DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College Baseball Team is coming off another solid season in the Conference Carolinas. The Fleet finished 19-13 in the league and placed third in the conference regular season standings. Erskine saw another player sign a professional contract in C/RHP Dayan Reinoso going to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization. The Flying Fleet are positioned to follow up in 2022 with another strong campaign with goals in sight for a Conference Carolinas Championship.

Key Returners:
Erskine will return a key group of contributors from 2021 on the offensive side. Leading the way for the Fleet is senior infielder Cal Bocchino (.345 AVG/3 HR/7 2B/20 RBI/.397 OBP%). Bocchino was a Coastal Plains League First-Team selection this summer and has emerged as one of the top middle infielders in the region. Junior outfielder Tariq Bacon (.330 AVG/6 HR/33 RBI/.670 SLG%/.404 OBP%) will lead the way as a returning starter in the outfield and has the ability to be a multi-threat presence on the base paths and has displayed a lot of power in the bat as well. Senior first baseman/DH Kane Fisher (.368 AVG/4 HR/.763 SLG%/.455 OBP%) will return as a leading power bat for the Fleet. Fisher can change the game with one swing and has committed himself to being a strong leader on and off the field for Erskine. Junior catcher Dalton Boyd (.300 AVG/3 HR/.500 SLG %/.404 OBP %) returns as one of the toughest outs in the lineup for the Fleet. The switch hitting catcher from Polk State CC will be a strong backstop and 1B/DH option to solidify the lineup as an experienced collegiate hitter. Armando Becerra, Jaisen Randolph, and Gregory Sanders will all be major contributors in the outfield who can steal bases and drive the baseball at a high level. Senior utility guy Chase Crouch and junior outfielder Dontae Wade will bring a lot of experience and leadership to round out a veteran crew for the Flying Fleet in 2022.

Erskine will return almost the entire pitching staff from 2021. This past season, the Fleet had to deal with numerous injuries from key contributors from the 2020 season. A majority of which will be back healthy for 2022. There is a lot of excitement around Grier Field and the Flying Fleet ball club with a healthy staff and a great group of newcomers in addition. Senior right-hander Allan Saathoff (3.88 ERA/60.1 IP./76 K'S/.211 OPP BA) has had a very strong fall for the Fleet and is expected to be the number one starter again for the Fleet in 2022. "Allan has proven that he is one of the top arms in the Conference. 'Satty' has the respect of our entire coaching staff and his teammates due to his work ethic and humble spirit that he displays on a daily basis. I expect him to be a potential [Conference Carolinas] Pitcher of the Year candidate this year," said Head Coach Mark Crocco. Redshirt sophomore right-hander Johnny Hummel (1.40 ERA/19.1 IP/27 K's/.118 OPP. BA) will return as Erskine's closer and has shown some promise as a two way player this fall behind the plate. The Fleet staff return Junior right-handers Landon Dennis and Ira Clifton who have both been starters for the Fleet on the weekend and will play a significant role this spring.

Key Newcomers:
Erskine Baseball has had numerous key additions on the field and on the mound this fall. "I have been extremely encouraged with the competitiveness and cohesiveness of our 2021 class. They have really fit into our culture that we are trying to build. They joined our returners and built a family this fall. Collectively they have showed significant buy-in on and off the field and we are very excited to see them compete this spring. I want to thank my assistant coaches for all their work in putting this class together. In particular, our Recruiting Coordinator/Associate Head Coach Will Kaufman for being diligent in the process of getting these young men on campus," Crocco said.
 
