2022 PENN STATE MONT ALTO BASEBALL PREVIEW
On Saturday February 19, the Penn State Mont Alto baseball team takes to the field for the first time since qualifying for the United States Collegiate Athletic Association last season. They finished the 2021 season with a 27-5 overall record, winning 20 of 25 games within conference competition. They finished as PSUAC Runner-Ups, losing to Penn State DuBois in the championship game.
Many of the same faces return for the 2022 season, as there is a lot of optimism for another strong season. Head coach Shawn Kissel returns nearly the entire pitching staff, graduating senior Ethan Slusser. Slusser is a current assistant coach on Kissel's staff. Much of the offense returns from last season, as the top seven performers are all back for the 2022 campaign.
Opening Week Schedule
Sat. 2/19 @ Apprentice 1,3 pm
Sat. 2/26 @ Southern Virginia 1,3 pm
Hitters Preview
Pine accumulated 41 hits in 95 at-bats for a .442 average. He hit one home run and drove in 20 runs. Pine registered a season-high four hits on April 20, 2021, against Penn State DuBois. His season-high runs batted in was on April 16, 2021, against Penn State Beaver when he drove in four runs. He led the team in stolen bases with 24.
McClure will look to do a little bit of everything once again this season, splitting time between second base and outfield in 2021. He led the team in at-bats with 112, batting .429 with 13 doubles and 16 stolen bases. His season-high in hits came on April 20, 2021, against Penn State DuBois when he went 4 for 5 and drove in four runs.
Kissel returns for his senior season at Penn State Mont Alto after batting .383 with three home runs in 2021. He recorded 36 hits in 94 at bats. On April 23, 2021, he went 5 for 5 with 5 RBI against Penn State Greater Allegheny.
Moreland looks to sure up the "hot corner" again in 2022. In 2021, he batted .392 with eight doubles and 16 runs batted in. On April 17, 2021, he went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI against Penn State Beaver, his season-high in hits.
Lentvorsky appeared in 27 games last season, recording 17 hits in 60 at-bats. He batted .283 on the season. Three of his 17 hits came via extra bases. Lentvorsky tied for third on the team with nine stolen bases in 2021. His season-high in hits came on April 16, 2021, when he had three against Penn State Beaver.
Goodyear will look to be a big source of offense for Penn State Mont Alto in 2022. In 32 games last season, he batted .274 with four home runs and 23 RBI. His power production ranked top two on the team last season. He will be a key cog in the middle of the lineup and will look to continue his strong fielding at first base, committing up only one error a season ago.
Bigler will be the quarterback of the outfield in 2022, starting in center field. He finished 2021 with 89 at-bats, fifth on the team. Bigler batted .236 with a .313 on-base percentage last season. He finished fourth on the team with eight stolen bases. He finished the season with a .981 fielding percentage, committing only one error.
Pitchers Preview
Garlin finished his 2021 campaign with a perfect 7-0 record over 61.1 innings pitched. He struck out 72 batters, leading the team with a 10.57 K/9. He allowed one home run and surrendered a 3.67 earned run average. He struck out 10 batters twice in a start last season and also struck out 9 against Penn State DuBois.
Huston was second on the team in innings last season with 53.2 IP and struck out 32 batters. When the strikeouts weren't there, he got the job done with a 3.02 ERA. He finished the season with a 5-4 record, accumulating the second most wins on the team. Huston's best start came against Penn State Greater Allegheny on March 13, 2021, when he fanned six over six strong innings.
Mort was another piece to the top three arms for Penn State Mont Alto a season ago. He threw 36.1 innings with a 4.95 ERA. He made 10 appearances, winning five and losing two. Mort struck out 22 batters for a 5.45 K/9. Mort's best start came against Penn State New Kensington on April 10, 2021, when he struck out six over seven innings.
Michaels pitched in nine games last season, throwing 16.2 innings and allowing a 4.86 ERA. He went a perfect 3-0 with 12 strikeouts for a 6.48 K/9.
Kissel figures to be a key piece for the team when they need him this season. In his 11 innings pitched in 2020, he surrendered only three earned runs. He was second on the team in saves with two last season.
McClure returns as the team leader in saves from a year ago. He pitched in nine games, going 11 innings with a 2.45 ERA. He led the team in strikeout percentage, with a 10.45 K/9.
