The Shippensburg University baseball team officially begins its season this weekend, looking to build on a strong 2024 season that saw the team win its first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) tournament game since 2018.

The Raiders went 27-21 last season, with a 19-13 record in PSAC East division games, good enough for fourth place. Postseason play saw them knock off Seton Hill, the top seed from the PSAC West, in the first round of the conference tournament. 

SU’s pitching staff is highlighted by the return of senior Jaxon Dalena, who was named to the All-PSAC Eastern Division Second Team last season. Dalena put up a 2.52 ERA in 60.2 innings last season, good enough for fifth best in the conference and top 20 in all of NCAA Division II. He also ranked second in the PSAC in batting average allowed at .192, the best of any returning pitcher in the conference.

Last season was Dalena’s first as a full-time pitcher, transitioning from a two-way player. This transition was a key to his success, and he said, “Time in the training room was a huge part of it, being able to recognize the things you need to get better at and really focusing on those.”

Other notable names returning to the mound are junior J.T. Weaver, coming off a 12-start season with a 4.51 ERA, and sophomore Conner Barto, who cemented himself as a strong long reliever and swingman in his first season with SU, putting up a 2.98 ERA in 42.1 innings.

Six new members have been added to the pitching staff for this season, including one transfer in junior Jack Robinson, coming from Roanoke. Dalena commented on overall improvements to the pitching staff, saying, “One thing I have noticed is a huge improvement on our ability to throw strikes. We struggled with that last year; it seems like the staff is really focused on pitching to contact.”

The Raiders lineup sees several returning faces, highlighted by the one-two punch of seniors Carter Hinds and Gio Calamia. These two were at the top of the order in most games last season, with Hinds hitting .314 with 12 extra-base hits and Calamia hitting .327 with 24 RBI. The two also combined for 34 stolen bases on 39 attempts.

The starting infield sees two other returning starters to go along with Hinds. Junior Mike Heckman is a strong fielder who had an All-PSAC Eastern Division Second Team season in 2023. Sophomore Brady Harbach also looks to build on a strong freshman year that saw him become the team’s everyday third baseman, putting up a .321 on-base percentage.

Seven players have been added to the offense, highlighted by junior AJ Wenrich, coming off two seasons as a bench player at Division I Georgia Southern. 

On the newcomers, Hinds said, “The new hitters showed up on day one ready to go. We are not a very big power-hitting team, and I think everyone here knows that. We all just try to catch barrels and spray the field.”

SU’s schedule begins with a weekend series at Catawba Feb. 7-9 before a 10-game homestand at Fairchild Field that begins with four games against Saint Michael’s on Valentine’s Day weekend. 

Conference play begins on March 21 against Bloomsburg, the first of seven straight weekend series against PSAC opponents.

Hinds’ hopes for the season are simple. “I think we can have some fun this year,” he said. “If we stay locked in, stay focused on the everyday goal together as a team, I don’t see why we can’t. It’s a tough game, anything can happen, but we all trust God and each other.”

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