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Time for a leap
Penguins baseball team hopes to continue progressing
By Brian Dzenis
YOUNGSTOWN
Under head coach Dan Bertolini, there’s been a step forward each year with Youngstown State’s baseball team.
Now it’s time to see if the Penguins can make more of a leap.
The Penguins are coming off the best regular season the program has had in almost a decade, so the expectations for Bertolini’s third season are high.
“We’re at a spot that’s a big turning point for developing as a group,” sophomore pitcher Colin Clark said. “I think we just have to go out there and compete.
“We’ve got a tough schedule with the first few weeks against top-tier talent,” Clark said. “I think if we just stay on our goals and keep our head on straight, we’ll see a lot of improvement and hopefully, something big for us.”
The Penguins’ 18-38 season with a 10-19 mark in the Horizon was the most total wins by the team since 2010 and most league wins since 2009.
YSU is projected to finish in fourth place in the league.
“This is a mature group,” Bertolini said. “Each year, we’ve asked them to do a little bit more on and off the field and I think they have a good on what success is for us and the process to get to where we want to be.
“Last year, we’ve had some youth and immaturity and when things went bad, we weren’t able to right our wrongs a little bit,” Bertolini said. “It snowballed at times.
“I think we have some good leaders and I think its a very talented group, so I’m looking forward to see how things progress and hopefully, it leads to some victories.”
Junior infielder Blaze Glenn and sophomore infielder Jeff Wheeler are considered to be Major League Baseball draft prospects in 2019 and 2020 according to d1baseball.com and are looking to build on strong 2018 seasons.
Glenn made an immediate impact since transferring from Sinclair Community College, leading the team in batting average at .325 and having a streak of reaching base for 46 consecutive games. The streak was the nation’s longest when it snapped. He is one of four players in school history to have at least 10 home runs (11) and 10 steals (16).
“I’ve gotten a lot better defensively,” Glenn said. “I have more range on defense and am just smoother in the field.”
Wehler was a second-team all Horizon League selection after stealing a team-high 25 bases, which was second in the league.
Nasonti, a Champion grad from the 2017 state championship baseball team, wasn’t expected to become a starter so quickly, but injuries forced him into the outfield where he excelled. He hit .264 with two home runs, and had 14 RBIs, 19 runs scored and nine stolen bases.
“My objective was to just stay ready. I never knew when I’d get my chance and it came a little earlier than I thought,” Nasonti said. “Things went well, but we’re expecting a big year and not just from me, but the older and younger guys.”
On the mound, the first two spots in the rotation are set with Clark and fellow sophomore Chad Coles but the third or “Sunday” spot is up in the air, Bertolini said.
Greg Dunham (South Range), Travis Perry and Jon Snyder are considered be the frontrunners for that spot, Bertolini said.
On the back end, Ursuline graduate Joel Hake headlines the bullpen, where he made four saves last year and struck out 35 in 33 innings while putting up an ERA of 4.36.
Perry is the Horizon League’s preseason pick for Freshman of the Year as the 6 feet, 7-inch Oil City, Pa., native is expected to contribute on both sides of the plate.
Senior Trevor Wiersma is a transfer from Division II Concord who should see playing time right away. Zach Farrar, a former Chicago White Sox draft pick who plays on YSU’s football team, should also see time in the outfield.