By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — There is nothing more exciting in baseball than the successful steal of home.

The absolute best system at stealing home was developed by the late Mike Gillespie.

His teams were successful 50 out of 52 times.

Gillespie died in July of 2020 at the age of 80 from respiratory complications.

He coached on the NCAA Division I level for 31 years with an overall 1,156-720-2 record with stops at the University of Southern California (20 years) and his final 11 years as the skipper at U.C. Irvine.

Counting his 16 years as a junior college coach at College of The Canyons, he led teams to 1,588 wins over 47 years.

Nobody will ever forget the 1998 College World Series championship game when he coached Southern California against Arizona State.

Incredibly, Gillespie called a triple steal in the top of the seventh inning with USC clinging to an 11-8 lead with two outs.

Trojan batter Wes Rachels stepped to the plate and was 4-for-4 going into that at-bat with 5 RBI.

Nobody in the world expected it at the time which made it so effective.

On the first pitch from ASU righthander Chad Pennington, who was in the full windup position, Morgan Ensberg of the Trojans sprinted from the third base bag halfway down the line in an attempt to get the pitcher to balk.

But Pennington wouldn’t bite as the pitch was delivered to Rachels.

Two more pitches were recorded with Ensberg sprinting halfway down the third base line each time.

With a 1-2 count and Pennington not paying much attention to Ensberg because of the prior three bluffs and the unlikely chance of him actually stealing home, the USC runner began an all-out sprint to the plate.

The ball was thrown with Ensberg nearly 3/4s down the line.

Sun Devil catcher Greg Halvorson caught the ball and dove forward in an attempt to tag out the runner who slid feet first across home.

Ensberg barely beat the tag by inches in one of the most daring base running moves in CWS history as the other two runners advanced.

On the next pitch, Rachels lined a base hit to left, scoring two more runs as USC went on to win its 12th national title in baseball, 21-14 over ASU.

I interviewed Gillespie several months after that dramatic steal of home, and he explained in detail his system of making the steal of home work so successfully in his career.

To read more of this story and Mike Gillespie’s system of stealing home, purchase the Oct. 1, 2023 edition of Collegiate Baseball by CLICKING HERE.

By DR. BARRY DAVIS
Head Baseball Coach
Rider University

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. — In July 2024, 10,500 athletes will join one another in Paris, France to represent their country in the 33rd Summer Olympic Games.

The opening ceremony is a spectacle on its own. On display will be the greatest athletes in the world.

They all have one thing in common. 

They all have a coach.

Even great athletes like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Serena Williams hired coaches to improve their games. And coaching is not limited to athletes.

There are speech coaches, drama coaches and life coaches. Coaching is critical to all walks of life. It is indisputable that no organization, team, or individual will succeed at the highest level without a great coach.

A majority of those reading this article are coaches or someone who aspires to become a coach. For the record, the world needs more great coaches.

Coaching can be a rewarding profession affecting the lives of many. Evangelist Billy Graham once said, “A coach will impact more people in one year than the average person will in an entire lifetime.” That is a strong statement.            

Today’s collegiate and professional climate is competitive.

It is a win now climate.

Thus, head coach selection has become one of the most important decisions a club owner, general manager (GM), University President, or athletic director (AD) will make.

Search firms are often called upon to assist in finding the best candidates. And even this method arrives with holes in the process. Locating and selecting greatness at the head coach level is a rather tricky task. Search firms included.

Picking the right person for the job is elusive.

The entire selection process is often repeated. ESPN.com reported that from January 1, 2010, until January 31, 2021, former head coaches received $533.6 million from their previous employers not to coach.

In 2022-2023, 127 head coaching positions changed in college football, men’s college basketball and baseball. Let’s face it, there is no real solution to selecting the next John Wooden or Nick Saban.

Or, for us baseballers, selecting the next Skip Bertman, for that matter.

This process is not an exact science. History offers plenty of proof.  

This article aims to reduce the failure rate in head coach selection by illustrating and examining three often unseen, indisputable traits and tendencies consistent with great coaches.

To read more of this story, purchase the Oct. 1, 2023 edition of Collegiate Baseball by CLICKING HERE.

By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

TUCSON, Ariz. — For the first time in history, Arkansas has won Collegiate Baseball’s national recruiting championship.

It is the 41^st consecutive year Collegiate Baseball has evaluated NCAA Div. I recruiting classes.

Athletes who initially signed letters of intent with a school but then signed a pro contract after being drafted do not count in the overall evaluation.

Only athletes who came to school this fall are factored in.

The Razorbacks landed a star-studded class that features 24 newcomers, including 14 freshmen, nine 4-year transfers and one junior college transfer.

“It is the best recruiting class in the nation,” said Arkansas Recruiting Coordinator Nate Thompson.

“Our 2023 class features seven Perfect Game top 100 prospects plus two other players who were listed in MLB Pipeline’s top 250 prospects for the draft.

“That’s a new record for Perfect Game top 100 prospects to make it to campus.”

If that wasn’t enough, Sixty-Four Analytics ranked the Razorbacks’ transfer portal class second in the nation. 

