From Pitt:
The University of Pittsburgh, led by second year head coach Mike Bell, will get the 2019 fall season started with the first full team practice at Charles L. Cost Field.
“Excited to get to work, we have a lot of work to do in developing and implementing our system,” said Bell. “The fall will provide a lot of opportunity for competition, as well as an opportunity for team cohesiveness, which I believe will be a key to our success this season.”
Fall Schedule
The Panthers will hold 14 team practices prior to a Friday, Sept. 27 home exhibition game against Akron. Pitt will log five more days of practice before hosting Youngstown State Saturday, Oct. 5 at Cost Field. Both games are open to the public with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. The Panthers will also play a three-game intrasquad Blue-Gold Series Oct. 9-11 with first pitch set for noon.
Returning Letterwinners
Nico Popa and Ron Washington, Jr., headline a group of key returning position players, while Chase Smith, Billy Corcoran, Chris Gomez and David Moore each return after making 20 or more appearances on the mound last season. Popa earned ABCA/Rawlings All-Region honors a year ago after batting a team-high .353 to go along with 15 doubles, five triples, eight home runs and 39 RBI. Washington, Jr., posted a .306 batting average with a team-best 17 doubles in 39 games.
The Panthers also welcome back Christian Camacho and Chris Cappas, who both made nine starts in 2019, along with position players Sky Duff, Kyle Hess and David Yanni, who each appeared in 30 or more games a season ago. Complete stats from the 2019 season are available HERE.
Incoming Class
Bell and his staff worked tirelessly since arriving in Oakland to add depth and balance to the Pitt roster. Those efforts have paid off with the addition of 21 talented newcomers to the program.
“I was really proud of the effort and hours put into our recruiting class from our coaches and support staff,” Bell said. “A great program effort to add depth and balance in all areas - pitching, defense and offense. The balance between high school players and transfers was by design an dmore importantly these student-athletes come from programs that have and know how to compete for championships.”
Here is a quick look at the new members of the Panther baseball program (listed alphabetically):
Jordan Anderson OF 6’1 185 R/R
·Previous School: Chipola College/Mississippi State
·Hometown: Madison, Ala.
·Travel Ball Team: FTB Tucci
·Season Stats: .300 Avg - 30 RBI - 21 SB - 3 HR
·Awards and Accolades: 2018-2019 FL JUCO All State Team
Jarett Bach LHP 6’4” 200 L/L
·High School: Yough
·Hometown: Smithton, Pa.
·Travel Team: Beaver Valley
·Stats: 7-1 - 0.57 ERA - 87 K - 41 IP
·Awards: Tribune Review 4A player of the year, MVI Pitcher of the Year, Westmoreland County Player of the Year, ranked third LHP in Pa. by PBR
Cameron Barto INF 5’11 175 S/R
·High School: Lancaster Catholic
·Hometown: Lancaster, Pa.
·Travel Ball Team: Blackhawks National
·Senior Season Stats: .386 Avg - 13 RBI - 4 2B - 1 3B - 5 HR - 13 BB - 10 SB
·Awards/Accolades: 2018 PIAA Class 3A State Champion, 2018 Under Armor Preseason All-American, 2019 Lancaster Lebanon League All-League All-Star, 2019 Pennlive Second Team All-State, 2019 Under Armor Preseason All-American, 2019 Perfect Game Preseason All-American Honorable Mention
Adam Bloebaum LHP/1B 6'5" 190 L/L
·High School: Cardinal Gibbons
·Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
·Travel Ball Team: Marucci Elite
·Stats: BA .523 - OBP .625 - RBI 26 - ERA 1.33 – IP 52.2 - K 79
·Awards: 2015 USA Baseball 14U National Team Development Program, 2015 USA Baseball 14u All-NTDP Team, Three-time All-Conference Selection (2016-2018), 2019 Cap 7 Conference Player of the Year, 2019 North Carolina 4A All-State Selection
Justin Clark OF 5'10 190 R/R
·JUCO: Ohlone College
·Hometown: Pleasanton, Calif.
·Travel Ball Team: West Coast Kings
·Stats: .363 Avg - 21 2B - 1 3B - 4 HR - 45 RBI
·Awards: 2019 Preseason JUCO All-American, 2019 Academic All-American, holds record for most doubles (21) in season at Ohlone College, PCC First Team All-Conference
Tom Colcombe LHP 5’10” 165 L/L
·High School: Peters Township
·Hometown: McMurray, Pa.
·Travel Team: RBI Redwings
·Senior Stats: 4-3 - 1.69 ERA - 41 1/3 IP - 43 K
·Awards: 6A Section 3 First Team All-Section
Ryan Culley LHP 6’1 195 L/L
·Previous School: Parkland College
·Hometown: Swansea, Ill.
