SEASON PREVIEW

Following 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.

2021 SEASON PREVIEW

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

OUTFIELD

Three of the four returning outfielders made starts in 2020, and senior DM Jefferson returns to play centerfield and provide the bulk of the experience. Jefferson, a Notre Dame University signee, hit .427 with 15 RBI, 21 runs and 12 stolen bases in his sophomore campaign. Fellow seniors Theo Pollack and Vinny Walsh both made single starts in 2020. Cooper May, another senior, was hurt at the beginning of the 2020 season and did not see any action.

Juniors Anthony Escobar, Cory Hatcher, Cam Kennedy and Jack Lasota are the newcomers to this group and are expected to provide depth at all three positions. “The outfield group returns in its entirety from 2020 and will be a very good group both defensively and offensively,” according to Gibbs.

VINNY WALSH

2021 SEASON PREVIEW

DH AND LINEUP

As in past years, the DH will depend on the pitching rotation. As many as seven different players could see time here including Quinn Allen, Max Simpson, Dom Valis, Flynn Howard, Jack Lasota, AJ Martin and Brayden Martin.

The offense should be explosive from top to bottom. This lineup will provide both power and speed and will be able to score in multiple ways. “Our identity on the offensive side doesn’t change with personnel. We expect to put pressure on the defense in multiple ways and execute situationally,” said Coach Gibbs.

ETHAN MISHRA

SCHEDULE

The shortened spring schedule includes a total of 12 games, playing all the WCAC teams once. The three extra games will include MIAA power Archbishop Spalding, Wilson and a second game with conference foe Gonzaga.

MICHAEL HIPPCHEN

DOM VALIS

DM JEFFERSON