The class is led by:

• RHP Gabe Gaeckle (Aptos H.S., CA), 20^th round pick by Reds.
• C Ryder Helfrick (Clayton Valley H.S, CA), Collegiate Baseball All-American.
• LHP Hunter Dietz (Calvary Christian H.S., FL), Collegiate Baseball All-American.
• LHP Adam Hachman (Timberland H.S., MO), All-American.
• INF Nolan Souza (Punahou H.S., HI), All-American.
• 1B Ty Waid (Arkansas H.S., AR), All-State.
• LHP Tucker Holland (The Burlington School, N.C.), All-State.
• RHP Tate McGuire (Liberty North H.S., MO), Gatorade Missouri Player of The Year, Collegiate Baseball All-American.
• LHP Colin Fisher (Noble H.S., OK), All-State.
• LHP Mason Molina (transfer from Texas Tech., All-Big 12 second team, 6-2, 3.67 ERA).
• SS Wehiwa Aloy (transfer from Sacramento St., Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American, .376, 14 HR, 15 2B, 46 RBI).
• 1B Jack Wagner (transfer from Tarleton St., 15 HR, 56 RBI).
• C Hudson White (transfer from Texas Tech., former Big 12 Freshman of Year, hit 11 HR with 49 RBI in 2023).
• INF Jared Sprague-Lott (transfer from Richmond), All-Atlantic 10, .314, 13 HR, 13 2B, 43 RBI).
• OF Lincoln Riley (transfer from Eastern Illinois, .307, 11 2B, 4 HR, 51 runs scored).
• OF Ty Wilmsmeyer (transfer from Missouri, .311, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 21 SB).
• OF Ross Lovich (transfer from Missouri, .306, 4 HR, 20 RBI).
• Will Edmunson (transfer from Hutchinson C.C., KS, Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference MVP after hitting .454 with 17 2B, 51 RBI, 15 SB).

NOTE: A complete rundown on the top 25 recruiting classes is featured in the Oct. 1, 2023 issue of Collegiate Baseball. A chart also breaks down the top 50 classes in the nation as far as total number of new players for each school and how many freshmen, junior college and 4-year transfers were brought in. A record number of players were landed by ranked teams from the NCAA Div. I transfer portal. It also lists 81 other teams that received votes. To purchase this issue, CLICK HERE.

Collegiate Baseball’s
Top 50 Recruiting Classes

1. Arkansas                     
2. UCLA                                                           
3. Tennessee                           
4. Florida                        
5. Louisiana St.                   
6. Vanderbilt                                                                   
7. Georgia                       
8. Texas A&M
9. Texas                 
10. Mississippi St.
11. Mississippi                                                                
12. North Carolina                         
13. Texas Tech.                              
14. Alabama                          
15. Louisville                       
16. Auburn
17. Indiana
18. Florida St.
19. Georgia Tech.
20. Oregon
21. South Carolina
22. Virginia
23. Clemson
24. N.C. State
25. Oregon St.
26. East Carolina
27. Duke
28. Miami, Fla.
29. Stanford
30. Southern California
31. Michigan
32. Wake Forest
33. Coastal Carolina
34. Notre Dame
35. Texas Christian
36. Oklahoma
37. U.C. Santa Barbara
38. Oklahoma St.
39. Cal. St. Fullerton
40. Kentucky
41. West Virginia
42. Wichita St.
43. Arizona St.
44. San Diego St.
45. Virginia Tech.
46. Long Beach St.
47. Maryland
48. Dallas Baptist
49. Oral Roberts
50. Grand Canyon

Previous NCAA Div. I
Recruiting Champions
By Collegiate Baseball

2022: Louisiana St.
2021: UCLA
2020: Miami (Fla.)
2019: Vanderbilt
2018: Louisiana St.
2017: Vanderbilt
2016: Arizona St.
2015: Florida
2014: Louisiana St.
2013: Florida
2012: Vanderbilt
2011: South Carolina
2010: Louisiana St.
2009: Florida
2008: Arizona St.
2007: Louisiana St.
2006: South Carolina
2005: South Carolina
2004: Louisiana St.
2003: North Carolina
MMMlSouth Carolina
2002: Georgia Tech.
2001: Southern California
2000: Cal. St. Fullerton
1999: Southern California
1998: Georgia Tech.
1997: UCLA
1996: Texas A&M
1995: Arizona St.
1994: Mississippi St.
1993: Miami (Fla.)
1992: Florida St.
1991: Miami (Fla.)
1990: Arizona
1989: Florida St.
1988: Miami (Fla.)
1987: Stanford
1986: Stanford
1985: Hawaii
1984: Florida St.
1983: Arizona St.

Source: Collegiate Baseball

The NCAA Baseball Rules Committee has recommended that conferences on all levels of NCAA baseball consider expanding bat testing to each game day before the start of contests for the 2024 season.

Collegiate Baseball feels it is a superb plan of action.

According to the NCAA Div. I Baseball Statistics Trends report, there were more home runs hit per game per team (1.14) last season than in the past 54 years going back to 1970. That was the first year such records began being kept.

It interesting to note that 1974 was the first year aluminum bats were introduced into college baseball.

It also is interesting to note that 2023 had the highest scoring average per game per team at 6.75 in the last 13 years and the highest batting average (.280) in the last 12 years.

It is doubtful there has ever been a higher home run average in college baseball history than in 2023 since wooden bats were used before 1974.

There is no question some teams are using illegal, high performance bats in games, according to a number of coaches Collegiate Baseball talked to. With that being said, the vast majority of teams use legal bats and would never use anything else.

The only way to stop cheaters is to more tightly define what bat testing should encompass.

With this not being a rules-change year for the sport, the rules body decided to make this a suggestion and not mandatory.

Under the current rule, teams are required to have bats tested before the first game of a series, the first game of a tournament or before the start of single games or doubleheaders.

Bats that pass the testing procedure have stickers placed on them to indicate to the umpire that they can be used in games. 

While nobody on the NCAA Baseball Rules Committee would say it, it appears that illegal bats may have been used during the 2023 season.

This new directive will all but stop it from taking place.

It is highly likely that bat testing will be done daily at NCAA Div. I, II and III baseball championships, although no official decision has been made.

To read more of this story, purchase the Oct. 1, 2023 edition of Collegiate Baseball by CLICKING HERE.

By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

ATHENS, Ga. — University of Georgia Head Coach Wes Johnson is one of the  most innovative pitching minds in baseball.

The former pitching coach for the Minnesota Twins for 3 ½ years and pitching coach for LSU’s national championship team in 2023 has been focused on finding everything that will make each of his pitchers thrive.

He draws from a buffet of areas, including mobility testing, mental, biomechanical, analytics and video analysis.

He has always been fascinated with the dominant finger on pitches and closely monitors that action for consistency of all pitches from his hurlers.

