NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- This weekend, the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team will host St. Joseph's University New York (Brooklyn) for a three-game series, welcoming the Bears for a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday morning. The 16th-ranked Captains are 20-6 overall and will host St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) with first pitch scheduled for Noon on Saturday and an 11:00 a.m. start on Sunday.
Prior to the twin bill on Saturday afternoon, head coach
John Harvell and the CNU Baseball Team will welcome the family of 2005 alum Ricky Medina for a special pre-game ceremony. Medina was a two-time All-Conference starter for the Captains that helped lead Christopher Newport to the 2003 Division III World Series as a starter in the infield. On December 13, 2022, Medina passed away after a hard-fought battle with brain cancer -- Saturday's game will initiate a fundraiser for the Medina14 Foundation, which will honor his memory by supporting young athletes and brain cancer research.
Fans hoping to be in attendance for the pre-game festivities should be aware the presentation will begin at 11:50 and will include a ceremonial first pitch by Ricky, Jr.
For more information or to donate to the Medina14 Foundation, click here.
Christopher Newport has won eight of the last nine games including three straight after a 4-1 win at N.C. Wesleyan on Wednesday night. The Captains lead the nation in hits and walks while ranking in the top five nationally in sacrifice bunts, sacrifice flies, and doubles. While the offense has been firing on all cylinders, the pitching staff has done it's part with three shutouts to rank fourth in the country. As a team, CNU ranks 32nd nationally with a 3.67 ERA, anchored by impressive starting pitching that boasts a 3.30 ERA in 26 starts this season.
Leading the way has been
Dylan Weber (4-1), who ranks third in the nation in total strikeouts with 54 this season. Rookie
Jackson Baird also ranks in the top-25 nationally with 39 K's while posting a 2.89 ERA in 28.0 innings pitched so far. Senior southpaw
Jay Cassady has added a 2.89 ERA with 33 strikeouts in five starts also.
Out of the bullpen,
Danny Checkosky (1-0) and
Kyle Lewis (2-0) have led the way with 26 appearances combined this season. Checkosky has three saves while punching out 24 batters in 20.1 innings pitched while Lewis has 27 K's in a team-high 14 appearances this year.
At the plate, Christopher Newport has been led by a potent 1-2 at the top of the lineup with junior outfielder/DH
Scott Crosson delivering 35 hits and a team-high .385 batting average while rookie shortstop
Josh Reinhold has 32 hits and a .344 average in his first season. CNU is hitting .306 as a team with rookie
Ayden Stuffel (.362), sophomore
Zach Dzarnowski (.353), and freshman
Jake Benedict (.309) all over .300 so far this season.
The depth at second base in particular has been impressive with
Daniel Elliott,
Ethan Weaver, and
Justin Liakos combining for 25 hits from the keystone. Their defense has been outstanding, registering 48 assists and 42 putouts paired with just two errors for a fielding percentage of .978 this season.
The Bears swept the Skyline Conference Player of the Week selections this week as Chris Leary was named Player of the Week and Louis Lombardi earned Pitcher of the Week honors. Leary has recorded a hit in all 10 games this season and is hitting .513 with seven extra-base hits. Michael Gardener, a sophomore, has also been off to a hot start with 16 hits in 35 at-bats for a .457 average. Junior Mike Santoriello leads the pitching staff with a 2-1 record including one complete game. He has a 2.95 ERA and 26 strikeouts through his first 18.1 innings pitched this season.
Following the double dip on Saturday, the two teams will return to the field on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. for the final game of the series. CNU will then welcome Pfeiffer on Tuesday, March 28 at 3:00 p.m.