·Travel Team: Southern Illinois Batters Box
·Season Stats: 54.2 IP - 76 K - 3.46 ERA
Samuel Frontino INF 5’11 183 R/R
·Previous School : John A. Logan College
·Hometown : Fairport Harbor, Ohio
·Season Stats: Avg .353 - OBP .478 - HR 9 - RBI 56
·Awards and Accolades: - 2019 All-GRAC Team, 2019 All Region XXIV Team
Matt Gilbertson RHP 6’0” 190 R/R
·Previous School: College of Southern Nevada
·Hometown: Henderson, Nev.
·Season Stats: 10-1 - 2.39 ERA - 71.2 IP - 73 K - 12 BB
Bryce Hulett 1B 6'2" 200 L/L
·Previous School: State College of Florida
·Hometown: Lake Wales, Fla.
·2017-2018 Stats: Avg .327 - 15 2B - 2 3B - 2 HR - 40 RBI
2018-2019 Stats Avg .244 - 14 2B - 2 3B - 3 HR - 49 RBI
·Awards and Accolades: FCSAA 2017-2018 All-Conference Second Team, 2018 South Florida Collegiate League All-Star, 2018 JUCO All-Star Game participant
Dylan Lester RHP 6’1” 210 R/R
·Previous Schools: San Jacinto CC/University of Houston
·Hometown: Brenham, Texas
·2019 Season Stats: 19 App - 2-3 – 2 SV - 31.2 IP - 2.27 ERA - 48 K
C.J. McKennitt RHP 6’2” 210 R/R
·High School/Previous School: St. Mark’s School/College of Holy Cross
·Hometown: Concord, Mass.
·Season Stats: 21 G – 5 GS – 3 SV
·Two-sport athlete in high school where he lettered in hockey and baseball.
Mitch Myers RHP 6’2 190 R/R
·Previous School: Florida Southwestern State College
·Hometown: Opelika, Ala.
·Travel Team: Game On West
·Season Stats: 79.1 IP - 3.29 ERA - 7-2 - 88 K - 23 BB
Christopher Pouliot LHP 6’0 175 lbs L/L
·High School: Cardinal-Roy Secondary School
·Hometown: Boischatel, Quebec, Canada
·Travel ball team: Academy Baseball Canada
·Accolades: 20th-ranked player in Canada according to Perfect Game
Grant Powell LHP 6’0” 188 L/L
·Previous School: Lackawanna College
·Hometown: Kingston, Pa.
·Travel team: Moosic Mets
·Past year Stats: 14 App. - 10 GS - 5-2 - 1 CG - 1 S - 62 K - 22 BB - 3.54 ERA
·Awards/accolades: Region 19 Playoff MVP, Played in the NJCAA DII World Series
Grant Santangelo C/1B 6’1” 215 lbs L/R
·Hershey High School/IMG Academy
·Hometown: Hershey Pa.
·Travel Team: Elite Baseball of Lancaster
·HS Senior Stats: .400 Avg - 4 HR - 20 RBI
·Accolades/Awards : Three-time all-district player, two-time first team all-area
Zion Spearman OF 5’9 217 R/R
·High School: Reach Cyber Charter School
·Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.
·Travel team: East Cobb Astros
·HS Senior Stats: .472 Avg - .682 OBP - 7 2B - 1 3B - 7 HR - 26 RBI
Nick Vera C 5’11 190 R/R
·High School: St. Thomas Aquinas
·Hometown: Miami, Fla.
·Travel Team: Elite Squad
·HS Senior Stats .413 Avg - 7 2B - 5 HR - 28 RBI
·Awards: 2017 District Player of the Year, 2017-2019 first team all-county, selected to the Florida High School All Star Game
Mason Walker INF 6’3” 210 L/R
·High School: Red Land
·Hometown: Etters, Pa.
·Travel Team: GoWags Seminoles & Blackhawks
·Stats: Avg.329 - H 23 - RBI 19 - 2B 4 - HR 1
·Awards: 2019 PIAA 5A State Champion
Riley Wash C 6'2 192 R/R
·Previous School: St. Johns River State
·Hometown : Longwood, Fla.
·Travel Team: Orlando Scorpions
·Season Stats: Avg .262 - RBI 17 - HR 4
·Accolades:2017-2018-FCSAA All-Academic Team, 2017-2018-Mid-Fla. Conference Scholar-Athlete Award, 2017-2018 All-Conference Honorable Mention, 2018-2019 Second Team All-Conference
The University of Pittsburgh, led by second year head coach Mike Bell, will get the 2019 fall season started with the first full team practice at Charles L. Cost Field.
