Staff writer
jmontecalvo@observer-reporter.com
When Sam Mann decided to join the Washington & Jefferson College baseball team four years ago, some might have considered his choice illogical.
The Presidents were suffering through a miserable stretch in which they won 27 games in five years. W&J was 11-54 the two seasons before Mann was a freshman, and that included a 5-20 mark in the Presidents' Athletic Conference. Back then, qualifying for the NCAA tournament was merely a dream.
Mann, however, saw promise in the program and a bright future under then second-year head coach Jeff Mountain.
"I wanted to go somewhere I could play right away and I really liked what Coach Mountain was doing with the program," Mann said. "He wanted to turn W&J into a national power and I bought into that."
Those sentiments were shared by a talented group that entered the program with Mann.
Things started to turn around right away. The Presidents were 21-16 during Mann's freshman season, and when another gifted class came to W&J the following year, the Presidents finished 32-15 and were the PAC tournament runner-up.
W&J won the PAC title last season, battling through the loser's bracket to defeat Thomas More, which also returns most of its starters. But the conference won't have an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament until next year and the Presidents were left out.
"(Qualifying) is our No.1 goal," Mann said. "It was our No.1 goal last year and we were really disappointed, but that just fueled the fire for this year."
It's certainly showed so far.
The Presidents are off to a 12-2 start and 3-0 in the PAC after sweeping Bethany. W&J played its first six games in Florida and finished the trip 5-1.
W&J's quick start to the season has caught the attention of coaches on a national level. The Presidents were ranked 16th in Division III when the first American Baseball Coaches Association/Collegiate Baseball Top 30 poll was released last week.
Still, Mountain is quick to point out the Presidents have a long road ahead.
"It's important to remember that it's early," he said. "In the first poll last year, Marietta wasn't ranked and they won the national championship. We can't get caught up in the polls, we just have to mentally be ready to play every day.
"For last year we have only ourselves to blame. Yes, we had some injuries that hurt us and yes, winning your conference and not making the tournament hurts, but we controlled our own destiny. If we could have won one or two more regular season games, we probably would have made the NCAA tournament."
W&J was selected to host an ECAC regional tournament and won the title after defeating Villa Julie and Keystone.
So with a lineup filled with experience returning from a 34-13 season, do the Presidents have the team to qualify for the NCAA tournament?
"I don't think there's any question we do," said Mountain, W&J's career coaching wins leader. "It's been a bit of a process, but we've definitely rebuilt around these juniors and seniors."
Mann, who plays first base and pitches, Sean Pfeil (third base), Nick Fiorilli (shortstop), Chris Varacallo (second base), Ron Mitko (first base), and Warren Stowe (catcher) are seniors in the starting lineup.
Juniors Justin Benson (center field), a Chartiers-Houston graduate, and Matt Pellis (right field) also start while Mitko, senior Nate Hopkins and junior Ryan Gregg share time in left field. Sophomore Sean Boone sees time behind the plate.
Along with Mann, senior members of the pitching staff are Mitko, Mike Trumpower and John Astfalk.
"Over the last few years, there's not any type of game they haven't seen," Mountain said. "All the things that can happen in a game, they've been through and it's been invaluable."
Gregg returns after missing last season. He was forced to undergo a cornea transplant as a result of faulty contact lens solution.
"He's handled it as well as anyone could," Mountain said. "He doesn't make any excuses."
The key to the Presidents' early-season success, according to Mountain, has been their hitting.
Before Monday's game, W&J was batting .377 as a team. Mann led the Presidents with a .512 average, five extra-base hits and 14 RBI. Fiorilli was hitting .463 with 12 RBI, Varacallo had a .439 average and 14 RBI and Pfeil (.422) had four doubles and 15 RBI. Benson had a .395 average and a team-best nine stolen bases.
"Offensively, one to nine, we are all experienced guys," Mann said. "Every guy in the lineup can hit."
While Mountain said there is room for improvement in the Presidents' pitching, he senses something special about the team.
"There's a real confidence with this group," he said. "It's a little different than in the past. They're on track toward the next level."