The East Stroudsburg University baseball team captured the first PSAC East title in program history last season.
The Warriors look primed for another long, win-filled season in 2025.
With a 14-4 record through Tuesday, ESU has played the best baseball of any college team in The Morning Call’s coverage area since the season opened in mid-February. The Warriors recorded a signature win Friday, beating Southern New Hampshire 7-6 in a 21-inning game that was the second-longest in NCAA Division II history.
A roster loaded with local players has helped ESU claim a No. 16 ranking in the NCBWA national poll. The Warriors’ top contributors include:
• Parker Frey (Liberty). The redshirt junior is hitting .333 with five extra-base hits and 13 RBIs. He started each of the Warriors’ first 18 games.
• Jack Rothenhausler (Liberty). A senior, he has also started all 18 games, batting .277 with a team-leading eight doubles. He has 17 RBIs.
• Dennis Pierce (Quakertown). The redshirt senior has ripped six doubles and three home runs in his first season at ESU. He boasts a .762 slugging percentage.
• Gavin Sopko (Pocono Mountain East). A sophomore, he has struck out 23 batters in 20 1/3 innings over five starts. He has a 4.43 ERA.
The Warriors jump into PSAC play Friday with a marquee matchup. West Chester is ranked No. 10 in the NCBWA poll and was picked to win the PSAC East in preseason voting by the league’s coaches. The Golden Rams beat ESU 12-11 to win the PSAC tournament title last season.
While ESU has played the best among local college baseball programs, several others have also started well. Here’s a look at how the area’s other Division I, II and III teams have played so far (all stats through Tuesday).
DeSales (7-4 overall, 3-0 MAC Freedom Conference)
Coach Tim Neiman announced in January that the 2025 season would be his 36th and final one leading DeSales. He has climbed to 854 career wins as he tries to lead the Bulldogs to their first MAC Freedom Conference title since 2008.
The Bulldogs, who were chosen for a third-place finish in the league’s preseason poll, took a five-game winning streak into Wednesday’s trip to Swarthmore. Four local players have been regulars in a lineup batting .345.
Freshman Jacob Rivera (Liberty) is hitting a team-best .484 with 12 RBIs. Senior Owen Fischl (Whitehall), sophomore Eric Wert (Bethlehem Catholic) and senior Colin Houck (Southern Lehigh) have combined for 13 extra-base hits, 27 RBIs and 24 runs.
Lehigh (10-6 overall, 0-0 Patriot League)
The Mountain Hawks had won three straight games and six of their last seven to surge to a season-best four games over .500 heading into Wednesday’s game against Penn. They were picked to finish fifth in the six-team Patriot League.
Freshman pitcher Noah Gyauch-Quirk (Liberty) has struck out 12 and allowed one run over six innings (four appearances) as a reliever.
Moravian (8-7 overall, 2-2 Landmark Conference)
Picked to finish seventh in the nine-team Landmark Conference, Moravian has hovered around .500 for most of its first month. Sophomore Wyatt Harrar (Palisades) has mashed in his first season as a full-time player, hitting .366 with five home runs, 19 runs and 22 RBIs while starting all 15 games.
Kutztown (6-11 overall, 0-0 PSAC)
The Golden Bears were picked to finish sixth in the eight-team PSAC East. They have played well at home (6-2) but hadn’t won a road or neutral site game heading into Wednesday’s trip to Chowan.
Sophomore outfielder and Parkland grad Bo Barthol has excelled through the opening month. He hit .424 with 18 runs, nine extra-base hits and 12 stolen bases while starting each of the Golden Bears’ first 17 games.
Muhlenberg (8-7 overall, 0-0 Centennial Conference)
The Mules were picked to finish last in the 10-team Centennial Conference. They went 9-30 last season but already are near their 2024 win total.
The Mules don’t have any Lehigh Valley players among their top contributors so far. Sophomore outfielder Marc Quarrie has stood out, scoring 30 runs and collecting 27 RBIs in just 15 games through Tuesday. He also had five doubles, six homers and eight stolen bases.
Lafayette (2-16 overall, 0-0 Patriot League)
Picked to finish last in the six-team Patriot League, Lafayette has scuffled since starting the season on Valentine’s Day. The Leopards had been outscored by 102 runs heading into Wednesday’s trip to Penn State.
Lafayette has no local players on its roster.
Stephen Miller is a freelance writer
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