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After a hiatus of 52 years, the Lycoming College baseball will return to play in 2023 with the largest roster in program history, 35 players, under the guidance of the program's first full-time baseball-only coach in Rick Oliveri.
The team features considerable depth, with 12 infielders, seven outfielders, four catchers and seven left-handed pitchers and 15 right-handed pitchers, with several looking for an opportunity to continue as two-way players.
The group of 35 student-athletes hails from 10 states (Pennsylvania (11), New Jersey (8), Maryland (4), Virginia (4), New York (2), Florida (2), Ohio (1), Minnesota (1), Utah (1), Nebraska (1)).
With more than a decade as a Division I coach, Oliveri was selected to restart the Lycoming College baseball program in June 2021. Oliveri spent the previous 12 years as a coach at the Division I level, working the past five years at George Washington University, five before that at Monmouth University and two years at Radford University. In 13 years as an assistant coach, he helped his teams to 10 winning seasons and 360 wins.
Oliveri worked as the pitching coach at George Washington, also serving as the team's academic coordinator and recruiting coordinator for his last three seasons, helping the team to a .500 or better record in all five seasons in the capitol.
Assisting Oliveri are Zac Cronk, a two-time All-Empire 8 selection who played at Utica, and Dustin Johnson, who has more than a decade of experience as a coach and scout.
The roster includes South Williamsport's Grant Bachman (pitcher), James Buchanan's Cameron Bailey (catcher), Northern Highlands Regional, New Jersey's Gehrig Blanchard (infielder), Wilkes-Barre Area's Josh Bottger (pitcher/utility), Cooper Hills' Braden Campbell (infielder), Stroudsburg's Mason Drozal (pitcher), Oakdale's Evan Evans (pitcher), Millville's Landon Evans (pitcher/infielder), West Milford, New Jersey's Kai Foster (shortstop), Kennedy Catholic's Stargell Fuhr (outfielder/pitcher), Apple Valley, Minnesota's Ben Glad (infielder), Windermere Prep, Florida's Treyson Greene (pitcher/first baseman); Sachem East, New York's Matt Guido (pitcher), Brick Township, New Jersey's Nick Hobeb (catcher), Eastern Regional, New Jersey's Joel Inman, Roncalli, Nebraska's Liam Kaminski (first baseman/outfielder/pitcher), Alexandria City, Virginia's Jack Kelly (shortstop/pitcher), Coatesville's Zach Kudlacik (second baseman), Highland School, Virginia's Sam Marcus (pitcher), Winter Spring, Florida's Noah Miller (pitcher), Corry Area's Kenny Nichols (outfielder/pitcher), Loudoun County, Virginia's Evan Nordeen, Columbiana, Ohio's Zachary Pleska (pitcher/utility); Walter Johnson, Maryland's Sammy Polott (pitcher), Montoursville's Nick Reeder (outfielder/pitcher), Pennsbury's Jake Schilling (third baseman/pitcher), Hayfield, Virginia's Ethan Snyder (catcher), New Egypt, New Jersey's Rick Trapanese (infielder); St. Elizabeth, Delaware's Joey Trout (first baseman), Southern Lehigh's Noah Vogeler (pitcher), Toms River South, New Jersey's Jake Wilber (pitcher), Christian Brothers Academy, New Jersey's Greg Wirin (catcher), Loyalsock's Matt Worth (outfielder/first baseman), Carmel, New York's Mark Yorio (pitcher) and Scotch Plains-Fanwood, New Jersey's Zac Zaller (pitcher).
South Williamsport's Bachman was a four-year letterwinner who went 3-2 with a 1.89 ERA as a senior and 5-2 with a 1.74 ERA in his career. He struck out 67 and walked 34 in 56 1/3 innings while hitting .256 with 29 runs and 32 RBIs. He helped lead the Mounties to the state semifinals in 2019.
At Montoursville, Reeder hit .295 with 28 runs, seven doubles and had 20 RBIs in his career. He went 4-0 in 41 innings pitched, striking out 40 and issuing just 18 walks. He had a 3-0 record with a 2.07 ERA as a junior as he earned the win in the district semifinals.
Worth hit .440 at Loyalsock with six doubles, two triples, 14 runs and seven stolen bases to earn all-area honors his senior year. He also played with Post One American Legion.