DUE WEST, S.C. – The Erskine College Baseball team is coming off another yet another strong season in Conference Carolinas and the power loaded Southeast Region in 2024. The Fleet finished last year with a magical postseason run in the Conference Carolinas Tournament beating Francis Marion University and Regional Participants / Nationally Ranked North Greenville University and Young Harris College.  The Fleet had numerous All Conference selections including returning 1^ST Team All-Conference Selection and ABCA All-Southeast Region Selection Josean Sanchez. The Flying Fleet are positioned to continue that post season momentum and follow up in 2025 with another strong campaign with goals in sight for a Conference Carolinas Championship.
 
Position Players Report:
Erskine will return a strong group of contributors from 2024 on the offensive side. "This group of senior leadership is some of the best we have had in my tenure at Erskine.", says Head Coach Mark Crocco. "This is a direct reflection of the leadership model that the 2024 senior class laid with captain Christian Rivera last year and into the postseason tournament. Sanchez, Jorge Pascual, Jayson Yaccarino, Carlos Gonzalez and Jude Littrell have all been in the program and understand the expectations and standards that encompass our mission statement. Augusta University transfer Dylan Wanat has joined that group of Seniors and has really fit into the team's identity and taken an immediate role of leadership going into the 2025 season."
 
Leading the way for the Fleet is senior infielder Josean Sanchez (.390/14 2B /6 HR /105 TB & .460 OBP %). Sanchez was a 1^st team All-Conference selection last year in Conference Carolinas and was an ABCA All-Southeast Region Selection. Sanchez was also named a Preseason 2^nd Team All-American by NCBWA earlier this week.  "Josean Sanchez is the engine that starts this offense in the leadoff spot. His energy is infectious and has really into a leadership role with his teammates this fall. He plays the game with a competitive spirit that embodies what Erskine Baseball is all about."

Senior infielder Jorge Pascual (.327/13 HR/14 2B /.655 SLG%/110 Total Bases) will lead the way as a real power threat in the middle of the line up. "Jorge has become a servant leader this fall and has gained the respect of his teammates as a true team first player. We are really excited about having a lineup that can set the table for Pascual to drive runs in at a high clip and empower him to be one of the premier power bats in Conference Carolinas in 2025."

Senior Outfielder Jude Littrell (.297/6 2B / 1HR 8-14 SB) is a real base stealing threat and will return as an action player with a high baseball IQ to set the table for the Fleet offense. "Littrell is one of the best defensive centerfielders we have had in the program and his commitment to execution offensively to set the table for his teammates has really been a staple in our offensive identity throughout the fall season."

Senior infielder Carlos Gonzalez (.311 /6 2B/ .374 OBP%) is a true Utility player who can play all over the field with tremendous baseball IQ. Gonzalez looks build on the tremendous momentum he gained in his postseason performance. "Gonzalez is the anatomy of a teammate, a selfless player willing to do whatever he can to help the team. His teammates always get a jolt in the arm when Carlos contributes."  

Senior Jayson Yaccarino has battled injuries throughout his career and returns in 2025 healthy and ready to contribute as a left-handed hitting power threat in the outfield/DH role.
 
New Position Players Report:
Senior Dylan Wanat has stepped in as a great addition from the Transfer Portal. The left-handed hitting outfielder from Augusta University started in all 47 regular season games in 2024 (.288 / 10 2B / 1 3B/ 40 RBI'S / 18 Stolen Bases) and led the team with 21 multi-hit games. "Dylan has stepped into our baseball family, and we knew it was a great fit from day 1. He has the ability to get on base at a very high clip and plays the game of baseball the right way day in and day out." Matt Layton (Spartanburg Methodist) has proven he has a very high ceiling and continues to show high level bat to ball skills and the ability to get on base at a high clip. Freshman Gavin Gonzalez a left handed hitting power bat rounds out the Fleet outfield and has proven to be an outstanding fit for the Erskine College Baseball program.
 
Junior infielder Quinn Allen (Yavapai College) has had a tremendous fall for the Fleet and emerged as one of the leaders of the team as a result of his hard work and dedication that he brings on a daily basis. The Erskine infield has emerged as one of the strengths this fall as Pierce Radke (Yavapai College) Gonzalez, Sanchez, Mason McManus (Santa Fe College) and Jacob Platt (Eastern Arizona College) have all shown the ability to play multiple positions in the infield at a very high level. Wilder Puertas (Miami-Dade College) has shown some real power this fall and has the ability to add some more extra-base hits in RBI situations in this deep 2025 lineup. Freshman Dimitri Sabino has been a great fit for the Fleet program on and off the field and has grown significantly in the fall. Mid-year transfer Kort McLean from USC Upstate should also provide quality play for the Fleet's bolstered infield.
 
Junior college transfers Noah Hill (Louisburg College) and Elliott Sanders (Spartanburg Methodist) will add some great experience to the catching position. Erskine Head Coach Mark Crocco has been encouraged with the collective ownership the catchers have shown this fall with this duo joined by standout freshman Josh Hungler who has showed significant promise offensively and defensively throughout the fall rounding out the core behind the plate for the Fleet.
 
