 RBI’s and 19 stolen bases. Prior to Wabash Valley, Burch spent his freshman season at Arkansas, where he appeared in 18 games as a third baseman or designated hitter. Burch is looking to have another breakout year back in D1 baseball this season.
Ohio U
Jack Coney is a redshirt freshman this year as an infielder for the Bobcats after transferring from Purdue.
Ole Miss
Cooper Johnson is entering his junior season as a catcher for the Rebels. Johnson didn’t see as much action last season but still did manage to start in 19 games behind the dish. Johnson hit .235 last season with 11 RBI’s and 2 home runs. Johnson’s freshman season he made 38 starts behind the dish, throwing out 17 baserunners, hit .213 with 8 RBI’s and 6 doubles. Johnson hopes this will be his break out years offensively as he is considered one of the best catch and throw defensive catchers in the country.
Purdue
Dalton Parker is entering his junior season for the Boilermakers. Parker had a stellar year last year collecting Academic All-Big Ten. Parker pitched in 18 games all in relief last year. Parker had a stretch towards the end of the 2018 season where 12 consecutive of scoreless innings for the second season in a row. In 34 appearances in his just two years as a Boilermaker, Parker has 7 wins and 6 saves with a 4.06 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 71 innings of work. Parker looks to be a huge piece to the pitching staff this year at Purdue.
Ryan Howe enters his freshman year at Purdue, looking to add some speed to the infield.
Conner Tomasic enters his freshman year for the Boilermakers looking to be a dual threat both in the infield and on the mound.
Saint Louis
Zach Frieling a sophomore looks to make a bigger impact in the infield for the Billikens this season. In his freshman year, Frieling played in 16 games, hitting .133 with a .350 on base %.
Scott Youngbrandt a freshman looks to be an impact player both on the mound as a RHP in relief and with the stick playing a corner infield position.
Sammy Butera a freshman looks to help out the bullpen as a RHP for the Billikens this year.
Cam Redding a freshman looks to learn the catching position from a predicted top draft pick Ryan Hernandez this year.
Southeast Missouri State
Austin Blazevic is a redshirt junior infielder for SEMO this season. Last season, Blazevic was redshirted due to injury. Blazevic was a Kaskaskia CC before that where he hit .311 with 7 doubles and 34 RBI's.
USC Upstate
Robby McGaha is entering his junior season as an outfielder for the Spartans. McGaha spent last season with Olney Central CC, where he hit .300 and was a solid utility player for them.
Southern Illinois-Edwardsville
Eric Giltz is a redshirt junior outfielder entering this season for the Cougars. Giltz was selected to the Ohio Valley Conference All Freshman Team after hitting .302 and followed that up with a solid sophomore campaign last year, where he started in 45 games in centerfield, hitting .247 with with 9 doubles. Expect Giltz to continue to be the mainstay in centerfield for the Cougars this year.
Mike Shereyk is entering his senior season as a LHP for the Cougars. Shereyk has made 47 relief appearances as a Cougar, logging 72 innings on the mound. Shereyk owns a 1-4 record with a career ERA of 8.50 with 44 strikeouts.
TCU
Cal Coughlin is entering his junior year as a RHP for TCU. Coughlin has an excellent two seasons with the Horned Frogs as a relief pitcher. In two years, Coughlin is 3-2 with a 1.50 ERA with 3 saves and 44 strikeouts in 54 innings of work. Coughlin has held his opponents batting averages to .189. Coughlin is looking for the continued success out of the bullpen role for the nationally ranked Horned Frogs this season.
University of Illinois-Chicago
Patrick Martin is a graduate student looking to help the Flames as LHP on their pitching staff. Martin finished up at Hawaii with 2 seasons under his belt throwing 21.2 innings striking out 14 with a 1-2 record, 2 saves and a 10.39 ERA. Before that Martin was at Heartland CC where he went 3-1 with a 2.66 ERA. Martin looks to add some help in the bullpen for the Flames this season.
Ryan Hampe is entering his freshman season as a catcher for the Flames.
Valparaiso
Keegan Bates a freshman LHP will look to get some innings on the mound this year with the Crusaders.
Virginia Tech
Nick Menken is entering his senior season as an outfielder for the Hokies. Menken started 52 of 54 games last year in the outfield batting .246 with 8 doubles, 4 home runs and 30 RBI’s. Before coming to Virginia Tech, Menken spent two years at Iowa Western CC where he hit .358 and .317 respectively. Menken looks to help the Hokies get back on track this year in the ACC.
Wake Forest
Bobby Seymour is entering his sophomore season as a 1B for the Demon Deacons. Seymour had a really good freshman year last season, as he earned Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American accolades. In his 1st season, Seymour played 54 games and made 52 starts at first base. He was third on the team in batting average at .286 and was second on the team in doubles with 12 and third on the team with 32 RBI’s. He also tallied 7 home runs as a freshman as well. Seymour should be a plus left handed bat in the Demon Deacons lineup again this season.
Western Michigan
Jesse Forestell is a senior catcher/1B for the Broncos this season. Forestell is one of two players to start in all 48 games last season and has started in 101 straight games for the Broncos. He is career .259 hitter with 23 doubles, a triple, 2 homers and 66 RBI’s. He will be a mainstay in the middle of the lineup from Western Michigan this year and looks to build off his 2018 work in the field as he was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year for WMU.
Gavin Doyle a freshman infielder and RHP will look to help the Broncos both in the field and on the mound this year.
Brady Miller is a freshman RHP for the Broncos, looking to be impact freshman on the mound.
Western Illinois
Jack Carberry is entering his sophomore season as a RHP for the Leathernecks. In his 1st year, Carberry made 12 appearances finishing 2-0 in 19.2 innings of work with 17 strikeouts and a 2.75 ERA. The Leathernecks will look to get Carberry many more innings on the mound this season.
Xavier
Trey Schramm a senior has been a staple in the bullpen for the Musketeers since he stepped on campus. Schramm looks to continue to put up good numbers, he has accumulated a record of a record of 9-4 with 6 saves in 114.1 innings pitched. He has an ERA of 4.01 with 75 strikeouts. Schramm best year was his Sophomore year wear he earned BIG EAST All Tournament Team and All-Academic Team.
Ryan Altenberger a sophomore got a ton of experience as a starter in the lineup as a freshman last year. He looks to build off his .226 average where he had 14 doubles, 3 homers and 18 RBI’s. Altenberger was made the BIG EAST All-Academic Team as a freshman.
Jake Armentrout a freshman this year, looks to help the Musketeers in the outfield.
