GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University baseball team will travel to Florida this weekend for three games in the Sunshine State to open the 2024 season.
The Pioneers will open the year this Friday afternoon at Nova Southeastern before playing at Lynn University on Saturday and wrap-up the road trip at Palm Beach Atlantic on Sunday.
TU head coach Brandon Steele is entering his sixth season at the helm of his alma mater and returns a solid unit of veterans, along with a talented group of newcomers who will help improve on last year's 25-24 showing. The Pioneers return 21 lettermen including six starters in the field as well as the entire starting weekend pitching rotation from 2023.
"We feel the amount of experience we have on this year's team will be a big asset for us", said Coach Steele. "Our teams have been involved in many one-run games over the past couple seasons and we think this group, having gone through that, will make them more resilient."
RETURNING POSITION PLAYERS
Tusculum's top returning hitter is senior shortstop and All-South Atlantic Conference performer Ben Scartz. The Tarpon Springs, Florida product was the team's most valuable player last season and finished second on the club with his .361 batting average which was ranked 13th-best in the league. He finished his inaugural TU season with 60 hits including 11 doubles, one triple, 34 RBI and scored 38 runs. He struck out only 12 times in his 195 plate appearances which was the third-best radio of any SAC hitter and 39th overall nationally (NCAA II).
He accounted for 19 multiple-hit games and reached base safely in his last 13 contests including a seven-game hitting streak to end the season. He was also recognized for his glove-work where he earned spots on the ABCA All-Southeast Defensive Team and the SAC All-Defensive Team. Scartz made only three errors on the season for an impressive .984 fielding percentage which was best amongst SAC shortstops. He opened his TU career by going errorless in his first 141 total fielding chances.
Preseason All-SAC outfielder Zane Keener is back for his final Tusculum season. The former University of Tennessee transfer finished fourth on the team last year with a .311 batting average. The 2022 All-SAC third team honoree totaled 46 hits including 11 doubles, two triples and five home runs. He posted 29 RBI and led the team with 28 walks and nine times hit by pitch. In his 43 games last year, he saw action 19 times in the outfield and 24 contests as TU's designated hitter.
The Knoxville, Tennessee graduate student also scored 40 runs and went 5-of-7 in stolen bases. His .449 on-base percentage was second on the team and accounted for 13 multiple-hit games. His 43 straight games of reaching base safely, spanning the 2022 and 2023 seasons, was the fifth-longest in recorded school history.
During his 117-game career, Keener has a .309 batting average while totaling 123 hits including 27 doubles, five triples, 16 home runs, 85 RBI and 70 walks.
Senior infielder Will Samuelson (Charlotte, N.C.) is coming off a 45-game campaign where he batted .291 with 43 hits including nine doubles and seven home runs. He finished second on the club with 36 RBI and third with his 25 walks. He saw most of his action as TU's starting first baseman as he led the team with 331 putouts to go along with his 10 multiple-hit outings.
In his 85-game career at Tusculum, he has posted 83 hits with 18 doubles, 10 home runs, 57 RBI and 34 walks while batting .290. He also saw time behind the plate in his first TU season in 2022 where he threw out six base-runners.
Veteran catcher Blaze McCauley (Dacula, Ga.) returns behind the plate for the Pioneers. He made 32 catching appearances with 27 starts as he batted .253 with six doubles, one home run, 14 RBI and 16 runs scored. In his 71 career contests with the Pioneers, he owns a .981 fielding percentage and has thrown out 25 base runners for the Black & Orange including 11 last season.
Senior outfielder Luis Reyes (Queens, N.Y.) batted .288 in his 24 appearances last season which included 16 starts. He was a perfect 10-of-10 in stolen bases while scoring 16 runs and drew 14 walks. He was a two-time All-Region standout and 2022 NJCAA All-American at Mohawk Valley Community College where he was a perfect 61-of-61 in stolen bases.
Utility standout Murphy Flood (Dalton, Ga.) is back and will provide 86 games of veteran leadership over his three-plus seasons with the Pioneers. He has a .284 career batting average where he has posted 81 hits including 18 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 68 RBI and 10 stolen bases.
In 2023, Flood accounted for a full season where he batted .248 with 10 doubles and 32 RBI, which were fourth on the club. He led the team with four sacrifice flies while posting nine multiple-hit outings and recorded back-to-back walk-off singles in a doubleheader sweep over Coker last year.
Senior Darien Farley (Denver, N.C.) shined at second base for the Pioneers where he saw action in 19 contests including 15 starts. He batted .255 but also posted a sterling on-base percentage of .431. He accounted for a dozen hits and drew 13 walks. He made only one fielding error in his 48 chances.
Slated to return to the TU roster after a year's absence is utility player Zach Wilson (Lawndale, N.C.). The graduate student last saw action in 2022 where he led the team with three triples. He batted .266 with five doubles, four home runs, 19 RBI and scored 24 runs in his 22 contests.