Johnson may be the only pitching coach in baseball who can quantify by scientific data how many pitches each of his hurlers will be able to throw in a given game which cuts down on injuries.

In addition, he has a special warmup routine for each of his pitchers prior to game outings to keep them on track with mechanics they need to excel from an arsenal of routines.

For relievers in games, this warmup procedure is vital to stay away from throwing unnecessary pitches prior to entering games.

How many times have you seen relief pitchers essentially throw a game in the bullpen before being summoned into the contest?

His system prevents that from happening.

There is a reason why his pitching staffs have been highly successful every step of his coaching career, including the Minnesota Twins, LSU, Arkansas, Mississippi St., Central Arkansas and Southern Arkansas.

In an exclusive interview with Collegiate Baseball, he explains his remarkable pitching system which allowed Louisiana State’s pitching staff to dramatically improve last season as the Tigers won their seventh national title in 2023 — the first since 2009.

The Tiger’s pitching staff finished 2023 with 798 strikeouts which led NCAA Div. I schools. It is also the second-most in NCAA single-season history.

The previous LSU record was 682 in 1997.

Leading the way was Collegiate Baseball’s National Player of The Year in RHP Paul Skenes who fanned 209 batters to set a new Southeastern Conference and LSU record.

He posted a 13-2 record, 1.69 ERA and only walked 20 batters in 122 2/3 innings.

Skenes threw 1,290 strikes out of 1,954 pitches

LSU’s pitching staff tied a single-game record with 20 strikeouts in game one of the NCAA Championship Finals led by Ty Floyd with 17 strikeouts over eight innings.

LSU’s pitching staff led all Division I teams with 12 shutouts, including two at the College World Series.

LSU’s pitching staff struck out 103 batters over eight games at the CWS, becoming the first team to strike out 100 or more batters in a single College World Series.

In seven of the eight games, the Tigers had a superb 1.91 ERA.

At one point during the College World Series, LSU’s staff didn’t surrender a run over 20 innings and only allowed two runs in 32 innings.

But the season was hardly perfect from start to finish.

It was definitely a work in progress.

At one point during the 2023 season, LSU’s pitching staff gave up double digit runs in seven games over an 11-week span to Iowa (12), Tennessee (14), South Carolina (13), Kentucky (13), Alabama (11), Auburn (12) and Mississippi St. (14).

LSU’s pitching staff had a team ERA of 4.72 after the 14-run Mississippi St. game.

As the season unfolded, the pitching staff got better and better which was a direct result of the work Johnson was doing with every pitcher on the staff.

Prior to the 2023 season, this dynamic teacher was the pitching coach with the Minnesota Twins for 3 ½ years.

He was the first pitching coach in Major League Baseball history to make the move directly from the college ranks to the big leagues when he was hired by the Twins in November of 2018.

Minnesota was leading the American League Central Division in June of 2022 when he opted to return to the college game at LSU. 

The Twins won their division in Johnson’s first two years directing the pitching staff, and in 2020, the club ranked fourth in the Majors in ERA, WHIP and ninth in strikeouts per nine innings.

During his time as a college coach, 30 of Johnson’s pitchers have been drafted by MLB teams, and he has been at the forefront of utilizing Trackman technology and other advanced tools.

To read about his incredible pitching system, purchase the Sept. 1, 2023 edition of Collegiate Baseball by CLICKING HERE.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Louisiana State Head Baseball Coach Jay Johnson has been named Collegiate Baseball’s National Coach of The Year.

He led the Tigers to their seventh national baseball championship at the recent College World Series.

LSU posted a 54-17 overall record as the Tigers walloped Florida, 18-4 for the title behind a 24-hit attack.

The Tigers posted 11 wins during the NCAA post-season, six of them against SEC teams.

After a 3-2 loss to No. 1 seed Wake Forest early in the College World Series, Johnson’s Tigers came through the loser’s bracket by eliminating Tennessee before earning consecutive win over the Demon Deacons to setup a best-of-three championship series against No. 2-seeded Florida.

LSU won game 1 of the series, 4-3 in 11 innings, before Florida drew even with a 24-4 victory in game two.

Then the Tigers had a remarkable game in the third Championship Series contest to win the 2023 national title.

LSU was ranked No. 1 by Collegiate Baseball in its pre-season poll compiled last December and was ranked No. 1 by Collegiate Baseball 13 times during the 2023 season.

It is the fifth consecutive year a coach from the Southeastern Conference has been named National Coach of The Year by Collegiate Baseball.

The Tigers captured five national titles (1991, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 2000) under ABCA Hall of Fame Coach Skip Bertman, and added a sixth when ABCA Hall of Fame Coach Paul Mainieri led LSU to the 2009 title over Texas.

LSU was led throughout the 2023 season by Collegiate Baseball’s National Player of The Year RHP Paul Skenes and CB first team All-Americans Dylan Crews and Tommy White.

The Tigers averaged 8.9 runs per game this season as the team hit 144 homers (2^nd in the nation). LSU also ranked second in the nation in batter walks (413), batter hit by pitches (143), on base percentage (.432) and pitcher strikeouts per nine innings (11.7).

LSU was No. 1 in the nation in runs scored (634) and shutouts by its pitching staff (12).

The pitching staff recorded a school record 798 strikeouts led by Skenes (209, school and SEC record) and Ty Floyd (120).

Last fall the Tigers landed the Collegiate Baseball’s No. 1 recruiting class in the nation orchestrated by Johnson. It featured a star-studded class that included 21 newcomers (14 high school, five high profile NCAA Div. I transfers and two junior college transfers).

The top two newcomers included RHP Paul Skenes (transfer from Air Force) and 3B Tommy White (transfer from N.C. State).