Pitching Report:
Erskine will return some key pieces from the staff in 2024. There is a lot of excitement around Grier Field with a healthy staff joined by a great group of newcomers. Senior RHP Joe Alegre returns after tallying 14 career wins and totaling 79 strikeouts in 72 innings in 2024. "Alegre is a proven winner and is hungry to grow more as a leader in 2025," Crocco said. Sophomore RHP Alex Heintz has earned the respect of the entire country after a 97 strikeout debut campaign last year while tallying 71 innings and 8 victories. Heintz has proven he can be one of the premier starters not only in the conference but also in the country and showcases an electric fastball and really thrives in competition. Sophomores RHP Blake Holshouser and LHP Chris Giordano have built a lot of trust with the team as reliable arms. Junior LHP Jared Guell is back and ready to compete for meaningful innings as a key bullpen or starter role. Senior RHPs Dustin Scogins and Drew Hopkinson are poised for great years and have earned the opportunity to contribute in meaningful innings. Towering Junior LHP Kyle Knoll looks to be a stalwart on the back end of the bullpen.
 
"This is one of the most experienced and dynamic group of returning pitchers we have had in a long time," Crocco said. "We have a lot of trust in the leadership in place and there is a lot of 'player-led ownership' throughout the team."
 
Roman Edwards (USC Lancaster), Hunter Pankey (Pensacola State) and Larson McMaster (Lake-Sumter CC) had lights out fall seasons coming from junior college and look to pile up innings either as starters or long relief. The Fleet have bolstered the bullpen with newcomers Ethan Wilford (Bethune-Cookman) and Robert Willis (Fayetteville Tech CC). Nick Fraginals (Louisiana Tech) and Jackson Edwards (North Greenville) bring a wealth of experience and are proven competitors that want the baseball in high leverage spots. Sidewinders Jackson Grant (LHP Freshman from Buford, GA) and Gene Blackmon (RHP Senior from Charleston) are different attacks from the pen. Jake Short (Byrnes HS) has shown a lot of promise as an impact arm for the Fleet as a Freshman after a breakout preseason. Blackmon and Short both are alumni of the Erskine College Developmental Program. Redshirt Freshman LHP Christian Maige, Jessy Camire, Nick Groover, and Eli Botelle are also arms to watch as the season progresses.
 
2025 Schedule Highlights:
Erskine College will begin the exciting yet arduous 2025 schedule of 50 games (30 Conference Carolinas game) on January 31. The Fleet will play a total of 22 different colleges in a total of 16 locations spanning 4 states. The schedule will consist of 4 preseason-ranked teams and 5 teams that participated in the 2024 NCAA Division II Regionals, one of which participated in the 2024 NCAA Division II Super Regionals. 24 games will be at the friendly confines of Grier Field while 26 will be on the road. The travel comes in bunches – while only 6 games out of 18 in February are away, 12 out of 16 are on the road in March. April is balanced, with 8 games on each side of the travel ledger. EC will log ample miles in 2025 heading to far conference foes Mount Olive, Barton, and UNC Pembroke, in addition to the annual Florida crusade.
After opening the season in Greenwood at rival Lander on the final day of January, the Flying Fleet return home on the first day of February for a twinbill against Lander. The Fleet will then embark on a long, challenging road trip through the remainder of non-conference action, traveling to Augusta University for a midweek battle on February 4^th before continuing to the Sunshine State the following weekend for three true road games against three high-level Florida opponents, Lynn (Feb 6), Nova Southeastern (Feb 7), and Barry (Feb 8). On February 11, Erskine hosts Claflin to open a stretch of 11 home games out of 12 games.
 
The Fleet will open Conference Carolinas play at home by hosting Emmanuel College on Feb 14-15. Erskine will continue a long homestand by hosting 2024 Super Regional participant Georgia College on Feb 18 and nationally ranked Young Harris in a CC matchup on Feb 21-22. EC will have a short road trip to Newberry sandwiched in on Feb 25 before concluding the stretch of home games with non-conference foe Georgian Court on Feb 28 and March 1.
Erskine hits the road for two weeks (8 games) to open up the month of March, traveling to USC Aiken on March 5, visiting 2024 Regional participant Mount Olive on March 6-8, heading to Claflin on March 11, and marching to Southern Wesleyan on March 14-15. Belmont Abbey comes to Due West on March 21-22 before EC again hits a long road trip (8 out of 9) starting with fellow upstate teams Limestone (March 25) and nationally ranked North Greenville (March 28-29). Limestone breaks up the road warriors by coming to Grier Field on April 1 before the Fleet head back out to Wilson, NC, to take on Barton College on April 4-5. A trip to Milledgeville, GA, to battle with Georgia College on April 8 concludes the long road stretch.
 
Erskine will host Chowan University on April 11-12 and Francis Marion (non-conference midweek game) on April 15. The Fleet will go to war with another nationally ranked team on April 18-19 when UNC Pembroke plays host. One final midweek against local rival Lander on April 22 will conclude the season series with the Bearcats before conference newcomer Shorter University visits Due West for the first time on Senior Weekend, April 25-26, to wrap up the regular season.
 
Gastonia, NC, will again be the site of the Conference Carolinas Baseball Championships for the third consecutive season, and that begins on April 30, which will mark the beginning of postseason play for the Fleet.


 
Erskine begins its 2025 season in Greenwood, S.C. at Lander University on Friday at 1 p.m. for the start of a three-game series with the Bearcats. The final two games of the weekend tilt will be a doubleheader on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Grier Field.

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