LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East has rolled out its baseball Volt Division preview for the 2024 season. The Volt Division consists of six teams, with each program squaring off against one another in a three-game series over the season.
The top four teams will earn bids for the postseason which begins on Friday, May 3, 2024, with the Divisional Playoffs. Those four teams will play a double-elimination tournament at the highest seeded team to determine the Volt Division championship over the weekend of May 3-5, 2024.
The Volt Division Champion will then advance to a three-game series against the Skye Division champion beginning on Friday, May 10, 2024. The winner of that series will be crowned United East Champion and earn the conference’s automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.
Lancaster Bible College
Ryan MacFarlane begins his first season at the helm of Lancaster Bible Baseball with a deep and experienced group looking for another playoff appearance in 2024. Blake Greenly (INF/RHP, .434 BA, 66 H, 12 HR, 46 RBI, 25 SB) was recently named a Preseason All-American after a monster 2023 season and senior Brian Coburn (SS/RHP, 5-2 W-L, 2.72 ERA, 37 K, .294 BA, 42 H, 4 HR, 20 SB) returns after being named United East Pitcher of the Year for 2023. Sophomore Dylan Witkowski (OF/P, .377 BA, 60 hits, 24 extra base hits, 25 SB) returns after a breakout first season in 2023 that saw him named All-United East First Team as well as All-Region 3rd Team. The Chargers head to Myrtle Beach, S.C. over spring break before opening up United East play on March 15th with a series against Penn College.
Coach’s Outlook: “We are excited with the talent we have coming back. But we know that talent alone won't get us where we hope to go. Our guys are hungry and are a tight knit group that we believe has the makings of a great team. We know if we want to compete for a conference title that every single guy has to be ready at any moment to contribute.
If we stay together as a team, and come ready to compete every day, we could be really good this year. At the end of the day, it will come down to our guys believing they can, putting the work in to be prepared for anything and executing when the time comes. I'm confident we are moving toward that end.”
Penn College
Chris Howard begins his 18th season at the helm of Penn College Baseball in 2024 with a squad in a rebuilding mode after graduating 14 players in 2023. Senior RHP Zac Weaver was 6-1 on the mound with 32 K’s en route to a Second Team All-Conference nod in 2023 while sophomore infielder Quinn Hanafin hit .376 with 17 doubles, 6 HR, and 39 RBI last season. The Wildcats travel to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for spring break games from March 3-7th and have non-conference matchups against cross-town rival Lycoming College as well as Wilkes University, Mt. Aloysius, and Juniata College. United East play begins on March 15th with a series against Lancaster Bible College.
Coach’s Outlook: “We have brought in a big freshmen class after losing 14 players to graduation. We will be young and inexperienced, but we are looking forward to competing every game.”
Penn State Abington
Head Coach Joe DiMento begins his 2nd season at the helm of Penn State Abington Baseball looking for another playoff appearance in 2024. Returning at the top of the lineup is catcher Justin Fogel who led the conference in almost every major offensive category (.497 BA, 15 HR, 135 Total Bases, .549 OBP, .931 Slugging) en route to United East Player of the Year and All-American honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and D3Baseball.com. Senior outfielder Tim Petrucelli hit 13 HR, with a .743 Slugging, and drove in 46 Runs and picked up a First Team All-Conference honor. Greg Wiley picked up 5 wins on the mound with 39 strikeouts while Alex Margot struck out 55 batters in 43.1 Innings Pitched. Abington opens 2024 at the Methodist University Invitational in Fayetteville, N.C. playing against the host, DeSales, and Neumann and have non-conference matchups with Christopher Newport, Rutgers-Camden, and Immaculata on the schedule. United East play begins on March 15th with a series against Penn State Berks.
Coach’s Outlook:
Penn State Berks
Head Coach Erik Amspacher begins his third season with Penn State Berks Baseball and a group of experienced seniors looking to take a step forward in 2024. Senior Josh Miiller had five wins in 61 Innings Pitched with 51 strikeouts on the mound while classmate Kolbie Reeser hit .310 with 2 home runs and 23 RBI’s while throwing 16 innings on the mound as well. Senior Colin Templin hit .333 with 2 home runs and 20 RBI’s while playing up the middle defensively after a second team All-United East honor in 2022. The Nittany Lions open 2024 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. for spring break games before returning home and beginning United East play with a series against Penn State Abington on March 15.
Coach’s Outlook: “We expect to make a major step forward this year with a strong senior class and the influx of freshmen hungry to win.”
Penn State Harrisburg
After a 2023 season in which Penn State Harrisburg set a new program record with 34 wins, the Nittany Lions received votes in the Preseason Poll and will return a veteran lineup with sights set on another NCAA Tournament appearance. Senior Kevin Lehner (OF, .438 BA, 49 Runs, 67 Hits, 13 Doubles, 12 HR, 44 RBI) returns after a 1st Team All-Region and 1st Team All-United East honors. Sophomore Fisher Druck earned 2nd Team All-Region and 1st Team All United East after a first season which saw him go 8-0 on the mound with 55 K in 63 IP and a 3.29 ERA. Brendan Henn was a 2nd Team All-Region and 2nd Team All-United East after a .370 BA with 65 Runs, 14 Doubles, 10 HR, 45 RBI and 21 SB’s. Harrisburg takes trips to Rocky Mount, N.C. to face off with North Carolina Wesleyan and Virginia Beach, Va. to play Virginia Wesleyan and a key non-conference matchup with Christopher Newport (March 9-10) before United East play begins on March 15th with a series against St. Mary’s of Maryland.
Coach’s Outlook: “Same goal every year... win the conference and advance to the World Series.”
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Beginning his 8th year as skipper of St. Mary’s College of Maryland baseball, Bernie Stratchko has a veteran lineup looking to take a step forward in 2024. Senior outfielder Chase O’Dell returns after a Second Team All-Conference nod in 2023 where he hit .410 with 22 RBI and 4 HR. Junior outfielder Cole Tarleton also picked up a Second Team All-Conference honor in 2023 after hitting .388 with 26 RBI and 6 HR. The Seahawks open up on February 20 at Virginia Wesleyan before non-conference matchups with Hampden-Sydney, York (PA), and Salisbury. United East play begins with a series at Penn State Harrisburg on March 15th.
Coach’s Outlook: “St Mary’s has a veteran lineup with a year of experience under a younger pitching staff. Looking to be very competitive in this year's United East.”
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The United East boasts 17 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Bryn Athyn College, Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Clarks Summit University, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Harrisburg, Rosemont College, Saint Elizabeth University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.