Previous Collegiate Baseball National Coaches of The Year include:

• 2022: Mike Bianco, Univ. of Mississippi
• 2021: Chris Lemonis, Mississippi St.
• 2020: Mike Bianco, Mississippi
• 2019: Tim Corbin, Vanderbilt
• 2018: Pat Casey, Oregon St.
• 2017: Kevin O’Sullivan, Florida
• 2016: Gary Gilmore, Coastal Carolina
• 2015: Brian O’Connor, Virginia
• 2014: Tim Corbin, Vanderbilt
• 2013: John Savage, UCLA
• 2012: Andy Lopez, Arizona
• 2011: Ray Tanner, South Carolina
• 2010: Ray Tanner, South Carolina
• 2009: Paul Mainieri, Louisiana St.
• 2008: Mike Batesole, Fresno St.
• 2007: Pat Casey, Oregon St.
• 2006: Pat Casey, Oregon St.
• 2005: Augie Garrido, Texas
• 2004: George Horton, Cal. St. Fullerton
• 2003: Wayne Graham, Rice
• 2002: Augie Garrido, Texas
• 2001: Jim Morris, Miami (Fla.)
• 2000: Skip Bertman, Louisiana St.
• 1999: Jim Morris, Miami (Fla.)
• 1998: Mike Gillespie, Southern Calif.
  MMMIMike Batesole, Cal. St. Northridge
• 1997: Skip Bertman, Louisiana St.
• 1996: Skip Bertman, Louisiana St.,
  MMMIAndy Lopez, Florida
• 1995: Augie Garrido, Cal. St. Fullerton
• 1994: Larry Cochell, Oklahoma
• 1993: Skip Bertman, Louisiana St.
• 1992: Andy Lopez, Pepperdine
• 1991: Skip Bertman, Louisiana St.
• 1990: Steve Webber, Georgia
• 1989: Dave Snow, Long Beach St.
• 1988: Larry Cochell, Cal. St. Fullerton
• 1987: Mark Marquess, Stanford
• 1986: Jerry Kindall, Arizona
• 1985: Ron Fraser, Miami (Fla.)
• 1984: Augie Garrido, Cal. St. Fullerton
• 1983: Cliff Gustafson, Texas
• 1982: Ron Fraser, Miami (Fla.)
• 1981: Jim Brock, Arizona St.
• 1980: Jerry Kindall, Arizona

The 2023 High School All-American team, chosen by Collegiate Baseball and powered by Diamond Sports, features a remarkable group of talented athletes.

This year’s team has a number of potential high round MLB Draft picks. Many have already received national honors on various All-American teams. Others have played for Team USA or participated in high profile summer showcases.

The team is headlined by OF Max Clark of Franklin Community HS (IN) who is Collegiate Baseball’s National High School Player of the Year.

He was expected to be the first high school player chosen in this year’s MLB Draft. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound lefthanded hitter has the size and tools to become an elite professional. He also committed to Vanderbilt.

This season Clark posted a .646 batting average with 9 doubles, 5 triples, 6 home runs, 33 RBI and stole 35 bases. He only struck out 5 times in 65 at-bats and walked 52 times.

In his high school career, he belted 21 home runs with 95 RBI and scored 120 runs.

Clark also pitched for his high school as a sophomore and junior. Gatorade picked him as Indiana’s state player for the past three seasons.

Players are nominated by their high school coaches, and the All-Americans are selected by the Collegiate Baseball staff.

Nominations were made when some schools were just entering the state playoffs, so not all stats presented are final for the season.

Player names and positions are listed. To read the stats of every player and what school they have committed to, purchase the June 16, 2023 issue of Collegiate Baseball by CLICKING HERE.

