Get to Know the Bucknell Baseball Roster

Get to know the 2019 Bucknell baseball roster

The 2019 roster is loaded with talent and we can’t wait to see what they can do on the field this season.

Introducing the 2019 Nell Baseball Roster

The 2019 Bucknell baseball team looks to continue its success from last year, when the team won the Patriot League regular season title and made an appearance in the NCAA tournament The Bison return a core group of players from that team and will look to build on their success this season.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the 2019 Bucknell baseball roster

Pitchers
The pitching staff is led by senior ace Luke Johnson, who was named the Patriot League Pitcher of the Year last season. Johnson will be joined in the rotation by junior Matt Phelps and sophomore Connor McNamara. The bullpen will be anchored by senior closer Will DeBoer, who had eight saves last season.

Infielders
The infield will be a strength for the Bison this season, with all four starters returning from last year. First baseman Mike Castellana was an All-Patriot League selection last year after hitting .333 with nine home runs and 37 RBIs. He will be joined in the infield by seniors second baseman Kyle Allen, third baseman Jason Buursma and shortstop Connor Integrity checkCrile.

Outfielders
The Bison will have a new look in the outfield this season, as all three starters from last year have graduated. Senior Joe Ogren and junior Matt Belfiore will anchor the outfield, with sophomore Nick Krimmel expected to see time in left field

A Quick Glance at the Infielders

The Bucknell Baseball Team is off to a great start this season, and a big part of their success is due to the play of their talented infielders. Here is a quick look at the five players who make up the infield for the Bison.

First baseman James Maksim is a senior from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is batting .300 so far this season with two home runs and eight RBIs.

At second base is junior Danny Collins from Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. Collins is one of the team’s top hitters, batting .333 with a team-leading three home runs He also has eight RBIs.

Shortstop Connor Hoak is a sophomore from Malvern, Pennsylvania. He is hitting .276 on the season with one home run and four RBIs.

Third baseman Mike Barsotti is a junior from Rye Brook, New York. He is batting .250 with no Home Runs and six RBIs so far this season.

Rounding out the infield is freshman catcher Matt O’Neill from Washingtonville, New York. O’Neill has made a big impact in his first season, batting .333 with one home run and seven RBIs.

A Quick Glance at the Outfielders

Bucknell has a strong lineup this year, with a good mix of veterans and newcomers. Here’s a quick look at the team’s outfielders.

Senior captain Alex Goldbach is the team’s starting center fielder. He’s a versatile player who can also pitch and play infield. Last year he had a batting average of .333 and led the team in stolen bases with 18.

Junior right fielder Mike Connell is one of the team’s best hitters. Last year he batted .358 with four home runs and 26 RBIs. He was named Second Team All-Patriot League

Sophomore Left fielder Nate Ostmo is a solid all-around player. He hit .286 last year with two home runs and 15 RBIs. He also pitched in seven games, compiling an ERA of 3.38.

A Quick Glance at the Pitchers

The 2019 Bucknell Baseball roster is filled with talented athletes who are ready to take the field and compete. This year, the team has a strong pitching staff that will be a force to reckon with. Here is a quick look at the pitchers on the roster.

Andrew Lichtenberg is a senior right-handed pitcher from New Jersey. He is a two-time all- conference selection and was named the conference Pitcher of the Year in 2018. Lichtenberg is a three-time all-region selection and was named a second team All-American by the ABCA in 2018. He is expected to be a key member of the pitching staff this season.

left-handed pitcher out of Maryland. This will be his first season with Bucknell after transferring from Howard Community College In 2018, he helped lead Howard CC to the NJCAA Division III World Series He is expected to be a key member of the pitching staff this season.

Another lefty, Michael Mingione comes to Bucknell from Staten Island New York. He was named a Perfect Game/Rawlings High School All-American and was ranked as the No. 1 left-handed pitcher in New York State by perfect game Mingione is expected to make an immediate impact on the pitching staff as a freshman.