Also returning are position players Kayl Ratliff (Lubbock, Texas), Patrick Usher (Starmount, N.C.) and Max Schmarder (Buffalo, N.Y.). Also back on the roster are Connor Jurek (Knoxville, Tenn.), Jack Gagen (Ashburn, Va.), Seth Sherman (Orlando, Fla.), Caleb Mulcahy (Indian Mound, Tenn.), Grant Van Rossum (Atlanta, Ga.), Justin Millsaps (Maryville, Tenn.) and Tyler Tamargo (Miami, Fla.).
RETURNING PITCHING STAFF
The Pioneers bring back 11 lettermen from the pitching staff including all three weekend starters from 2023.
Preseason All-SAC second team hurler Luke Absher emerged as the top starter for the Pioneers a year ago. The Lenoir, North Carolina senior posted a team-best 13 starts where he went 4-3 with a 4.52 earned run average. He pitched in a team-high 81.2 innings where he recorded 57 strikeouts and pitched one complete game.
Senior Seth Willis (Vale, N.C.) led the team in victories as the right-hander went 6-4 and finished with a 5.00 ERA. He led the club with two complete games including the first no-hitter in the modern era of the program. In his 68.1 innings on the mound he led the team with 61 strikeouts.
Senior Brady Salyards (Bakersfield, Calif.) went 4-1 on the bump and tallied a 4.47 ERA. He finished with 41 strikeouts and only threw three wild pitches and hit two batters in his 44.1 innings of work.
The workhorse out of the TU bullpen last year was Drew Sliwinski (Knoxville, Tenn.). His 19 appearances were the second most on the team which included three starts. In his 40.1 innings he went 2-4 with one save and accounted for 36 strikeouts.
Senior Jonathan Nelson (Knoxville, Tenn.) battled through and injury-filled 2023 season and finished with a 2-0 record and a 5.52 ERA. In his 29.1 innings, he notched a save and recorded 23 strikeouts. Midway through the year he was hit in the face by a line drive back to the mound. He returned to action a month later and pitched in four strong outings and was named the athletic department's Comeback Player of the Year.
Two-sport standout Trejen Fox-Birdwell (Rockledge, Fla.) is back for the Pioneers. A defensive end on the TU football team, Fox-Birdwell has been a solid go-to player out of the Pioneer bullpen. In 2023, he made 14 appearances with three starts and logged a 2-2 worksheet. He pitched in 32.1 innings and recorded 25 strikeouts, made one save and finished with a 7.24 ERA.
Junior Billy Quinn (Elma, N.Y.) went 1-2 and finished with a 7.43 ERA in his 16 mound appearances including five starts. He tossed 36.1 innings and recorded 24 strikeouts with a save for the Pioneers.
Junior Sam Bonilla (Richland, Wash.) made nine relief appearances a year ago as he posted a 5.73 ERA. In 11 innings of work, he struck out a dozen batters and went 0-1 on the mound.
Also returning to the TU pitching staff are Scout Martin (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), Kenny Kinzler (Hayward, Calif.) and Noah Garrah (London, Ontario, Canada).
Senior Corey Binion (Morehead, Ky.) is expected to return after missing the entire 2023 season due to injury. Binion has made 14 mound appearances in his TU career including 10 in the 2022 campaign where he posted 25 strikeouts in his 19 innings. Junior Brice Anders (Brevard, N.C.) was also injured in 2023 and is slated to return this spring.
"Our pitching staff is in good hands with the rotation from 2023 returning to lead our staff," said Steele. "We have some additions that will fill big roles and give us more depth on the mound."
NEWCOMERS
The Pioneers have 12 transfers joining the club this spring while 14 freshmen will be vying for playing time.
Senior outfielder Jayden Singleton (Des Moines, Iowa) comes to Tusculum after playing last year at Division II Missouri Western. He played in 42 games with 35 starts where he totaled 34 hits with three doubles, one triple and two home runs while posting a .274 batting average. He also recorded 12 RBI, 11 walks and went 14-of-15 in stolen bases. Singleton played his prep career at Roosevelt High School where he was a two-time All-Conference and All-District selection.
Senior Jake McKenna (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.) saw action the last two years at Lynn University. He made 12 relief appearances for the Fighting Knights where he has a 3.55 career ERA with 15 strikeouts. McKenna played his prep career at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School where he was an All-Conference first team honoree.
Junior catcher Avery Collins played the last two seasons at Cleveland State where he batted .262 with 27 hits, 22 runs, six doubles, one home run and 20 RBI. Collins is no stranger to the Tusculum program or Greeneville. His father, Andy Collins, served as an assistant coach at TU and later went onto become the head coach at Greeneville High School where Avery was an All-State standout with the Greene Devils.
Junior catcher Anthony Cobb was an All-Conference performer at Clark State Community College in Ohio where he batted .406 and tallied five doubles, two triples and a home run. The Oxford, Ohio native was an All-Conference and All-City selection at Talawanda High School where he batted .472 in his senior season.
