October 21, 2009

EAST STROUSDBURG – East Stroudsburg University wrapped up its fall 2009 practice schedule last week with the Red and Black Series, with the Red team winning the series with a 2-1-1 record.

The Warriors return 12 letterwinners for the 2010 season, including five regular position players and three of its top four finishers in innings pitched, from last year’s team that set the school record with 32 victories under second-year head coach John Kochmansky.

“Our pitchers threw strikes and their velocities were good, which we expected, but offensively several players were very impressive which is encouraging coming out of this fall. We also played solid defense and feel good about the type of team we will be able to put on the field next spring,” Kochmansky said.

ESU set school records in nearly every offensive category last season, including batting average (.340), home runs (44) and runs scored (426, 7.9 per game) led by a quartet of seniors who rewrote the Warriors’ record books – Mark Angelo, an All-American and the second player selected in the MLB Draft in school history, Mike Bortz, Kevin Thompson and Chris Zsenak.

Angelo and Thompson both hit over .400 last season and were joined by senior designated hitter John Pisker, who logged a .407 batting average and .478 on-base percentage and is expected to provide significant contributions to the offense this season.

Pisker hit .462 during the Warriors’ scrimmages this fall, while sophomore shortstop Evan Gallagher (.474), sophomore infielder Jake Griesemer (.450) and junior third baseman Jason Kelmer (.526) also stood out at the plate. Gallagher hit .363 in 46 games as ESU’s starting shortstop as a freshman, Griesemer joins the Warriors as a transfer from West Chester, and Kelmer played his first two seasons at Salem Community College.

On the mound, seniors Jeremy Gigliotti (2.55 ERA, 68 strikeouts, 60.0 innings) and Christian Saveri (3.24 ERA, 57 strikeouts, 50.0 innings) were both All-PSAC East selections last year and sophomore Andy Noga had a 4-2 record in eight starts while throwing 50.1 innings as a freshman.

Incoming freshmen pitchers Brian Ernst (Allentown/Salisbury) and Colin Kelly (Williamsport/Loyalsock) were impressive this fall as well. Ernst allowed one earned run while averaging one strikeout per inning, and Kelly had a 1.50 ERA.

The Warriors will open the 2010 season with trips to Elizabeth City State (N.C.) and Virginia State the first two weekends of February, and will play Gannon at the Ripken Baseball Academy in Aberdeen, Md. on February 20-21. The first month of the season concludes with doubleheaders against Southern Connecticut and UMass-Lowell in Petersburg, Virginia.