College baseball: Ranked 3rd in D2, Catawba opens season Friday night

From Catawba Sports Information

Boca Raton, Fla. —- The 3rd-ranked Catawba College baseball team kicks off the 2025 season with its annual Florida trip this weekend, with games across the Sunshine State Friday through Monday.

THE MATCHUPS

– Game One: #3 Catawba at #22 Nova Southeastern, NSU Baseball Complex, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Friday, Jan. 31, 6 p.m.

– Game Two: #3 Catawba at Lynn, Boca Raton, Fla., Saturday, Feb. 1, 2 p.m.

– Game Three: #3 Catawba at Barry, Feinbloom Field, Miami Shores, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 2, 1 p.m.

– Game Four: #3 Catawba at Palm Beach Atlantic, J.M. “Jake” Rubin Park, West Palm Beach, Fla., Monday, Feb. 3, 6 p.m.

PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS (2024 statistics)

– Friday: Austin Fine (10-3, 3.78 ERA) vs. Carlos Nolasco (3-5, 5.64 ERA)

– Saturday: Payne Stolsworth (11-4, 3.63 ERA) vs. Devin Sweeney (0-5, 5.05 ERA)

– Sunday: Hayden Simmerson (3-4, 3.98 ERA) vs. Benito Valle-Jhanda (0-1, 7.50 ERA)

– Monday: Casey Gouge (6-2, 4.44 ERA) vs. Nolan Smoot (3-1, 2.22 ERA)

HIGH EXPECTATIONS

– Following Catawba’s fourth Southeast Regional title since 2012, the Catawba Indians are ranked in the top five in the country in each of the recognized Division II preseason national rankings

– Catawba is third in the D2Baseball and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association polls; fourth fourth in the American Baseball Coaches of America poll

– The trio of Dylan Driver, Stolsworth and Simmerson were named Preseason All-Americans by D2Baseball

– Offensively, the club returns All-SAC selections Driver and Sam Hunter

– The club also added impact transfers in shortstop Nathan Chrismon (East Carolina), infielder James Dunlap (North Dakota State) and utility Hunter Atkins (UNC Greensboro)

FAMILIAR FACES ON THE MOUND

– As one of Catawba’s biggest strengths from its 2024 regional title team, the Catawba Indians bring back 87 percent of the innings pitched from last season

– The team’s first team All-SAC starting pitchers return, including 2024 SAC Pitcher of the Year Stolsworth; 2024 SAC Freshman of the Year Simmerson looks to a move to the starting rotation

Gouge, Cole Hales and Carson Edmiston also return as probable midweek starting options

GANTT’S CHASE FOR 1,000

– The winningest coach in SAC history eyes another big milestone in 2025 – 1,000 career victories

– Catawba’s skipper stands 10 wins away from the milestone only achieved by 23 Division II coaches all-time

– If the Catawba Indians begin the season 10-2 or better, the feat will be achieved at Newman Park during the conference-opening series versus Anderson Feb. 14-15

 

SCOUTING THE FLORIDIANS

– The opening weekend will mark five straight Sunshine State Conference teams Catawba has faced, dating back to facing eventual national champion Tampa in the 2024 national semifinal

– Nova Southeastern finished highest among the four teams (third), but none of the four qualified for the 2024 NCAA Division II South Regional

– Catawba went 2-1 in its Florida trip a season ago, defeating Palm Beach Atlantic and Lynn before falling to Barry in the weekend finale

UP NEXT

– Following the opening Florida trip,  Catawba returns home to Newman Park for the first time in 2025, hosting Shippensburg for a three-game set Feb. 7-9

– The team will receive championship rings prior to the 1 p.m. game on Saturday, Feb. 8

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