First Team All-Americans
Pitchers

Zane Adams, LHP, Porter HS, TX

Alex Clemmey, LHP, Bishop Hendricken HS, Warwick, RI

Gabe Gaeckle, RHP, Aptos HS, CA

Noble Meyer, RHP, Jesuit HS, Portland, OR

Xavier Mitchell, LHP, Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, TX

Hunter Dietz, LHP, Calvary Christian HS, Clearwater, FL

Landon Victorian, RHP, Barbe HS, Lake Charles, LA

Jackson Farrell, LHP, Owasso HS, OK

Garrett Baumann, RHP, Hagerty HS, Oviedo, FL

Grant Loggins, RHP, AC Flora HS, Columbia, SC

Tommy Bridges, RHP, Harvard-Westlake HS, Studio City,

Ethan McElvain, LHP, Nolensville HS, TN

Josh Knoth, RHP, Patchogue-Medford HS, Medford, NY

Ross Felder, RHP, Har-Ber HS, Springdale, AR

Braeden Brown, RHP, Sinton HS, TX

Cameron Tilly, RHP, Castle HS, Newburgh, IN

Thomas White, LHP, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA

Dylan Goff, LHP, Etiwanda HS, CA

Aidan Keenan, RHP, Live Oak HS, Morgan Hill, CA

Cole Van Assen, RHP, Brother Rice HS, Chicago, IL

Catchers

Trenton Lyons, Christian Brothers HS, Memphis, TN

Campbell Smithwick, Oxford HS, MS

Carson Ohland, Tahoma HS, Maple Valley, WA

Duncan Mathews, Jackson Prep, Flowood, MS

Blake Mitchell, Sinton HS, TX

Luke Wolff, Providence HS, Charlotte, NC

Ryder Helfrick, Clayton Valley Charter, Concord, CA

Zion Rose, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL

Infielders

Walker Martin, SS, Eaton HS, CO

Jaxon Milam, SS, Glenwood HS, Phenix City, AL

Roch Cholowsky, SS, Hamilton HS, Chandler, AZ

Henry Ford, 3B/SS, Baylor School, Chattanooga, TN

Henry Allen, 3B, Auburn HS, AL

Colin Houck, SS, Parkview HS, Lilburn, GA

Cooper Sheff, 1B, Basic Academy, Henderson, NV

Colt Emerson, SS, John Glenn HS, New Concord, OH

Ralph Velazquez, 1B, Huntington Beach HS, CA

Easton Shelton, 1B, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas, NV

Adrian Santana, SS, Doral Academy, Doral, FL

Cade Brown, 3B, Parkview HS, Lilburn, GA

Samuel Stafura, SS, Walter Panas HS, Cortlandt Manor, NY

Steven Milam, SS/2B, Centennial HS, Las Cruces, NM

Drew Blalock, 1B, Independence HS, Thompson’s Station, TN

Arjun Nimmala, SS, Strawberry Crest HS, Dover, FL

Trent Caraway, 3B/SS, JSerra Catholic HS, San Juan Capistrano, CA

Carson Rucker, SS, Goodpasture Christian HS, Madison, TN

Antonio Anderson, SS, North Atlanta HS, Atlanta, GA

Nazzan Zanetello, SS, Christian Brothers College HS, St. Louis, MO

James Hankerson Jr., 1B, Berkeley Prep, Tampa, FL

Grayson Childers, SS, Broken Arrow HS, OK

Dondreone Kennedy, 2B, Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, TX

Dylan Cupp, SS, Cedartown HS, GA

Kevin McGonigle, SS, Mgsr. Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast HS, Drexel Hill, PA

Gavin Grahovac, SS, Villa Park HS, CA

TJ Pompey Jr., SS, Coppell HS, TX

Cam Kozeal, SS, Millard South HS, Omaha, NE

Outfielders

Max Clark, Franklin Community HS, IN

Drew Burress, Houston County HS, Warner Robins, GA

Dillon Head, Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Flossmoor, IL

Cade Belyeu, Auburn HS, AL

Isaiah Drake, North Atlanta HS, Atlanta, GA

Andrew Wiggins, Heritage Christian HS, Indianapolis, IN

Tarris Murray, Prestonwood Christian Academy, Plano, TX

Multi-Position Athletes

Christian Rodriguez, RHP/OF, Stoneman Douglas HS, Parkland, FL

Cooper Pratt, SS/RHP, Magnolia Heights HS, Senatobia, MS

Jake Brown, LHP/OF, Sulphur HS, LA

Jaquae Stewart, 1B/LHP/OF, Sinton HS, TX

Konnor Griffin, OF/INF/RHP, Jackson Prep, Jackson, MS

Tate McGuire, RHP/1B, Liberty North HS, Liberty, MO

Jasen Oliver, SS/RHP, St. Mary’s Prep, Orchard Lake, MI

Landon Stripling, 1B/RHP, Parkview HS, Lilburn, GA

Andrew Dunford, 1B/RHP, Houston County HS, Warner Robins, GA

Barrett Kent, RHP/INF, Pottsboro HS, TX

Josh Tiedemann, 3B/RHP, Hamilton HS, Chandler, AZ

Robert Orloski, RHP/SS, Middleton HS, ID

Brayden Sharp, LHP/OF, The Woodlands HS, TX

Hayes Harrison, LHP/1B, Oxford HS, AL

Bryce Eldridge, RHP/1B, James Madison HS, Vienna, VA

Landen Maroudis, RHP/SS/OF, Calvary Christian HS, Clearwater, FL

Liam Peterson, RHP/1B, Calvary Christian HS, Clearwater, FL

Toby Hueber, 2B/RHP, Archbishop Moeller HS, Cincinnati, OH

Nolan Stevens, 1B/LHP, Franklin HS, Elk Grove, CA

Second Team All-Americans
Pitchers

Ryan Rushing, LHP, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL

Thorpe Musci, RHP, Parkview HS, Lilburn, GA

Harrison Cowdrey, RHP, Independence HS, Thompson’s Station, TN

Kaden Soder, RHP, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas, NV

Levi Strahm, LHP, Reagan HS, Pfafftown, NC

Rivers Kurland, LHP, Berkeley Prep, Tampa, FL

Gunnar Plante, LHP, North Atlanta HS, Atlanta, GA.

Takeo Cervantez, RHP, Bishop Manogue HS, Reno, NV

Ty Alleman, RHP, Jesuit HS, Portland, OR

Brian Raitz, RHP, Coppell HS, TX

Nic Peterson, LHP, Orange Lutheran HS, Orange, CA

Colton Hartman, LHP, Lebanon HS, OH

Connor McShane, RHP, Archbishop McCarthy HS, Southwest Ranches, FL

Catchers

Ryan Stevens, Christian Brothers College HS, St. Louis, MO

Charlie Sturm, Jesuit HS, Portland, OR

Levi Clark, Walton HS, Marietta, GA

Troy Reader, Berkeley Prep, Tampa, FL

Clayton Pourciau, Catholic HS, Baton Rouge, LA

Infielders

Josh Adamczewski, 3B, Lake Central HS, St. John, IN

Lane Griggs, 3B, Glenwood HS, Phenix City, AL

Graham Busbea, 1B, Jackson Prep, Jackson, MS

Alex Sandell, SS/2B, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, Cambridge, MA

Levi Jones, 3B, Jesuit HS, Portland, OR

Brayden Martin, 2B/SS, St. John’s College HS, Washington, DC

Antonio Jimenez, SS/3B, Archbishop McCarthy HS, Southwest Ranches, FL

Clay Burdett, 1B, Archbishop Moeller, Cincinnati, OH

Hunter Snyder, SS, Lake Central HS, St. John, IN

Outfielders

PJ Morlando, Summerville HS, SC

TayShaun Walton, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL

Kyle Chatham, Walton HS, Marietta, GA.

Sean Krueckeberg, Mason HS, OH

Multi-Position Athletes

Tomas Valincius, LHP/1B, Baylor School, Chattanooga, TN

Maddax Peck, RHP/OF, Bingham HS, Jordan, UT

Wes Mendes, OF/LHP, Jesuit HS, Tampa, FL

Sam Kane, SS/RHP, Bishop Manogue HS, Reno, NV

Ty Wisdom, 2B/RHP, Liberty North HS, Liberty, MO

Bryce Rainer, 3B/RHP, Harvard-Westlake HS, Studio City, CA

About Diamond Sports
Diamond Sports manufactures high quality baseball and softball products for all levels. Diamond Sports is based in Southern California and is proud to be the Official Ball of many great college conferences, as well as leagues, tournaments and organizations nationwide. Diamond is the Official Ball of the American Baseball Coaches Association. You can find Diamond on the internet at diamond-sports.com

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TUCSON, Ariz. — The 2023 Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-American team, powered by Diamond Sports, features a wealth of baseball talent.

