2021 SEASON PREVIEW
F
ollowing the unexpected cancelation of the 2020 season and a shortened 2021 season on the horizon, the Cadets are still expected to put a team on the field that will compete in every game. Fourteen players, including 12 seniors, return this year. Despite not getting to play in a championship, the expectation of competing day in and day out will not change.
PITCHING
What the pitching staff lacks in experience, they make up for with competitiveness. Seven seniors and a junior return from 2020. Four-year varsity member and East Carolina signee Quinn Allen will be expected to provide leadership. Over his career, Allen has appeared in nine total games, amassing a .70 ERA. Virginia Commonwealth University signee Ethan Mishra (3 1/3 IP) and Towson University signee Dom Valis (2 IP) are the only other players who have thrown in a varsity game. Other pitchers expected to see significant innings include senior RHPs Jason Schiavone (James Madison University), Max Simpson (Towson University), Michael Hippchen (Wilson College), along with LHPs senior Vinny Walsh (Shenandoah University) and junior JT Gibson (Virginia Tech University). Newcomers fighting for innings include seniors Earl Skrine (Morehouse College) and Griffin Smallwood and juniors Adam Astacio, Flynn Howard and Sean Quinn. “I am super excited to see this group on the field. They have progressed nicely during the winter and should present a tough test for any offense,” said Coach Gibbs.
CATCHERS
Virginia Commonwealth University signee Casey Gibbs returns for his third year on the varsity squad but his first as the fulltime starter behind the plate. In his sophomore year, Gibbs earned honorable mention All-WCAC while hitting .435 with four doubles and 13 RBI. Fellow senior Jason Schiavone will be the primary back up. Gibbs remarked, “Having two catchers that are committed to play in college is a luxury that most programs do not have. Both of these guys can catch at a high level and give us security behind the plate.”
CASEY GIBBS
JASON SCHIVAONE
INFIELD
The infield returns three full-time starters along with one other who played in both games during the 2020 season. Senior Quinn Allen, a full-time starter at first base in 2019, returns from a serious medical condition to be the starting first baseman. In 2019, Allen hit .345 with three doubles, three triples and scored 21 runs. “The return of Quinn is a huge boost to our team. He can provide valuable leadership to guys who haven’t seen much varsity action.” Seniors Schiavone and Dom Valis were the only other players to start games in 2020. Schiavone will move from third base to shortstop and Valis is still expected to be a primary option at first base. Junior AJ Martin appeared in both games last year and will be the second base starter. Other returners include seniors Max Simpson and Connor Smith. Simpson will be heavily in the mix at first base, while Smith will provide depth at third and second base. Newcomers include juniors Vinny Hall, Flynn Howard and sophomore Brayden Martin. Hall and Martin expect to see significant action in the infield, while Howard will provide depth at first base and DH. “This position group should be stout defensively and provide both power and speed on the bases,” remarked Gibbs.
QUINN ALLEN
MAX SIMPSON
ST. JOHN’S BASEBALL 2021
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