Courtesy of Bryan Kast, PSAC Director of Strategic Communications
 
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Shepherd University baseball team has been picked to finish fifth in the PSAC Eastern Division in the 2025 PSAC Baseball Preseason Poll released by the league office today. West Chester was picked as the favorite in the Eastern Division, while IUP was picked to win the Western Division.
West Chester sits atop the Eastern Division poll after collecting three first-place votes, with Millersville (second overall in the poll) also collecting three first-place votes. East Stroudsburg (two first-place votes) comes in at No. 3 in what should be a very competitive division. In the Western Division poll, IUP received four first-place votes, outpacing Slippery Rock (three first-place votes) and Seton Hill (one).

Find the complete polls as well as team-by-team capsules below.
 
EASTERN DIVISION (# of first place votes)
 
1. West Chester (3)
2. Millersville (3)
3. East Stroudsburg (2)
4. Shippensburg
5. Shepherd
6. Kutztown
7. Bloomsburg
8. Mansfield
 
WESTERN DIVISION (# of first place votes)
 
1. IUP (4)
2. Slippery Rock (3)
3. Seton Hill (1)
4. California
5. Gannon
6. Pitt-Johnstown
7. Clarion
8. Lock Haven
 
EASTERN DIVISION

The top spot in the Eastern Division's preseason poll in 2025 was secured by defending PSAC Champion West Chester. The Golden Rams (43-9 overall, 25-7 in conference play) bested East Stroudsburg, 12-11, in a dramatic title game last spring. WCU led the PSAC in batting average (.324) and runs scored (410). Eastern Division Athlete of the Year Anthony Boccio returns as a graduate student after hitting .400, scoring 59 runs, and driving in 48 runs. Also back is Sean Szestowicki (.354, 48 runs, 41 RBIs) and pitchers Julian Costa (eight wins, 73 K) and Nick Noga (six wins, 48 K).
 
Voted second in the 2025 poll is Millersville (38-16, 23-9 PSAC). The headline for the Marauders is the return of Bren Taylor, a two-time PSAC East Athlete of the Year honoree (in 2021 and 2023) who will be back on the field as a graduate student. Taylor hit .426 in 2023 with 17 doubles and 62 runs scored. Millersville has plenty of other talent back, as well, including Jeff Sabater (a team-high .372 average in 2024) , Sam Morris (.347, 39 RBIs), and Matthew Williams (.339, 8 HR, 39 RBIs). The pitching staff should be anchored by starterConor Cook, who started 11 games last spring with seven wins and 63 strikeouts, and reliever Evan Rishell, who tossed 28 innings with a 2.57 ERA and 26 strikeouts last season.

East Stroudsburg (43-14 overall, 26-6 PSAC) comes in at No. 3 in this year's poll. The Warriors are the defending PSAC East regular season champs and return five of its six All-PSAC East players from a season ago, including Shanley Wall (.401, 50 runs scored, 37 RBIs), Jack Rothenhausler (.339, 49 RBIs), and Cameron Hubbard (.318, 35 runs, 23 RBIs). The other two are arms – starter Ryan Dewees (3.52 era, seven wins in 13 starts) and reliever Caden Parker, who made 21 appearances with a 2.25 ERA, 24 innings pitched, and 22 strikeouts.
 
Voted fourth in the poll is the Shippensburg Raiders, who accrued a record of 27-21 overall and 19-13 in conference play in 2024. The Raiders return 19 players in total, including bats Gio Calamia (.327, 34 runs, 24 RBIs) and Carter Hinds (.314, 44 runs, 17 RBIs) as well as arms Jaxon Dalena (2.52 ERA in 10 starts, 78 K) and J.T. Weaver (four wins in 12 starts, 60 K.)
 
The remainder of the 2025 PSAC Baseball Eastern Division Preseason Poll is rounded out by Shepherd at No. 5 followed by Kutztown, Bloomsburg, and Mansfield.
 
WESTERN DIVISION
 
The Western Division's top team in the 2025 poll is IUP (41-18 overall, 19-9 PSAC in 2024). The Crimson Hawks made a deep run in the 2024 DII Baseball Championship in Cary, N.C., winning three games to advance to the national semifinals, finding themselves just one win away from the national championship series. Starters Jake Black (six wins, 12 starts, 57 K) and Derrick Shields (seven wins, 13 starts, 69 K) should be back out on the mound. At the plate, returners should include Ricardo Aponte (.319, 50 runs scored, 48 RBIs), Au'Sean Owens (.278, 39 runs, 17 stolen bases), and David Kessler (.259, 40 runs, 29 RBIs).
 
Securing the No. 2 spot in this year's poll is Slippery Rock (28-18 overall, 17-11 PSAC). The Rock returns much of its core from 2024, including two-way player Gage Gillott (the PSAC West Pitcher of the Year who also hit .341 in 123 at-bats offensively.) The one-two punch of starting pitching continues with Joe Purcell (nine starts, 3.10 ERA in 61 innings, 64 K), who also contributes at the plate, with a .319 average, 29 runs scored, and 18 RBIs. Also returning is Michael Kitko (a team-leading .350 average) and Brandon Butler (.339, 23 RBIs).

The Seton Hill Griffins (41-17 overall, 20-8 PSAC) come in third in this spring's poll. The defending Western Division regular season champs graduated plenty of talent, but they also return key pieces. Offensively, Owen Mandler (.318, 38 runs, 7 HR, 37 RBIs), Max Mandler (.308, 48 runs, 9 HR, 28 RBIs, 23 SB), Matt Frazetta (.286, 25 RBIs), and Jack Whalen (.263, 36 runs, 31 SB) are back. On the mound, only one starter is back—Jon McCullough, who won six games in 12 starts with 66 strikeouts last spring.
 
Voted the No. 4 team in this year's poll is California (28-18 overall, 14-14 PSAC). PSAC West Athlete of the Year Payton Conte returns after a stellar year in which he hit .469 in 35 games, with 23 RBIs and three home runs. Also back is Ryan Callahan (.366, 34 runs, 40 RBIs), Conor Carney (.315, 20 runs, 30 RBIs), and Santino Marra (.310, 27 runs, 27 RBIs). On the mound, starter Michael Valente returns after starting 11 games, winning five, and striking out 30 opposing batters.
 
The remainder of the 2025 PSAC Baseball Western Division Preseason Poll is rounded out by Gannon at No. 5 followed by Pitt-Johnstown, Clarion, and Lock Haven (who switches to the Western Division this spring.