“Excited to get to work, we have a lot of work to do in developing and implementing our system,” said Bell. “The fall will provide a lot of opportunity for competition, as well as an opportunity for team cohesiveness, which I believe will be a key to our success this season.”
Fall Schedule
The Panthers will hold 14 team practices prior to a Friday, Sept. 27 home exhibition game against Akron. Pitt will log five more days of practice before hosting Youngstown State Saturday, Oct. 5 at Cost Field. Both games are open to the public with first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. The Panthers will also play a three-game intrasquad Blue-Gold Series Oct. 9-11 with first pitch set for noon.
Returning Letterwinners
Nico Popa and Ron Washington, Jr., headline a group of key returning position players, while Chase Smith, Billy Corcoran, Chris Gomez and David Moore each return after making 20 or more appearances on the mound last season. Popa earned ABCA/Rawlings All-Region honors a year ago after batting a team-high .353 to go along with 15 doubles, five triples, eight home runs and 39 RBI. Washington, Jr., posted a .306 batting average with a team-best 17 doubles in 39 games.
The Panthers also welcome back Christian Camacho and Chris Cappas, who both made nine starts in 2019, along with position players Sky Duff, Kyle Hess and David Yanni, who each appeared in 30 or more games a season ago. Complete stats from the 2019 season are available HERE.
Incoming Class
Bell and his staff worked tirelessly since arriving in Oakland to add depth and balance to the Pitt roster. Those efforts have paid off with the addition of 21 talented newcomers to the program.
“I was really proud of the effort and hours put into our recruiting class from our coaches and support staff,” Bell said. “A great program effort to add depth and balance in all areas - pitching, defense and offense. The balance between high school players and transfers was by design an dmore importantly these student-athletes come from programs that have and know how to compete for championships.”
Here is a quick look at the new members of the Panther baseball program (listed alphabetically):
Jordan Anderson OF 6’1 185 R/R
·Previous School: Chipola College/Mississippi State
·Hometown: Madison, Ala.
·Travel Ball Team: FTB Tucci
·Season Stats: .300 Avg - 30 RBI - 21 SB - 3 HR
·Awards and Accolades: 2018-2019 FL JUCO All State Team
Jarett Bach LHP 6’4” 200 L/L
·High School: Yough
·Hometown: Smithton, Pa.
·Travel Team: Beaver Valley
·Stats: 7-1 - 0.57 ERA - 87 K - 41 IP
·Awards: Tribune Review 4A player of the year, MVI Pitcher of the Year, Westmoreland County Player of the Year, ranked third LHP in Pa. by PBR
Cameron Barto INF 5’11 175 S/R
·High School: Lancaster Catholic
·Hometown: Lancaster, Pa.
·Travel Ball Team: Blackhawks National
·Senior Season Stats: .386 Avg - 13 RBI - 4 2B - 1 3B - 5 HR - 13 BB - 10 SB
·Awards/Accolades: 2018 PIAA Class 3A State Champion, 2018 Under Armor Preseason All-American, 2019 Lancaster Lebanon League All-League All-Star, 2019 Pennlive Second Team All-State, 2019 Under Armor Preseason All-American, 2019 Perfect Game Preseason All-American Honorable Mention
Adam Bloebaum LHP/1B 6'5" 190 L/L
·High School: Cardinal Gibbons
·Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
·Travel Ball Team: Marucci Elite
·Stats: BA .523 - OBP .625 - RBI 26 - ERA 1.33 – IP 52.2 - K 79
·Awards: 2015 USA Baseball 14U National Team Development Program, 2015 USA Baseball 14u All-NTDP Team, Three-time All-Conference Selection (2016-2018), 2019 Cap 7 Conference Player of the Year, 2019 North Carolina 4A All-State Selection
Justin Clark OF 5'10 190 R/R
·JUCO: Ohlone College
·Hometown: Pleasanton, Calif.
·Travel Ball Team: West Coast Kings
·Stats: .363 Avg - 21 2B - 1 3B - 4 HR - 45 RBI
·Awards: 2019 Preseason JUCO All-American, 2019 Academic All-American, holds record for most doubles (21) in season at Ohlone College, PCC First Team All-Conference
Tom Colcombe LHP 5’10” 165 L/L
·High School: Peters Township
·Hometown: McMurray, Pa.
·Travel Team: RBI Redwings
·Senior Stats: 4-3 - 1.69 ERA - 41 1/3 IP - 43 K
·Awards: 6A Section 3 First Team All-Section
Ryan Culley LHP 6’1 195 L/L
·Previous School: Parkland College
·Hometown: Swansea, Ill.
