2023 PSUAC Baseball Championship Preview: Can Mont Alto Repeat or Will Another Contender Dethrone the Defending Champs?
By Zach Donaldson
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The PSUAC spring championships are upon us, with new baseball and softball champs awaiting to be crowned. The 2023 PSUAC Spring Championships will be held on the University Park campus, utilizing the University's Division I facilities on our path to a championship.
The main storyline in the opening round wasn’t necessarily on the field, but in the sky. The softball bracket was busted by the rain which causing a couple games shift to Sunday, May 7. For more information on the softball schedule changes, click here.
In the baseball bracket, the schedule changes were much less severe. Things are straightforward heading into Sunday’s action, with the bracket playing out as originally scheduled. Three games will be held on Sunday, May 7th, narrowing down our field from four teams to two for Championship Monday. All games are scheduled for Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in State College.
Let’s take a look at each team’s outlook as they get set to head to University Park:
West #1: Penn State Mont Alto
Mont Alto couldn’t get the job done in its opening round matchup against #2 seed Penn State DuBois, losing 2-1. Jared Pine went 1-for-3 and recorded the only run for Mont Alto, while Zach Garlin went six innings and struck out six, allowing just two runs on four hits. The offense will need to get back on track after a strong regular season put them in great position to repeat as conference champions.
With the loss, Mont Alto’s season is on the ropes and will partake in a win or go home elimination game against the East’s #2 seed Penn State York on May 7th at 11 a.m. A win advances Mont Alto to the loser's bracket finals, which they came out of last season to earn the title. The loser's bracket finals are scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
East #1: Penn State Brandywine
Brandywine cruised to a 10-1 victory over York in the opening round, scoring seven runs in the first two innings and never looking back. Evan Abegg went 3-for-4, while Cam Baughman and Mike DeGirolamo each tacked on two hits and Kyle Oechsle smashed a home run in the win.
Next up, Brandywine has a date with Penn State DuBois and a trip to championship game on the line. The game is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.
West #2: Penn State DuBois
DuBois took care of business in the opening round, winning a barn burner with Fayette 17-10, then getting its revenge by upsetting the defending champs Mont Alto 2-1.
Cory Lehman recorded one RBI and one run, plus one hit and one run from Brett Beith was enough to boost DuBois to victory. Taylor Boland also pitched a solid seven innings, allowing only five hits and one run while striking out seven.
DuBois has a date with Penn State Brandywine, the East’s top seed with a trip to the finals on the line. DuBois is looking to take back its PSUAC crown, last winning in 2021.
East #2: Penn State York
Penn State York went 1-1 during opening weekend, kicking things off with a 6-4 victory over Schuylkill, but couldn’t follow it up losing 10-1 to Brandywine.
Nathaniel Uzelac went 3-for-4, and York had eight hits overall but Andrew Miller knocked in JP Dyson for York’s lone run.
York’s season is on the line against Mont Alto on May 7th at 11 a.m. The winner advances to a second elmination game of the day at 5:00 p.m., facing the Brandywine-DuBois loser.
West #3: Penn State Fayette
Fayette posted 10 runs and swung the bats well against DuBois’ pitching staff, but it couldn’t shut down DuBois' offense as it posted a 17 spot to end Fayette’s season.
Head coach Ryan Encapera squad’s season stops in the opening round of the playoffs, but with a successful 11-9 conference record and a playoff berth.
East #3: Penn State Schuylkill
Schuylkill was the second three-seed to fall in the play-in portion of the tournament, this time at the hands of Penn State York. Schuylkill scored all four of its runs in the third inning, but couldn’t muster up anything else and fell 6-4.
Head coach Jim Misstishin’s team ends the year with an 18-10 record and an 11-5 conference mark.
Zach Donaldson is s senior majoring in broadcast journalism at Penn State University. To contact him, email zach.donaldson1@gmail.com