Panthers Begin 2018 Campaign at Sunshine State Classic
2/15/2018 7:08:00 PM | Baseball
Pitt to Face Oakland, Saint Louis, Toledo in Florida
PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh baseball team will get the 2018 season underway this weekend, traveling to Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla., for a four-game set.
The trip marks the second consecutive season in which the Panthers open the year at Osceola, as Pitt will square off with Oakland, Saint Louis and Toledo at the former home of the Houston Astros spring training program.
HOW TO FOLLOW
The trip marks the second consecutive season in which the Panthers open the year at Osceola, as Pitt will square off with Oakland, Saint Louis and Toledo at the former home of the Houston Astros spring training program.
HOW TO FOLLOW
- Live stats will be available for all four games via SIDEARMSports.
- Fans can also follow @Pitt_BASE on Twitter and Instagram.
- Pitt (0-0, 0-0 ACC) kicks off the 2018 season with a four-game series at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla., taking on Oakland, Saint Louis and Toledo.
- The Panthers will open the weekend on Friday at 3 p.m. in the first of two games with the Golden Grizzles and return to the field on Saturday for two games with Saint Louis (11 AM) and Toledo (6:30 PM). Pitt will close out the tournament on Sunday, once again taking on Oakland at 11 AM.
- Pitt is 36-40 on Opening Day in program history, dating back to the 1939 season, excluding records missing from 1945, 1947 and 1974. Pitt is in the midst of a five game win-streak on Opening Day, including winning seven of its last eight. The last Pitt loss on Opening Day came in 2012 to Iowa.
- This will be just the second time in program history in which Opening Day falls on Feb. 16. The last time that occurred, Pitt suffered a 12-5 loss at perennial powerhouse Coastal Carolina in 2007. Pitt is 2-2 all-time in games played on Feb. 16.
- The Golden Grizzlies finished the 2017 season with an overall mark of 17-40, going 2-2 in the Horizon League Tournament.
- Oakland loses its top two offensive producers from last season in Zach Sterry and Tyler Pagano, but returns All-Horizon League Second Team selection Emreson Misch and All-Freshman Team honoree Tyler Trovinger, as well as All-Tournament selection Matt DiLeo. Misch (.319) and DiLeo (.264) ranked third and fourth on the team in average, respectively.
- After leading the Horizon league with 86 strikeouts in his junior campaign, ace Jake Lee returns to the rotation for his final season. The Golden Grizzlies lose Tyler Palm and Connor Fannon, both of whom saw double digit starts in 2017.
- Saint Louis wrapped up the 2017 campaign with a record of 35-22, going 12-10 in Atlantic 10 competition and capturing three wins in A10 Tournament action.
- The Billikens return four of their top five hitters from last season, including Jake Morisano, who paced the team with a .316 clip. Nick Reeser (.303), Parker Sniatynski (.299) and Jake Garella (.298) also return as the Saint Louis offense hit .284 as a team last season.
- Saint Louis will also return two of its three main starters in Miller Hogan and Jackson Wark. Hogan boasted a 2.70 ERA in 2017, going 8-3 in 15 starts while Wark pitched to a 4.66 ERA, going 5-5 in 14 starts.
- Toledo struggled in its 2017 campaign, going 17-41 (9-15 MAC. The Rockets captured one win in the MAC Tournament, defeating Ball State but falling to top-ranked Kent State in a pair of contests.
- The Rockets return a majority of their lineup, including its top four offensive threats in Riley Campbell (.284), Dalton Bollinger (.280), Brad Boss (.274) and Ross Adolph (.272).
- On the hill, top two starters Ross Achter and Steven Calhoun have both departed but leave room for Sam Shutes (5.94 ERA) and Joey Prechtel (6.02 ERA), both of whom saw significant time in 2017. Shutes made 15 starts, tossing 80.1 innings and striking out 52 in 2017, while Prechtel appeared in 17 contests, starting six, striking out 20 in 43.1 innings.
- The all-time series between the Panthers and Golden Grizzlies is tied at 1-1 dating back to the 2000 season when the two teams played in a doubleheader.
- Oakland would capture the first game by a score of 9-4 before the Panthers would storm back to take game two 7-1.
- Pitt captured a win in the inaugural meeting between the Panthers and Billikens in 2015 as they hold a 1-0 lead in the all-time series.
- Pitt blew past Saint Louis in the lone meeting, capturing an 18-1 decision.
- The meeting with the Rockets will be the seventh all-time in a series dating back to the 2010 season. Pitt holds a 5-1 all-time advantage and has won four straight with the most recent coming in a 7-2 decision at Historic Dodgertown in 2016.
- Toledo's last win came in 2010 as they handed the Panthers an 11-7 loss. Pitt is 3-1 all-time versus the Rockets at neutral sites.
- Sophomore Alex Amos brings in a six-game hit streak from the 2017 season, followed closely by redshirt senior Frank Maldonado, who sits at four. Returning off injury, redshirt sophomore David Yanni owns a three-game mark, while Caleb Parry (2), Nico Popa (1), Nick Banman (1) and Yaya Chentouf (1) also ended the 2017 season with at least one hit.