·Travel Team: Southern Illinois Batters Box
·Season Stats: 54.2 IP - 76 K - 3.46 ERA
Samuel Frontino INF 5’11 183 R/R
·Previous School : John A. Logan College
·Hometown : Fairport Harbor, Ohio
·Season Stats: Avg .353 - OBP .478 - HR 9 - RBI 56
·Awards and Accolades: - 2019 All-GRAC Team, 2019 All Region XXIV Team
Matt Gilbertson RHP 6’0” 190 R/R
·Previous School: College of Southern Nevada
·Hometown: Henderson, Nev.
·Season Stats: 10-1 - 2.39 ERA - 71.2 IP - 73 K - 12 BB
Bryce Hulett 1B 6'2" 200 L/L
·Previous School: State College of Florida
·Hometown: Lake Wales, Fla.
·2017-2018 Stats: Avg .327 - 15 2B - 2 3B - 2 HR - 40 RBI
2018-2019 Stats Avg .244 - 14 2B - 2 3B - 3 HR - 49 RBI
·Awards and Accolades: FCSAA 2017-2018 All-Conference Second Team, 2018 South Florida Collegiate League All-Star, 2018 JUCO All-Star Game participant
Dylan Lester RHP 6’1” 210 R/R
·Previous Schools: San Jacinto CC/University of Houston
·Hometown: Brenham, Texas
·2019 Season Stats: 19 App - 2-3 – 2 SV - 31.2 IP - 2.27 ERA - 48 K
C.J. McKennitt RHP 6’2” 210 R/R
·High School/Previous School: St. Mark’s School/College of Holy Cross
·Hometown: Concord, Mass.
·Season Stats: 21 G – 5 GS – 3 SV
·Two-sport athlete in high school where he lettered in hockey and baseball.
Mitch Myers RHP 6’2 190 R/R
·Previous School: Florida Southwestern State College
·Hometown: Opelika, Ala.
·Travel Team: Game On West
·Season Stats: 79.1 IP - 3.29 ERA - 7-2 - 88 K - 23 BB
Christopher Pouliot LHP 6’0 175 lbs L/L
·High School: Cardinal-Roy Secondary School
·Hometown: Boischatel, Quebec, Canada
·Travel ball team: Academy Baseball Canada
·Accolades: 20th-ranked player in Canada according to Perfect Game
Grant Powell LHP 6’0” 188 L/L
·Previous School: Lackawanna College
·Hometown: Kingston, Pa.
·Travel team: Moosic Mets
·Past year Stats: 14 App. - 10 GS - 5-2 - 1 CG - 1 S - 62 K - 22 BB - 3.54 ERA
·Awards/accolades: Region 19 Playoff MVP, Played in the NJCAA DII World Series
Grant Santangelo C/1B 6’1” 215 lbs L/R
·Hershey High School/IMG Academy
·Hometown: Hershey Pa.
·Travel Team: Elite Baseball of Lancaster
·HS Senior Stats: .400 Avg - 4 HR - 20 RBI
·Accolades/Awards : Three-time all-district player, two-time first team all-area
Zion Spearman OF 5’9 217 R/R
·High School: Reach Cyber Charter School
·Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.
·Travel team: East Cobb Astros
·HS Senior Stats: .472 Avg - .682 OBP - 7 2B - 1 3B - 7 HR - 26 RBI
Nick Vera C 5’11 190 R/R
·High School: St. Thomas Aquinas
·Hometown: Miami, Fla.
·Travel Team: Elite Squad
·HS Senior Stats .413 Avg - 7 2B - 5 HR - 28 RBI
·Awards: 2017 District Player of the Year, 2017-2019 first team all-county, selected to the Florida High School All Star Game
Mason Walker INF 6’3” 210 L/R
·High School: Red Land
·Hometown: Etters, Pa.
·Travel Team: GoWags Seminoles & Blackhawks
·Stats: Avg.329 - H 23 - RBI 19 - 2B 4 - HR 1
·Awards: 2019 PIAA 5A State Champion
Riley Wash C 6'2 192 R/R
·Previous School: St. Johns River State
·Hometown : Longwood, Fla.
·Travel Team: Orlando Scorpions
·Season Stats: Avg .262 - RBI 17 - HR 4
·Accolades:2017-2018-FCSAA All-Academic Team, 2017-2018-Mid-Fla. Conference Scholar-Athlete Award, 2017-2018 All-Conference Honorable Mention, 2018-2019 Second Team All-Conference