The squad is headed by Collegiate Baseball’s Freshman Hitter of The Year 1B Charlie Condon (Georgia) and Freshman Pitcher of The Year RHP Jacob Mayers (Nicholls St.).

Here is the 2023 Collegiate Baseball Freshmen All-American team.

Starting Pitchers

RHP Jacob Mayers (Nicholls St.): A first team Southland Conference selection and Freshman of Year in the league, Mayers posted a 9-1 record, 1.93 ERA and struck out 97 batters in 70 innings. He also is Collegiate Baseball’s 2023 Freshman Pitcher of The Year.

RHP Evan Chrest (Jacksonville): Chrest fanned 98 batters with 36 walks over 90 2/3 innings and posted an 8-2 record, 2.68 ERA and was a first team Atlantic Sun pick. He also was named Freshman of The Year in the league.

RHP Kole Klecker (Texas Christian): Klecker posted a 9-4 record, 4.04 ERA and struck out 55 batters over 75.6 innings with 25 walks as he was an Honorable Mention Big 12 pick and a member of the All-Freshmen team.

LHP Eli Zielinski (Jacksonville St.): A third team Atlantic Sun selection and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Zielinski posted a 6-0 record with a 2.93 ERA. He fanned 56 batters over 46 innings and walked 22.

LHP Andrew Healy (Duke): Healy posted a 5-1 record, 2.39 ERA and fanned 42 batters with 6 walks in 17 outings.

Relief Pitchers/Closers

James Tallon (Duke): Tallon was a second team ACC pick and member of the league’s All-Freshmen team. He posted 11 saves with a 1.69 ERA and fanned 54 batters with 10 walks in 22 outings.

Hudson Barrett (U.C. Santa Barbara): A first team Big West selection and Freshman Pitcher of The Year in the league, Barrett posted a 5-1 record, 6 saves, 1.92 ERA and struck out 82 batters with 32 walks over 21 outings.

Gianni Gambardella (Maine): A first team America East selection and member of the All-Rookie team in the league, Gambardella posted a 6-3 record, 2 saves and a 2.91 ERA. He struck out 42 batters and walked 13 in 52 2/3 innings.

Garrett Ferguson (Missouri St.): A first team Missouri Valley selection, Ferguson recorded 6 saves, a 3-1 record and 1.88 ERA. He fanned 27 batters with 16 walks over 21 appearances.

Zach Wager (Tennessee-Martin): A second team Ohio Valley selection and Freshman of The Year in the league, Wager posted 4 saves, a 2-1 record, 2.44 ERA and fanned 40 batters with 20 walks over 22 appearances.

Harrison Bodendorf (Hawaii): A first team Big West selection, Bodendorf posted a 5-2 record, 5 saves and a 3.45 ERA. He struck out 66 batters with 27 walks over 21 outings.

Craig Yoho (Indiana): Yoho posted a 4-1 record and 1 save in 18 appearances and a 3.41 ERA. He struck out 63 batters and walked 19 in 37 innings of work.

Brayden Risedorph (Indiana): In 25 appearances, Risedorph posted a 3-1 record, 6 saves and fanned 60 batters with 19 walks. He also had a 4.47 ERA.

Catchers

Malcolm Moore (Stanford): Named Freshman of The Year in the Pac-12, Moore hit .312 with 17 doubles, 12 homers and 52 RBI.

Caden Bodine (Coastal Carolina): A first team Sun Belt selection and Freshman of The Year in the league, Bodine hit .356 with 17 doubles, 9 homers and 40 RBI.

Bear Madliak (Jacksonville St.): Named to the All-Freshmen team in the Atlantic Sun, Madliak hit .330 with 14 doubles, 6 homers and 25 RBI.

Khadim Diaw (Loyola Marymount): A second team West Coast selection, Diaw hit .314 with 11 doubles, 8 homers, 2 triples and 33 RBI.

Jamal George (Alabama St.): Named Freshman of The Year in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and a second team SWAC selection, George hit .284 with 12 doubles, 6 homers and 34 RBI.

Frankie Ferrentino (Merrimack): A second team Northeast pick and Rookie of The Year in the league, Ferrentino hit .304 with 11 doubles, 10 homers and 35 RBI.

Karson Bowen (Texas Christian): Named an honorable mention selection in the Big 12, Bowen is a skilled receiver who hit .363 with 14 doubles, 6 homers and 46 RBI while collecting 70 hits. He also stole 9 of 10 bases.

First Basemen

Charlie Condon (Georgia): Named Freshman of The Year in the SEC and a second team all-league pick, Condon belted 25 homers, 10 doubles and hit .386 with 67 RBI. He also is Collegiate Baseball’s 2023 Freshman Hitter of The Year.

Anthony Martinez (U.C. Irvine): A first team Big West selection and Freshman Player of The Year in the league, Martinez hit .394 with 19 doubles, 11 homers and 60 RBI.

Josh Kross (Eastern Michigan): A first team Mid-American pick and Freshman Position Player of The Year in the league, Kross hit .376 with 18 doubles, 15 homers and 70 RBI.

Ty Dalley (Mercer): A member of the All-Freshmen Team in the Southern Conference, Dalley belted 18 homers with 10 doubles and 56 RBI.

Leewood Molessa (Md.-Baltimore County): A second team America East pick and Rookie of The Year in the league, Molessa hit 16 homers, 15 doubles and 66 RBI while posting a .294 batting average.

Tanner Thach (N.C. Wilmington): A member of the Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie team, Thach hit 15 homers, 10 doubles and 67 RBI while posting a .290 batting average.

