WEST CHESTER, PA – Expectations always are high for West Chester University's baseball squad. However, coming off a year in which the Golden Rams won the Atlantic Region and reached the national championships in Cary, N.C., the pressure was on the young coaching staff to fill some holes left by graduation and get the Purple & Gold back to the semifinals and potentially further.
Third-year head coach
Mike LaRosa had to re-tool a pitching staff that lost a big piece to its puzzle when left-hander
Braeden Fausnaught graduated and took his talents to the pro level with the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He also had to find a couple players to fill in on the corners of the infield. Playing in one of the most competitive leagues in the country makes a coaching staff rebuild quickly to stay competitive.
The Golden Rams believe they have done that with a pair of transfers, who should come in and compete for a spot in the weekend rotation with a few returning starters from a year ago. A pair of 6-foot, 6-inch righties
David Ferguson (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East), from the University of Pittsburgh, and
Josh Paulina (Exton, Pa./Malvern Prep.), from the San Diego Padres organization, are expected to contend for weekend work in 2023. They join right-handed co-captain
Joe Sperone (Broomall, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) and senior lefty
Gabe Rappa (Paulsboro, N.J./Neumann-Goretti [Pa.]), who are both back in the mix.
Stephen Restuccio (Hammonton, N.J./Hammonton) is a two-way transfer from George Mason, who might get time on the mound, or in the outfield, depending on where he is needed. Co-captain
Joe Messina (Philadelphia, Pa./Neumann-Goretti) and lefty
Andrew Cantwell (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown) are candidates for spot starts and long relief outings. Under-arm hurler
Dylan Howanitz (Archbald, Pa./Valle View) got plenty of innings last year out of the pen. Junior transfers
Luke Vaks (Mays Landing, N.J./Cedar Creek) and
Jeb Kurtz (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) will have to show what they can do as well.
Cantwell's older brother,
Luke Cantwell, is a returning all-region outfielder with all the tools to be playing at the next level. He slashed .305/.542/.381/.923 with 9 doubles, 12 home runs and 52 RBI. He carries the big bat in the middle of the order. Junior
Evan Profy (Croyden, Pa./Harry S. Truman) will open up in centerfield on opening day this weekend. Last year's centerfielder,
Corey Stouffer (Souderton, Pa./North Penn) shifts over to left field.
Last year's left fielder, co-captain
Joe Kaleck (Southampton, Pa./Neshaminy) will play his third position in as many years as he slides into the infield to claim the vacant spot at the hot corner. LaRosa refers to Kaleck as his Swiss Army Knife guy who can play any position on the diamond. He was recruited as a catcher, played first base and the outfield last spring and will try his hand at third this time around.
Filling the void at first base will be either transfers
David Alleva (Cherry Hill, N.J./Bishop Eustace) from Stony Brook,
Julian Costa (Mantua, N.J./Clearview), or freshman
Sean Slowinski (Richboro, Pa./Archbishop Wood). Alleva and Costa are the left-handed bat options while Slowinski swings it from the right side. Costa is another possible two-way player, who could see time on the mound as a left-handed option out of the bullpen.
The middle of the infield returns intact with shortstop
Sean Szestowicki (Mount Royal, N.J./Kingsway Regional) and
Zack Miles (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) returning.
Behind the plate, West Chester is blessed with two catchers who could be considered No. 1 on any other team in the league. Senior
J.R. Gifford (Doylestown, Pa./Archbishop Wood) and classmate
John DeMucci (Swarthmore, Pa./Msgr. Bonner & Prendie) are solid backstops. Gifford provides the power in the lineup while DeMucci is one of the faster players on the team with a plus arm. Both have plenty of experience and can handle the staff.
West Chester lifts the lid on the 2023 slate Saturday in Dinwiddie, Va., against PSAC West rival Clarion in a doubleheader. The Golden Rams then play Tiffin University on Sunday morning in another double dip beginning at 9:30 a.m.