The key newcomers in the infield are junior college transfers J.J. Gonzalez (St. Johns River CC), Cal Kryska (Muskegon CC) , Joe Quintana (Northeastern JC), and true freshman Kyle Marti, from Columbus High School in Miami. "Our main goal of the 2021 class was to recruit some high level defenders that could sure up our infield play. All of these guys are very high energy players that have a dynamic skill set.  They have meshed very well together, and all have exceeded expectations. They will make an immediate impact on our program this year and many years to come," Crocco said.
Christian Rivera is a transfer from Pensacola State CC that has added some power to the lineup and has proven he can play first base and be a high-level catcher this fall. "Rivera really came into his own the second half of the fall and proved he is a real offensive threat for our club. I love his make-up and work ethic that he comes to the field with every single day. He will be a great compliment to returner Dalton Boyd behind the dish and he makes our team better with the servant leadership he shows his teammates day in and day out," Crocco said.
In addition to the middle infield, the Fleet needed to sure up a corner infield/utility player to replace four- year starter Drew Yniesta. The Fleet found a great fit with a transfer from Georgia State in Ashby Smith. "Ashby is a true utility player who can play corner infield or corner outfield. He is a proven hitter at the college level and will be a great addition to the middle of our lineup." Crocco said. True freshmen outfielder Rafael Flores (Christopher Columbus HS) and catcher Logan Piedra (St. Thomas Aquinas HS) are very good baseball players and will bring some solid depth to a very tight knit roster.
 
The Flying Fleet have acquired new leadership on the pitching side of the baseball in Danny Perez. "Coach Perez has been electric for our team culture. Our players have bought into his pitching system from day 1 and we have seen significant growth on the mound," Crocco said.

There are numerous key newcomers on the pitching staff that will add a wealth of depth and competitiveness in 2022. Junior College transfers Caleb Dix (St. Johns River CC), Daniel Vos (Florida Southwestern State CC)  and Division I transfer Josh Collett (University of Pittsburgh) will all compete for starting opportunities to compliment returners Allan Saathoff and Landon Dennis who have both had very strong fall campaigns. "There are many qualities that each of these young men bring to the table but the one that stands out for all of them is their daily self-discipline and the ability to be professional and work at their craft," Crocco said. Erskine's head coach added he is very excited to watch them grow as they get into the spring campaign.

The coaching staff has been very pleased with the performance of all the true freshman pitchers this fall.  Standouts include Blake Tipmore (American Heritage HS), Logan Spivey (Upson-Lee HS) and Joe Alegre (Arlington HS) who have all proven that they have starter-type stuff and the competitive spirit to log significant innings for the Fleet in 2022. Freshman Bryce Dees (Harlem HS) and Dustin Scoggins (Belton-Honea Path) have joined Junior College additions Colbe Crim (Pasco Hernando CC)  and Matt Grizzle (South Ga. State CC) that will compete with a veteran staff to get some innings in the bullpen. "The future of our pitching staff is extremely bright. We have been very fortunate to bring in some quality young men who are sold on our program's mission statement and they are flourishing on the mound. I see this group of freshmen being a staple for our program for many years to come," Crocco said.

2022 Schedule Notables
The Erskine College Baseball team will have one of the toughest schedules in Division II baseball this spring. The Fleet will take on four of the six teams that were selected in the Southeast Regional in 2021, including the defending national champions, Wingate University, twice in the first six weeks of the season. Erskine will host the Bulldogs on February 22 before making the trip to southern North Carolina on March 15. Opening weekend will showcase the cross-town rivalry between Lander and Erskine. Friday will be a single game at Lander and Saturday will be a doubleheader at Grier Field. Erskine will open Conference Carolinas play at home against the defending Conference Carolinas tournament champions North Greenville University on the weekend of February 18-19 in Due West. The second week of league play will bring in the UNC Pembroke Braves, a conference newcomer who was also a participant in the 2021 Southeast Regional and ranked in the top #25 for most of the 2021 season. The following weekend will be the Fleet's first weekend road test against the defending conference Carolinas regular season champion, University of Mount Olive. "This schedule will challenge our players early. I have found that if you are tested early in the season, it will benefit you down the stretch." Crocco said. Erskine will see some unfamiliar teams added for midweek contests including Mars Hill, Coker, and Queens out of the South Atlantic Conference. Erskine will conclude their non-conference play with a four-game set at home against Rounding Jefferson College (PA) and a home-and-away midweek matchup against Peach Belt Conference member Augusta State. The Conference Carolinas Tournament will take place in Burlington, North Carolina on May 4 – 8.