2024 Baseball Season Preview
In the 2023 season, MCCC baseball finished 22-23 and just missed the Region 19 Playoffs under first year Head Coach Russ Stupienski. The goal this season is not just to make the Region Playoffs, but advance in the playoffs and improve upon last season.
The Vikings return some of their top hitters from the 2023 roster including sophomores Torin McKenzie (Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham) who hit .326 with 46 hits last spring and Joe Gmitter (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) who had 39 hits last spring while batting .328. Sophomore outfielders Evrin Virola (Edison, NJ/Edison HS) who hit .325 last season and Tyler Gonzalez (East Hartford, CT/Cheshire Academy) who had 17 RBIs and 20 hits both return. Sophomore outfielder Andrew Glatt (Hightstown, NJ/Hightstown HS) was a member of the 2022 Vikings team that advanced to the NJCAA World Series and hit .357 that spring.
The Vikings will return a number of veteran pitchers from last spring’s roster. Sophomore Collin Bernhard (Florence, NJ/Florence Twp. Memorial) had 31 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched. Sophomore Ryan Mignogna (Ewing, NJ/Notre Dame) had 22 strikeouts in 32 innings pitched. Sophomore Matteo Gravano (Palmyra, NJ/Palmyra HS) had 29 strikeouts in 20.2 innings pitched in the 2023 season.
Sophomore reliever Ryan Conover (Hamilton, NJ/Notre Dame) was a member of the 2022 that advanced to the NJCAA World Series. Conover had 27 strikeouts in 38.2 innings pitched in 2022 with a 4.19 ERA. Sophomore reliever Joe Dimino (Millstone, NJ/Allentown) had 10 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched and committed to the University of North Florida for next year.
Newcomers expected to make an impact for the Vikings include freshman infielder Geno Bianco (North Wales, PA/Lansdale Catholic), who earned 2nd Team PCL All-Catholic honors in 2023. Freshman pitcher Hamlet Disla (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken Tech) had 87 strikeouts in 38.2 innings pitched at Pennsauken Tech in 2023. Sophomore pitcher Dyllon King (Old Saybrook, CT/Cheshire Academy), a transfer from University of Hartford is expected to be a part of the starting rotation. Freshman pitcher Connor Parsons (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township) had 46 strikeouts in 31.2 innings pitched at Burlington Township in 2023 and is also expected to contribute to the pitching rotation this spring.
Sophomore catcher Bannon Brazell (Vienna, VA/James Madison HS) transferred from Radford University, where he started 26 games and had 20 hits including seven doubles. Sophomore catcher Joe Giori (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) is a transfer from Kean University. Sophomore infielder Dylan Pope (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) is a transfer from Arcadia University who earned All-CVC honors at Steinert. Sophomore outfielder Ryan Ulisse (Columbus, NJ/Holy Cross), a transfer from Rider University, earned 1st Team All-Prep and 2nd Team All-Area honors while at Holy Cross High School. Freshman infielder Shane Hickey (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) is expected to contribute and will spend time at both shortstop and third base.
Sophomore pitcher Collin Williams (Newtown, PA/Council Rock North) transferred to MCCC from Radford University. Williams holds the all-time record for career strikeouts at Council Rock North and was a First Team All-League selection. The Vikings also expect sophomore pitcher Josh Youngberg (Delran, NJ/Delran HS), a transfer from CCBC Essex to contribute. Youngberg had 16 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched last spring. Sophomore pitcher Maverick Foster (Bethel, CT/Canterbury School), a transfer from Arcadia University, is also expected to be a key member of the Vikings pitching rotation. Freshman Slade Harrill (New Egypt, NJ/Allentown) is expected to help the Vikings and will see time on the mound and in the outfield or as a DH.
Vikings baseball opens the 2024 season on Saturday, February 24th with a doubleheader vs UConn Avery Point.
For the latest on Vikings baseball, visit: https://www.mccc.edu/athletics_men_baseball.shtml
Outfielder Torin McKenzie was one of the Vikings top hitters last season
Relief pitcher Ryan Conover was on the 2022 team that made the NJCAA World Series
Infielder Joe Gmitter is one of the Vikings top returning hitters
Pitcher Ryan Migogna had 22 strikeouts in 32 innings pitched last spring
Outfielder Evrin Virola is expected to be a key contributer for the Vikings this spring