- Amos is also in the midst of a 17-game reached base streak, which dates back to Pitt's win over third-ranked North Carolina on April 23. Yanni owns a six-game streak, while Maldonado sits at four, Popa at three and Parry at two. Chentouf and Banman each reached base to end the season last year.
- With both the 2018 and 2019 MLB Draft on the horizon D1Baseball.com released its list of the top 50 prospects in the ACC for both upcoming events. Already drafted twice in his young career, redshirt junior Blair Calvo is listed at No. 47 in the 2018 spread.
- A standout in his freshman campaign, sophomore Dan Hammer checks in as the 11th best prospect in the league for the 2019 draft.
- D1Baseball.com also lists newcomer Ron Washington Jr. on the impact freshman list, checking in at No. 32.
- Since joining the ACC prior to the 2014 season, the Panthers have remained competitive in the nation's premier conference. Despite suffering losing seasons in league play over the last four seasons, the Panthers have fallen in 21 of those contents by one-run.
- Additionally, 10 of those one-run losses have come to nationally ranked ACC teams, while Pitt has fallen a total of 41 times to nationally ranked competitors, in the ever-challenging Atlantic Coast Conference.
- Head coach Joe Jordano enters his 21st season at the helm of the Pitt program, having taken over the skipper duties in November of 1997. Jordano is the longest tenured head coach at the University of Pittsburgh and the winningest coach in Pitt baseball history, having amassed 559 wins with the Panthers.
- The 2013 and 2014 Big East Coach of the Year has seen 42 players drafted in his tenure at Pitt and has coached 13 All-Americans, 19 All-Region selections and 53 All-Conference honorees.
- The Panthers welcome the return of four players expected to see significant game time, all of whom missed the majority of the 2017 season.
- On the hill, Blair Calvo (Tommy John) and Derek West (knee) return after season-ending injuries and will compete for spots in the weekend rotation.
- Infielder's Liam Sabino and David Yanni will also look to contribute on the left side of the diamond. Sabino missed the 2017 season due to NCAA transfer rules after joining the Panthers from Vanderbilt. Yanni suffered a season-ending injury in Pitt's second week of action at Historic Dodgertown, competing in just six games in 2017.
- In two falls games at Charles L. Cost Field, 40 runs came across the plate – 38 of which were scored by the home team. The Panthers plated an astounding 38 runs in two games, defeating the Ontario Blue Jays 15-2 in the first game before blanking Lackawanna College 23-0 a few days later.
- Against Ontario, David Yanni led the way in his first game back since missing the 2017 season with a hamstring injury. The redshirt sophomore was 3-2 with three RBI and two runs scored, drawing a walk and smacking a pair of doubles. Caleb Parry would add three RBI off the homer, while Ron Washington Jr. was 2-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
- Versus Lackawanna Washington and Frank Maldonado each tallied four RBI, as Washington went 4-5 with three runs scored and Maldonado went 2-4 with three runs scored and a hit by pitch. Parry and Liam Sabino also added multi-RBI performances.
- There will be plenty of new faces in the Panther lineup this season as 14 of the team's 31 student-athletes are new to the program. Of the 14 newcomers, nine are freshmen, while four are transfers and one is a walk-on.
- Pitt's roster of 31 is comprised of 10 states and two provinces. Pennsylvania is the most common state featured, with eight players hailing from the Keystone State. Florida is the second most common, with six Panthers on the roster. New York (four), New Jersey (three) and Virginia (two) round out the top five. California, Georgia, Maryland, Texas and Kansas are also represented.
- Sophomore pitcher RJ Freure and junior transfer catcher Cole MacLaren represent the international scene, as both hail from north of the border with Freure representing Ontario and MacLaren from Prince Edward Island.
- Twenty one Panthers joined the team out of high school, nine were transfers and one was a walk on.
- Four members of the 2017 Panther squad signed professional contracts with MLB teams as Josh Falk, Isaac Mattson and Josh Mitchell were drafted, and catcher Manny Pazos signed a free agent deal with the Seattle Mariners.
- Falk was taken in the 17th round by the Oakland A's to be the first Panther taken off the board. Mattson was selected in the 19th round by the Los Angeles Angels and was followed by Mitchell in the 22nd round by the Kansas City Royals.
- After earned ACC All-Freshman recognition in 2017, Alex Amos is back for his sophomore campaign. The All-Freshman honor marks the second straight year in which a Panther was named to the leagues' rookie team. In his inaugural season, Amos led the Panther offense with a.304 average and a .456 on-base percentage. He added seven doubles, 17 RBI and two stolen bases. He was one of just two Panthers to earn the start in all 53 outings.
- Redshirt seniors Frank Maldonado and Caleb Parry are inching closer to a multitude of individual accolades as they enter their fifth seasons with the program. Maldonado, already Pitt's all-time hit by pitch leader, has seen action in 142 games, while Parry sits at 130, with the top 20 breaking in point at 154. Maldonado has made 133 starts, with Parry checking in at 114, and the top 20 sitting at 137. Additionally, Parry has tallied 24 doubles, with Maldonado sitting at 21, and the top 20 at 29.