Michael Anderson (Rhode Island): A second team Atlantic 10 selection, Anderson hit .316 with 18 doubles, 10 homers and 43 RBI.

Garrett Michel (Virginia Tech.): A member of the ACC All-Freshmen team, Michel hit .339 with 16 doubles, 11 homers and 45 RBI.

Zach Yorke (Grand Canyon): A second team WAC selection and member of the WAC All-Defensive team, Yorke hit .368 with 13 doubles, 8 homers and 61 RBI.

Second Basemen

Cade Kurland (Florida): A first team selection in the SEC, Kurland hit .310 with 16 homers, 14 doubles and 45 RBI.

Blake Cyr (Miami, Fla.): A third team pick in the ACC and member of the All-Freshmen team, Cyr hit .303 with 16 homers, 9 doubles and 60 RBI.

Daniel Dickinson (Utah Valley): A first team WAC selection, Dickinson hit .376 with 19 doubles, 9 homers, 42 RBI and swiped 10 of 12 bases.

Mason White (Arizona): White hit 18 doubles, 8 homers and collected 32 RBI while hitting .310 for the Wildcats.

Kristian Campbell (Georgia Tech.): A third team ACC pick and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Campbell hit .376 with 16 doubles, 4 homers and 24 RBI.

Jayden Davis (Samford): A first team Southern Conference selection and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Davis hit .363 with 12 doubles, 9 homers and 38 RBI.

Kodey Shojinaga (Kansas): A first team Big 12 pick and Co-Freshman Player of The Year in the league, Shojinaga hit .378 with 11 doubles, 6 homers and 32 RBI.

Third Basemen

Kevin Bazzell (Texas Tech.): A first team Big 12 selection and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Bazzell hit .354 with 23 doubles, 10 homers and 60 RBI.

Jordan Jaffe (Richmond): A first team Atlantic 10 selection and Rookie of The Year in the league, Jaffe hit .314 with 20 doubles, 12 homers and 59 RBI.

Michael Dattalo (Northwestern St.): A first team Southland Conference pick, Dattalo hit .372 with 18 doubles, 8 homers and 39 RBI.

Bayram Hot (Marist): A second team Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference selection and Rookie of The Year in the league, Hot hit .382 with 14 doubles, 2 homers, 3 doubles and collected 37 RBI with 11 stolen bases.

Blake Barthol (Coastal Carolina): Barthol collected 13 doubles, 7 homers, 4 triples and 32 RBI as he hit .310.

Shortstops

Wehiwa Aloy (Sacramento St.): A second team WAC selection and Freshman of The Year in the league, Aloy hit .376 with 15 doubles, 14 homers, 5 triples and 46 RBI.

Kolby Branch (Baylor): A member of the All-Freshmen team in the Big 12, Branch hit .325 with 17 doubles, 6 homers and 41 RBI as he stole 7 of 10 bases.

Drew Faurot (Central Florida): A member of the All-Freshmen team in the American Athletic, Faurot hit 15 homers, 9 doubles and collected 51 RBI.

Alex Lodise (North Florida): A first team Atlantic Sun selection and member of the All-Freshmen team, Lodise hit .306 with 16 homers, 14 doubles and 63 RBI.

Eric Snow (South Florida): A first team American Athletic pick and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Snow hit .343 with 13 doubles, 8 homers and 45 RBI.

Anthony Silva (Texas Christian): A second team Big 12 selection, Silva hit .342 with 9 doubles, 7 homers and 46 RBI. He also swiped 17 of 19 bases.

Outfielders

Ethan Petry (South Carolina): A first team SEC pick and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Petry hit .376 with 22 homers, 9 doubles and 72 RBI.

Grant Jay (Dallas Baptist): A first team Conference USA selection and Freshman of The Year in the league, Jay hit .337 with 21 homers, 17 doubles and 62 RBI.

Nolan Schubart (Oklahoma St.): A first team Big 12 pick and Co-Freshman of The Year in the league, Schubart hit .343 with 20 doubles, 16 homers and 73 RBI.

Cam Cannarella (Clemson): A first team ACC pick and Freshman of The Year in the league, Cannarella hit .386 with 14 doubles, 6 homers and 43 RBI. He also swiped 24 of 28 bases.

Jace LaViolette (Texas A&M): A member of the All-Freshmen Team in the SEC, LaViolette hit 19 homers with 10 doubles while collecting 58 RBI and stealing 18 of 21 bases.

Devin Taylor (Indiana): A first team Big Ten pick and Freshman of The Year in the league, Taylor hit .317 with 16 homers, 12 doubles and 57 RBI.

Zack Stewart (Missouri St.): A second team Missouri Valley selection and Freshman of The Year in the league, Stewart hit 18 doubles, 12 homers and collected 61 RBI while hitting .302.

Daniel Pacella (Illinois St.): Pacella hit 16 homers with 9 doubles and collected 56 RBI while stealing 25 of 29 bases. He was an honorable mention Missouri Valley Conference selection.

Austin Overn (Southern California): A first team Pac-12 Conference pick, Overn led all NCAA Div. I players with 14 triples and hit 11 doubles with 4 homers and 38 RBI. He also swiped 16 of 20 bases.

Joey Urban (Butler): Named Freshman of The Year in the Big East, Urban hit .296 with 17 doubles, 6 homers and 35 RBI.

Jack Toomey (Holy Cross): A second team Patriot League selection and Rookie of The Year in the league, Toomey hit .312 with 19 doubles, 7 homers and 36 RBI.

Cam Maldonado (Northeastern): A first team Colonial Athletic Association pick and Rookie of The Year in the league, Maldonado hit .357 with 13 homers, 13 doubles and 45 RBI. He swiped 31 of 32 bases.

Lucas Steele (Samford): Named Freshman of The Year in the Southern Conference, Steele hit .314 with 16 homers, 15 doubles and 50 RBI.

Gage Harrelson (Texas Tech.): An honorable mention pick in the Big 12 and member of the All-Freshmen team in the league, Harrelson hit .322 with 16 doubles, 5 triples and 45 RBI.

