The Shippensburg University baseball team reached the PSAC Tournament last season but admittedly did not satisfy all of its goals. The season before, SU had represented the Atlantic Region at the Division II College World Series. In 2010, the Red Raiders are looking to preserve the dynamic legacy of their predecessors while blazing a new trail of success.
Four players remain from the 2008 squad – including three regulars. Overall, Shippensburg returns 15 players from last year’s roster, including seven pitchers. The Red Raider program has reached the PSAC Tournament for seven consecutive seasons and 10 of the last 11 overall. To preserve that streak, the team will need significant production from its young rotation and its returning all-conference performers to guarantee success in 2010.
Some of the motivation to help drive the Red Raiders may come from the preseason PSAC coaches poll, which featured the Red Raiders at third place in the Eastern Division behind Kutztown and West Chester. In 2007, it was a third-seeded Shippensburg squad that stunned the conference en route to the PSAC Championship. Head coach Matt Jones has assembled the talent for a productive season and is optimistic at the prospects for the new campaign.
Pitching
Shippensburg has had its share of outstanding pitchers over the last decade, including several that have been picked up by pro organizations. The new wave of Red Raider hurlers might come into focus this year, as the team returns a group of pitchers that have combined for just 20 career starts – 18 of those coming last season.
“Our pitching staff has worked very hard this fall and winter,” Jones said. “They know we graduated a huge chunk of the innings from last year. The competition to throw is intense. We will need everyone early in the season and they will all have a chance to earn more time.”
Sophomores
Ryan Rehman,
Nick Umberger and
Jimmy Miller join junior
Kody Kibler as integral members of the starting rotation. Another starter to watch is freshman
Josh Scott, the team’s Fall Cy Young award winner.
“Rehman, Miller and Umberger will be among those on the front lines early,” Jones said. “Kibler was rehabilitating an arm injury this fall, so we will ease him into the swing of things early on. By the time he is at full strength, we anticipate him having a big impact. Additionally, Scott had a great fall and will be in the mix right away.”
Adding to that mixture will be a couple of other returning players. Senior
Kyle Chronister will be a solid presence out of the bullpen along with sophomore
Ted Williams. Redshirt freshman
Matt Magrann returns in shape and joins newcomers
Tom Bush and
David McKolosky as added members of the relief corps who will be given opportunities to earn more time on the mound.
“We are really excited about these guys,” Jones said. “They've worked hard to get better and be ready for the start of the season.”
Sophomore outfielder
Cody Kulp and freshman catcher
Kyle Hollingsworth will be factors late in the game and should see time as a closer this season.
Catching
The veteran backstop among this year’s group is junior
Kris Kullman, who like Kibler was among the SU participants in the 2008 World Series. Kullman has battled injuries while making 39 career starts behind the plate. He is one of the leaders to start at catcher this season.
“Kullman is another team leader – he’s like having a coach on the field,” Jones said. “He will help our pitching staff tremendously.”
Two freshmen will also be given a chance to crack the regular lineup. Kyle Hollingsworth, a Susquehanna Township graduate, was a Patriot-News Big 11 pick as a senior for the Indians. He was a stellar left-handed hitter and will compete for the starting job.
Steve Sulcoski, a native of Hanover, hit .490 or better in each of his final two high school seasons and two-time team MVP for the Hawks.
Infield
Senior
Kevin Scholly is the team’s captain this year after a vote by the players. Scholly, a first baseman, is the only four-year senior on the team and is one of three starters back from last year’s squad. He has 71 RBIs over the past two seasons and will be a valuable veteran who brings solid offensive production to the table.
“Kevin is an outstanding first baseman and has been in the mix for four years now,” Jones said. “He was a starter on our World Series team and has always been a team leader in the classroom. He will definitely be a leader. We hope he wraps up his career with a successful season.”
Fellow sophomore
Ben Miller, himself a regional Gold Glove winner at third base last year, becomes the team’s shortstop. Miller impressed as a freshman - earning a regular starting position with his outstanding glove and also displaying an affinity for the bat by hitting .326 with 13 RBIs. This year, he moves to the open position at shortstop.
“Ben was an all-region Gold Glove player as a freshman and that is a big accomplishment,” Jones said. “We are confident that he will perform at the same level in his new role.”
Sophomore
Tyler Uphouse will begin the year as the team’s third baseman after displaying some offensive production last year. Uphouse hit .280 in 16 games last year and will step into the starting role at the hot corner after Miller’s move to shortstop. Jimmy Miller saw some time at third base last year but will primarily be on the mound.
A pair of newcomers will battle for the job at second base. Freshman
Zack Piper, a Shippensburg Area Senior High School product, was a four-time Mid Penn All Star who compiled a career batting average of .357. Sophomore
Eric Herman, a transfer from Lenoir Community College in North Carolina, was a strong high school player at Northern Lebanon and has some playing experience already under his belt.
Outfield
Shippensburg had its five-year streak of boasting a PSAC First Team outfielder conclude after the 2009 campaign, but one of its returning players and integral talents was a PSAC Eastern Division Second Team pick as a freshman last year and will be among the team leaders this season.
Sophomore Cody Kulp, an honorable mention pick to the 2010 Division II Preseason All-America team, will once again patrol right field. Despite his freshman status in 2009, Kulp's inaugural Raider campaign yielded team highs in triples (three), home runs (six), RBIs (46) and total bases (97). The right fielder batted .345 while starting in 52 of the team's 54 games. He heads into the 2010 campaign having been voted as the team’s most valuable player during the fall offseason.
“Kulp, like Ben Miller, was an all-region Gold Glove player as a freshman,” Jones said. “He runs well and has a very strong arm.”
The expected center fielder will be junior
AJ Czap, a transfer from Allegany College in Maryland. Czap hails from the same junior college that produced former Red Raider southpaw Randy Dicken, who was drafted by the Blue Jays in 2004. An experienced player and productive hitter, Czap brings to the table a wealth of collegiate experience and should be able to step right in and produce for Shippensburg.
The left field spot is open for competition. Among the other players that will see time in the outfield this year include sophomore
Eric Broney and freshmen
Jared Becker and David McKolosky. Each will player will be given a chance to earn additional time on the field.
“We have some good new players,” Jones said. “They have worked hard and earned the confidence of their teammates.”