Rounding out the pitching staff is righty Will Klein from right here in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

Meet the Newcomers

Bucknell baseball is coming off a historic 2019 season in which the team won its first Patriot League championship and made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament The Bison will look to build on that success this season with a roster that includes six newcomers. Here’s a closer look at the new faces on the team:

Pitchers
– Andrew Milone: A native of Massachusetts, Milone appeared in nine games as a freshman at Division II Mercyhurst last season. He posted a 5.40 ERA in 16 innings of work, striking out 15 batters.
– Jack Kinney: Kinney comes to Bucknell from Seton Hall where he appeared in four games as a freshman last season. The New Jersey native posted a 9.82 ERA in 4 2/3 innings of work.
– Zack Gakeler: Gakeler is a transfer from Division II West Chester where he posted a 5-4 record and 4.91 ERA in 17 appearances (nine starts) last season. The Pennsylvania native struck out 54 batters in 54 2/3 innings of work.

Catchers
– Luke Giovanzana: Giovanzana comes to Bucknell after appearing in 34 games at Division II Mercyhurst last season. The Pennsylvania native hit .233 with two home runs and 15 RBIs. He also threw out eight would-be base stealers.
– Mike Antico: Antico is a transfer from Division I Monmouth, where he appeared in four games as a freshman last season. The New Jersey native hit .250 with one RBI in eight at-bats last season.

Infielders
– Dan Yankle: Yankle comes to Bucknell after appearing in 32 games at Division III Ursinus last season. The Pennsylvania native hit .333 with one home run 12 RBIs and four stolen bases. He also posted a .992 Fielding percentage at third base.
– Evan Klugerman: Klugerman is transferring to Bucknell from Division I La Salle, where he appeared in 50 games as a freshman last season. The California native hit .260 with 22 RBIs and five stolen bases Last season.

Player Spotlight: [Player Name]

[Player Name], a senior from [hometown], is entering his fourth and final season with the Bucknell Bison. He is a left-handed pitcher who has appeared in [number] games, starting [number] of them. In his career, he has compiled a [record], with an ERA of [ERA]. Last season, he appeared in [number] games and had an ERA of [ERA].

2019 Season Outlook

The Bucknell baseball team will open its 2019 season on February 22 with a three-game series at Elon. The Bison are coming off a 2018 campaign in which they went 18-30 overall and 7-13 in the Patriot League good for sixth place in the Conference Standings

Head coach Jim Cunningham, entering his 20th season at the helm of the program, has announced his team’s captains for the 2019 season. They are senior pitcher Nate Menefee and junior infielder Tyler Wincig.

The Bison will have a very different look this season, as they lost 14 players to graduation after last year. That group included All-Patriot League selections in first baseman/designated hitter Justin Topa and outfielder SamClark. Clark was also a third-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

Keys to Success

The Bucknell baseball team is looking to build off a successful 2020 campaign in which the team won 30 games, captured the Patriot League regular season title and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2006.

Head coach Kevin Lidge will have a veteran squad at his disposal in 2021, as the Bison return 14 letterwinners from last year’s team, including seven position starters and two pitchers who made at least eight starts apiece.

With experience and depth throughout the roster, Bucknell should be in position to contend for another Patriot League title and make a return trip to NCAA action. Here’s a closer look at some of the key returnees:

Behind the Scenes with the Bucknell baseball Team

The Bucknell Baseball Team is made up of student athletes who are passionate about the game. They come from all over the country and have different backgrounds, but they all share a common goal: to win.

coach Steve Vander Meer has been with the team for 10 years and has seen the culture change and develop over time. “When I first started coaching, the team was made up of guys who just loved to play baseball ” he said. “Now, we’ve got guys who are really dedicated to the sport and are working hard to improve their skills.”

The team’s captains, seniors Will Lautenbach and Nate Ford, have also seen the team’s culture change during their time at Bucknell. “When we first got here, we were just a bunch of guys who loved baseball,” Lautenbach said. “Now, we’re a family.”

During the off-season, the team works hard to stay in shape and hone their skills. They lift weights and run drills, and they also spend time bonding as a team. “We know that we have to work hard if we want to be successful,” Ford said. “But we also know that it’s important to have fun and enjoy each other’s company.”

The Bucknell Baseball team is a close-knit group of student athletes who are dedicated to their sport. They work hard to improve their skills and bond as a team, and they are always striving to win.

Go Bison!

The Bucknell baseball team is ready to take the diamond! Here’s a closer look at the roster for the 2019 season.

(List of player names and positions)

The team is led by Head Coach Matt Mazurek, who is entering his 13th season at the helm. Under his guidance, the Bison have won two Patriot League championships (2013, 2015) and made three NCAA tournament appearances (2013, 2015, 2018).