- Maldonado also has his sights set on a few more records, as he is 30 at bats back from the top 20, nine hits out from the top 20 and six bases away from the top 20 in total bases. Already ranking in the top three in career triples, he is just four three baggers away from being the all-time leader.
- Head coach Joe Jordano was named the Official Technical Commissioner of the 2018 Collegiate National Team by USA Baseball on Feb. 14.
- Jordano will join head coach Paul Mainieri of LSU at the 42nd USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Series from July 3-9.
- A pair of Panther hurlers spent their summers on Cape Cod, as Dan Hammer and RJ Freure pitched for the Chatham Anglers in the prestigious Cape Cod League. After throwing 59.0 innings as a true freshman starter in Pitt's weekend rotation, Hammer tossed 23.0 innings in the Cape, earning six starts. He struck out 20 men, allowing just nine walks. Freure saw action in 12 games out of the bullpen for the Anglers, striking out 25 in 18.1 innings, surrendering just 10 walks.
- The Chatham Anglers are no stranger to Pitt pitchers, having hosted 2016 First Round Draft Pick T.J. Zeuch, as well as 2017 19th round pick Isaac Mattson.
- Pitt has 17 draft eligible players this season, as the team hosted its annual Scout Day on Oct. 4 in anticipation of the 2018 MLB First Year Player Draft. Frank Maldonado, Connor Perry, Caleb Parry, Yaya Chentouf, Liam Sabino, Blair Calvo, David Yanni, Nick Banman, RJ Freure, Jack Hogan, William Kirwan, Matt Pidich, Lucas Maldonado, Cole MacLaren, TJ Pagan, Derek West and Kevin Henriksen are all eligible to pursue professional careers at the completion of the 2018 season.
- The Panthers will host 24 home games at Charles L. Cost Field in 2018, taking part in 20 road contests and 11 neutral site games. Pitt's ACC matchups come against Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Duke, Virginia, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Miami, Notre Dame, Louisville and Clemson.
- Pit will face off against 11 teams in the top 100 of the final 2017 RPI rankings, including six in the top 50 and five in the top 25. The Panthers' slate consists of five 2017 NCAA qualifiers, including one College World Series participant.
- The 2018 ACC Championship will return to Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C., May 22-27 with NCAA Regional action getting underway the following week.
- Both flex season packages and individual game tickets are on sale for the 2018 season. For $50, the flex ticket package will include a total of 24 tickets, which can be used at any of Pitt's 24 home games. Tickets may be used traditionally (one ticket for each game) or in any combination (multiple tickets at specific games). In addition to the game tickets, flex season ticket holders will receive an exclusive Pitt baseball replica jersey tshirt and a Pitt baseball script decal.
- Individual tickets are $3 if purchased in advance, a $2 savings from the $5 purchase price at the gate. Additionally, groups of 15 or more are eligible to purchase $1 group rate tickets.
- Aaron Lynch joins the University of Pittsburgh baseball staff in a volunteer capacity, joining the Panthers after a season long stint at Davidson College, where he worked with the outfielders and pitchers in addition to handling gameday and facility operations.
- The former college infielder was a part of Davidson's impressive run to the 2017 NCAA Super Regionals. Lynch would help coach Durin O'Linger and Will Robertson to professional contracts that season, as O'Linger signed a free agent contract and Robertson was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles.
- Lynch replaces the departed Jimmy Negrych who worked with the Panthers in a volunteer capacity for more than two seasons. Negrych, a former Pitt All-American who would eventually be drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the sixth round of the 2006 MLB Draft moves on to the St. Louis Cardinals organization, serving as a scout for the 2011 World Series Champions.
- The University of Pittsburgh Athletic Department unveiled its Panthers Unite initiative, designed to showcase the program's 19 varsity sports teams. One event from each of the programs will be designated as a Panthers Unite event, where all Pitt student-athletes are encouraged to attend to cheer on their fellow athletes. Pitt baseball will host its Panthers Unite game on Tuesday, April 17 when it welcomes rival West Virginia.
- In addition to his baseball talents, redshirt senior Frank Maldonado also hosts a slew of musical abilities in his arsenal. Maldonado showcased these talents on Jan. 13 in front of more than 1,000 Pitt fans, as he sang the National Anthem at the gymnastics season opener.
- The Panthers will head to the Wofford-USC Upstate Tournament for the second consecutive season, taking on Presbyterian, USC Upstate and Seton Hall in Spartanburg, S.C., Feb. 23-25.
- Pitt returns to Osceola County Stadium the following week for a five-game stand, taking on Massachusetts, Butler and Saint Peter's before opening ACC play.
Players Mentioned
INF/RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP/OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballPitt Baseball | The Cardiac Cats do it again and defeat Louisville 13-11!
Wednesday, May 21
Pitt's Jayden Melendez Hits The Bull
Wednesday, May 21
Pitt First Baseman Luke Cantwell's Beautiful Basket Catch
Wednesday, May 21
Highlights | Pitt 13, Louisville 11 | ACC Tournament
Tuesday, May 20