SERIES HISTORY - BLACKBURN | NORTH CENTRAL
WILMINGTON, Ohio – The Wilmington College baseball team opens the 2022 season with a trio of games in Carbondale, Illinois, this weekend. The Fightin' Quakers are "gearing up to make some noise" in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) this season.
The Teams: Wilmington, Blackburn, DePauw and North Central. The Fightin' Quakers are looking to build upon an 11-27 campaign from a season ago that saw the program notch 10 conference victories. The Beavers finished the 2021 season 8-24 while the Tigers turned in a 15-21 mark as members of the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC). The Cardinals finished 38-9 and fell to Millikin University in the Collegiate Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament championship series in 2021.
The Coaches: Tony Vittorio, who formerly led the University of Dayton's baseball program for 18 seasons, enters his fourth season as Wilmington's head coach. For the first time in nearly a decade in 2021, the Quakers didn't finish 10th in the OAC, turning in an eighth-place finish with a 10-24 conference mark. Michael Neal is in his 24th season as Blackburn's head coach while Blake Allen, who played for Neal, is in his seventh season as DePauw' head coach. Ed Mathey is in his second stint as North Central's head coach having spent over a decade at NCAA Division I North Illinois University in between.
The Outfielders: The outfield will be led by sophomore Tyler Shaneyfelt (.303 BA, .425 OB%, 17 SB) and Junior Owen Baumann (.295 BA, 43 Hits, 8 SB) who are returning everyday starters from the 2021 season. From the lead-off spot, Shaneyfelt garnered All-OAC Honors last season. Sophomore Jared Lammert (.259 BA, 7 DB, 7 SB) provides experience both offensively and defensively in the outfield. Newcomers Zach Christensen, Ethan Castle and Ashland University transfer, Noah Martin, should provide depth in the outfield.
The Infielders: All starters besides third base are returners in the infield. Senior first basemea Caleb Scott (.285 BA, 9 DB, 3 HR), sophomore second baseman Evan Kelsey (.273 BA, .970 F%) and junior shortstop Jesse Reliford (.307 BA, 12 DB, 26 RBI, .409 SL%), provide valuable experience in the infield. Reliford garnered All-OAC honors last season. Third base should be manned by junior college transfer Jacob Kalt (Ancilla College) and freshman Dominic Depa. Kalt will have an opportunity to be a utility infielder as well as play in the outfield. Senior Moses Garza (.222 BA), junior Brandon Smith (.143BA) and freshmen Jake Kinkead, Xavier Thompson, and A.J. Wolf provide depth in the infield.
The Catchers: The catching position is manned by four players who are battling for playing time. The catching position is led by senior Aaron Burns (.298 BA, .446 OB%, 5 DB). Competing for the other catching spots are junior Corbin Craft (.298 BA, .411 OB%, 4 DB), sophomore Jacob Feltner (.152 BA), and freshman Dylan Montgomery.
The Designated Hitters: The designated hitter role should have plenty of competition with sophomore Joel O'Brien (.069BA), senior Moses Garza, and freshman Dominic Depa competing for the spot.
The Pitchers: A year of experience for several pitchers on last year's team should lead the way on the mound for the Quakers. The pitching staff should be led by sophomore Luke Chappie (3-5, 60 IP, 36 K), sophomore Aaron Boster (1-5, 32.2 IP, 29 K), and junior college transfer junior David Ernst. Vying for innings on the mound this season will be deniors Aaron Christman and Tre Nixon (0-1, 9.1 IP, 4 K), juniors GlenAllen Anderson (1-4, 42.1 IP, 11 K) and Mac Davis (6.2 IP, 4 K), sophomores Ben Hidy, Nate Oliger, and Kaleb Stines (3-5, 54.1 IP, 37 K) as well as Freshman Brayden Kisling. Rounding out the pitching staff will be dual players A.J. Wolf and Jesse Reliford. Reliford will be in a valuable role as the closer on the mound.
Series History: Wilmington is an even 1-1 against Blackburn and 0-2 against North Central in the last decade. This will be the first meeting between DePauw and Wilmington during that stretch. More information on the series history can be viewed by visiting the link above.
Social Media: Wilmington athletics is represented on Facebook (Wilmington College Athletics), Twitter (@DubCQuakers) and Instagram (@DubCQuakers). Follow all the happenings of Wilmington College on social media by using the hashtag "#WeAreDubC".
Coverage: Live statistics of all three contests will be available – visit the link above.
Up Next: Wilmington will face Mount St. Joseph University in a weekend series next weekend.
