2009 Elizabethtown College Baseball Preview
The Elizabethtown College baseball team will look to return to the top of the Commonwealth Conference in 2009 after being dethroned by Messiah College in last year's conference title game.With the graduation of only four seniors and the return of four All-Commonwealth players, including the conference pitcher of the year, the Blue Jays would like to go back to the NCAA tournament for the second time under the direction of head coach Cliff Smith, who begins his fourth season.
The Blue Jays will be led by last year’s conference pitcher of the year, senior Sam Heaps (Landenberg, PA/Avon Grove). Heaps finished last season with a record of 6-1 while appearing in 11 games and an ERA of 2.57 to go with 60 strikeouts. Heaps also batted a spectacular .405 and was tied for second on the team with 53 hits, and was named second-team All-Mid-Atlantic Region as a utility player.
Senior Tom Semanek (Swoyersville, PA/Bishop Hoban) will hold down the catcher position. Semanek started every game last season, finishing with a .289 average with four home runs and 31 runs batted in.
Eric Luff (Lincoln University, PA/Avon Grove) returns his senior year as the starting second basemen. During his first season on the squad in 2008, Luff batted .298 with 15 RBI’s.
At shortstop will be junior Matt Vinagro (Fredericksburg, VA/Stafford), a starter since he first joined the team as a first-year player. Vinagro was a second team All-Commonwealth player last season, after batting .302 with 18 runs batted in.
First-year student Matt Reade (North Yarmouth, ME/Greely) is slated to join junior Steve Shuleski (Boiling Springs, PA/Boiling Springs) in action at first base.
Junior Ben Yeager (Pottstown, PA/Owen J. Roberts) will start at third base for the second year in the row, where he batted .264 and had 34 hits on the year.
The outfield will be one of the strong points of the team as well, with two returning starters and a third who saw significant time last year as a utility player.
Senior Adam Sheibley (Landisburg, PA/West Perry) will start in left field again after last season saw him named to the first team All-Commonwealth. Sheibley, led the team in hits with 48, in stolen bases with 28 and in home runs with five. He also batted a gaudy .373 and drove in 32 runs.
Junior Rodney Francis (Pottstown, PA/Owen J. Roberts) will retain his starting spot in center field, as he was named to the second team All-Commonwealth team. Francis was second on the team with 44 runs last year, while also stealing an impressive 21 bases and batting .366.
In right field will be junior Brian Kiernan (Garden City, NY/Garden City), who started ten games last year and batted .314 with 16 runs batted in.
Senior Matt Kutz (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) is penciled in as the number two starter behind Sam Heaps. Kutz finished last year with five wins in 11 appearances and was second on the team with 30 strikeouts. Adam Hartzell (Spring City, PA/Owen J. Roberts), a junior, will be the team’s number three starter. Hartzell was 4-0 in six starts last season to go along with his 4.19 ERA.
Senior Dan Lauletta (Landenberg, PA/Avon Grove) and junior Ryan Barrett (Knox, PA/Keystone) will see significant time as relief pitchers. Lauletta and Barrett each recorded one save in 15 appearances a year ago.
The Blue Jays will start their season February 21st at Shenendoah, and then make the trip down south to Florida for Spring Break. The season will be highlighted with the start of Commonwealth conference play on March 21st at Messiah and an exhibition against the Lancaster Barnstormers on April 16th.
-Mike Behounek '11 contributed to this article
