Full Poll
WEST CHESTER, Pa.- Following its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance last May, the West Chester University baseball team (43-9) was ranked 12
th in the DIIBaseball.com preseason poll released on Monday afternoon.
The DIIbaseball.com poll is the first preseason poll of the 2025 season, and West Chester is the second highest-ranked team from the PSAC, trailing only Indiana (Pa.) (IUP), which finished a historic 2024 season with a record of 41-18 and a trip to the National Finals in Cary, North Carolina.
In 2024, West Chester claimed its ninth PSAC Crown and earned the top seed in the Atlantic Regional for the second time in three years before falling to Charleston (W.V.) and IUP in the NCAA Tournament to bring the season to its conclusion.
One of five PSAC teams in the top 25, West Chester appears well-positioned for another excellent season in 2025.
Offensively, West Chester returns two of its top five bats from a year ago.
Sean Szestowicki (Mount Royal, N.J./Kingsway Regional) and
Avery Spencer (Pottsgrove, Pa./Pottsgrove) return to the lineup following seasons that saw them bat .354 and .343, respectively. Spencer ended the season with 47 RBI, which was second-best on the team, while Szestowicki belted five home runs, which was also second-best on the team.
On the mound, the Golden Rams return a pair of weekend starters in
Julian Costa (Mantua, N.J./Clearview) and
Nick Noga (Avondale, Pa./Avon Grove), along with several important bullpen arms, including lefty
Gannon Kadlecik (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour) and
Kyle Lazer (Havertown, Pa./Bonner & Prendie).
West Chester will also look forward to the continued development of
Drew Simpson (Hockessin, Del./Delaware Military Academy), who enjoyed a tremendous rookie season, while also looking for a return to form from
David Ferguson (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East).
Costa finished the 2024 season with a staff-best record of 8-3 and a 3.41 ERA with 73 strikeouts throughout 71.1 innings of work, including three complete game efforts. For his part, Noga was 6-1 a year ago with a 3.69 ERA, while Simpson also posted a record of 6-1 with a 4.31 ERA in 19 appearances, including six starts.
Lazer led the staff in saves last year, finishing with four, while Kadlecik and Simpson each registered two to tie for second on the staff in this category.
West Chester will open its 2025 season on February 22
nd with a doubleheader against 2024 NCAA Tournament foe Charleston (W.V.) beginning at 12 p.m. A full preview of the 2025 Golden Rams will be available on wcupagoldenrams.com in mid-February.