Designated Hitters

Ike Irish (Auburn): A member of the All-Freshmen team in the SEC, Irish hit .364 with 24 doubles, 6 homers and 50 RBI.

Colby Shelton (Alabama): Shelton hit 22 homers with 10 doubles and 46 RBI as he posted a .294 batting average. He was chosen to the All-Freshmen team in the SEC.

JP Smith (Sacramento St.): A first team selection in the WAC, Smith hit .339 with 14 homers, 9 doubles and 45 RBI.

Multiple Position Athletes

DJ Newman (Bowling Green): A first team pick in the Mid-American Conference and Freshman Pitcher of The Year in the league, Newman hit .383 with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 1 homer and 11 RBI. As a pitcher, he posted a 3-2 record, 3.49 ERA and struck out 33 batters with 5 walks in 15 appearances.

Mitch Voit (Michigan): A member of the Big Ten All-Freshmen team, Voit posted a 4-1 record with a 3.25 ERA as a pitcher and fanned 25 batters with 12 walks in 19 appearances. As a hitter, he collected 9 doubles, 7 homers and 32 RBI.

By LOU PAVLOVICH, JR.
Editor/Collegiate Baseball

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Ethics in baseball is always closely scrutinized.

For instance, is it ethical to teach batters to purposely get hit by pitches?

Or what about batters purposely faking a hit by pitch?

Is it ethical to doctor playing fields so the home team has an unfair advantage? Or is this part of the game tolerated?

There also is the question of whether stealing signs is proper or not. Some coaches feel it is perfectly acceptable as long as one is not using binoculars to “spy” on the enemy or use television cameras posted beyond the centerfield fence to focus in on signs given by opposing catchers and relayed to batters so they know what is coming.

Almost everyone in the game looks down on coaches who order pitchers to purposely throw at batters. But what about the coach who directs his pitcher to throw at the home plate umpire and have the catcher duck in an effort to physically hurt the umpire?

The game of baseball has been full of controversial ethics questions through the years and rarely discussed in an open forum.

Some coaches relish the game when inventive characters dream up new ways to win games. Others in the game call these coaches cheaters who make a travesty out of the grand old sport of baseball.

The late John Scolinos, former Hall of Fame head baseball coach at Cal Poly Pomona and winner of over 1,000 games, saw it all in his illustrious career.

“Regardless of the score, you must keep your poise,” said Scolinos.

“When you lose your poise, some coaches revert to cheating to win. And this jeopardizes the team. It makes college baseball look bad. College baseball should be kept at a high level.

“But to be honest, baseball coaches as far as I’m concerned are an outstanding bunch of men. Baseball coaches are superior men, for crying out loud. But when I hear about unethical conduct by coaches who instruct their pitchers to throw at the home plate umpire while the catcher ducks or things of this nature, it upsets me. I don’t give a kick how much anyone hates an umpire. That’s premeditated murder. All coaches should establish a proper ethical conduct.”

Several years ago in Southern California, an ethics question was brought to the forefront when an unusual form of the “Double Squeeze” play was performed against Chapman College.

Here is how the play works, which has been handed down through the years from the coaching ranks.

With runners on second and third and less than two outs, the batter bunts the ball toward the first baseman as the runner on third breaks for home. If the bunt is successful, the only option is to throw the batter out at first base as the second baseman covers.

With the normal two man umpire crew which works the vast majority of college baseball games throughout the USA, the home plate umpire positions himself for the potential play at home while the other umpire, initially positioned on the third base or first base side of second base behind the pitching rubber, runs toward first base for the potential play there.

Neither umpire is watching the second base runner.

While all this is going on, the runner on second, who has a sizable lead, breaks initially for third base and then takes shortcut in front of third base and scores easily. He doesn’t come within 10 feet of touching third base.

If you are former Long Beach St. Head Coach Mike Weathers, a victim of this play when he coached at Chapman, you are calling the play “unethical and sad.”

Umpires In Tough Spot
Weathers said the play puts a 2-man umpire crew in an extremely vulnerable situation.

“It’s extremely tough to stop this play from being successfully executed from the perspective of the umpires if they have never seen it before,” said Weathers.

Veteran college umpire Bud Grainger, who was an arbiter for many a moon and umpired at numerous NCAA Division I regionals and College World Series, said if the play was taught by a coach, it is definitely unethical.

“But there is a simple solution to stopping it,” said Grainger.

“The home plate umpire must pay attention to the runners.”

The coach who ordered the play against Chapman, had this to say.

“Baseball is a game of unethical situations. We have taught this play in practice, but we will never use it again.

“What is considered unethical, and what is ethical in baseball? Is it ethical to doctor fields?

“Is it ethical to purposely get hit by pitches? Is it ethical to steal signs? Is it ethical to throw at batters?

“All these things are done in baseball to win. But my team did something I consider harmless, and we are considered to have crossed the line.”

Wild, Unethical Play
Another diabolical play took place in Southern California years ago which caused many heads to turn.

With the score tied 4-4 going  into the bottom of the ninth, the win at all cost coach flashed the sign to his runner at second base and batter (who had been in a terrible slump) with two outs.

As the opposing pitcher went into his windup, the runner at second base bolted for third.

When the pitch came off the pitcher’s fingers, the batter wound up with a powerful swing.

The bat sailed out of his hands directly toward the third base bag.

The catcher, who caught the offering from the pitcher, gunned the ball to third base in an attempt to throw the base runner out.

What was the third baseman to do?

He not only had a runner and ball coming at him, but a flying projectile in the form of an aluminum bat.

He did the only logical thing.

He got out of the way of the aluminum bat as the ball sailed into left field and the runner rounding third scored easily.

Believe it or not, this was a designed play.

To read more of this story, purchase the Oct. 1, 2022 edition of Collegiate Baseball or subscribe by CLICKING HERE. The rest of the story delves into a number of trick plays that have taken place over the years.