Junior infielder Garrett Gregory played last spring at Dallas College North Lake where he earned All-Conference honors and finished with a .404 batting average. The Lakewood Ranch, Florida product attended IMG Academy in Bradenton where he amassed numerous prep and club team laurels.
Junior Jack Lyndrup (Macomb, Mich.) accounted for two years playing experience at Macomb Community College in Michigan. He earned All-Conference and All-Academic Team recognition during his junior college career and posted a .300 batting average. He was also an All-Conference performer at his prep alma mater at L'anse Cruese North High School.
Derek Farley (Denver, N.C.), the brother of TU senior Darien Farley, comes to TU after playing the last two years at Caldwell Tech. He batted .282 with the Cobras while posting eight doubles, one home run and 15 RBI. He was an All-State pick at Southlake Christian Academy where he boasted a .446 batting average in his senior campaign.
Junior right-hander Cole Forcellina (Norwalk, Conn.) pitched the 2022 season at UConn Avery Point where he made 10 appearances with two starts. He pitched a pair of complete games and posted a save with 35 strikeouts in his 38.1 innings.
Junior Caid Sanders (Hendersonville, Tenn.) played previously at Volunteer State Community College where he made 28 pitching appearances over the past two seasons. In 2022, he posted a 2-3 record with a save and 26 strikeouts in his 21.2 innings. He recorded 16 appearances last season while tossing 24 strikeouts with one save and a 5.12 ERA. He was a two-time All-District standout at Hendersonville High School and led his team to the 2019 TSSAA Sectionals.
Luke Maicon, a junior from Wake Forest, North Carolina, garnered NJCAA All-Region X second team recognition at Caldwell Tech in 2023. The Heritage High School alum batted .400 and also had a 0.00 ERA while earning All-Conference honors in 2021.
Max Mull (Alexander, N.C.) rounds out the transfer list for the Pioneers. He also played at Caldwell Tech where he saw action the last two years. In 2023, he went 3-0 with a 2.12 ERA as he pitched in 29.2 innings and posted 20 strikeouts.
Sophomore outfielder Ty Smith (Elizabethton, Tenn.) returns to the region after playing the last two years at Hampton-Sydney. He played his prep baseball at Avery County High School in North Carolina where he was a three-time All-Conference performer including 2021 when he garnered All-State recognition. He finished with a .569 career batting average at Avery County.
Freshman infielder Caleb Webster (Franklin, Tenn.) batted .315 last season at Christ Presbyterian Academy in 2023.
Conference and County Player of the Year Mason Huffstickler (Ellenboro, N.C.) will be entering his freshman campaign at Tusculum in 2024. While at East Rutherford High School, he was a two-time All-Conference selection and posted an impressive 23-5 record during his prep career. He accounted for 213 strikeouts in his 168.1 career innings where he logged three playoff victories. Last year, he went 8-2 with 81 strikeouts and a 1.71 ERA. He also batted .449 with five doubles and 21 RBI.
Rookie outfielder Jake Absher (Lenoir, N.C.) was an All-State first team pick at Hibriten High School. He finished his prep career with a .471 batting average which included 23 doubles and five home runs for the three-time All-Conference standout. Jake is the younger brother of current TU hurler Luke Absher.
Freshman infielder Brayden Hendrickson (Unicoi, Tenn.) was a three-time All-Conference honoree at nearby Unicoi County High School where he led the Blue Devils to a district and conference titles.
Rookie utility player Omar Carreras (North Brunswick, N.J.) batted .461 last season at North Brunswick Township High School. The All-Conference and All-County performer belted eight home runs and finish with an .855 slugging percentage.
Freshman pitcher Aiden Tipton (Knoxville, Tenn.) earned All-District honors last spring as he logged a 2.48 ERA and recorded 32 strikeouts in 28 innings against just four walks. He helped Bearden to a 2023 District runner-up finish.
Newcomers to the Tusculum team also include: Gavin Carter (INF, Murfreesboro, Tenn. / Rockvale HS), Ryan Cathey (C, Loveland, Ohio / Loveland HS), Seth Charlton (INF, Chuckey, Tenn. / North Greene HS), Landon Dockery (OF, Maryville, Tenn. / Maryville HS), Logan Mehta (INF, Dorchester, Ontario, Canada / London Christian HS), Payne Ladd (LHP, Bristol, Tenn. / Tennessee HS), Caden Tullock (RHP, Afton, Tenn. / Chuckey-Doak HS) and Carter Wallace (RHP/INF, Franklin, Tenn. / Christ Presbyterian Academy).
"We have a good group of new players both freshman and transfers who have added competition and depth," added Steele. "We are well positioned moving forward with the talent of our underclassmen."
Following this weekend's Florida trip, the Pioneers will return home next weekend to host Illinois Springfield for a four-game series beginning next Friday (Feb. 9).
