George Washington University Athletics
GW Baseball Season Outlook
2/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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The George Washington baseball team will open the 2015 season this weekend with a three-game series against NJIT at Tucker Field at Barcroft Park, starting with a doubleheader on Saturday (12:00 p.m.) followed by a single game on Sunday (12:00 p.m.).
GW was one of the youngest teams in the nation in 2014 as it saw seven freshmen play in half of its games.
With a full season of valuable experience in their pockets, these players that are now sophomores will combine with 10 newcomers to again have the Colonials among the youngest teams in Division I.
For the first time in program history the conference championship will be contested at GW's home facility of Tucker Field at Barcroft Park, May 20-24.
GW will play 14 of its first 16 games at home at Tucker Field and will host a total of 31 home games as part of its 56-game regular-season schedule.
STARTING PITCHING
Juniors Bobby LeWarne and Jacob Williams, along with freshman Kevin Hodgson will open the season as the Colonials' weekend starters, beginning with this weekend's series against NJIT.
LeWarne had a breakout sophomore campaign, starting 12 games and posting a 3.38 ERA with a team-best 57 strikeouts. He averaged 4.6 strikeouts per start and recorded at least five strikeouts in seven of his 12 starts last season.
Williams also enjoyed a strong sophomore season during which he led the team with four victories and pitched 82.1 innings across 13 appearances, with 12 starts. Williams made headlines after throwing a 10-inning, complete-game shutout with five strikeouts in a win over Lafayette, after which he was named the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week.
Hodgson is a local product that starred at North Point High School in Waldorf, Maryland. The 6-1 lefthander was a Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention selection as a junior and racked up 175 strikeouts in 118.2 scholastic innings.
Sophomore Brandon Ritchie, along with freshman Robbie Metz, will be available for midweek starts in addition to long relief out of the bullpen.
BULLPEN
Redshirt senior Craig LeJeune returns from Tommy John surgery to bolster the back end of GW's bullpen. The Bristol, Connecticut, native was sidelined all of last season but looks to regain his past form that earned him 10 saves and 31 strikeouts in 27 appearances as a junior in 2013.
Junior Luke Olson will also play a key role late in games after appearing in 26 games through his first two seasons.
Junior Shane Kemp, who has displayed great velocity through the fall and spring practices, will also be relied upon in the later innings. He spent the last two seasons at Kirkwood Community College.
Freshman Brady Renner, sophomores Jordan Sheinkop and Cody Bryant, along with junior Randy Dalrymple, will all be relied upon for long relief out of the bullpen and the occasional spot start.
Sophomores Eddie Muhl, Zane Schreiber and Andrew Piccin, along with freshmen Tyler Swiggart and Chance Malek will also be looked upon to provide valuable innings throughout the season.
INFIELD
Youth will be prevalent in GW's starting infield as three sophomores and one freshman will open the season in the starting lineup.
2014 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie selection Bobby Campbell will make the switch from third base to first base to open the season, a move that speaks to his overall athleticism. Campbell hit .272 with 20 RBIs as a freshman while starting all 50 games at third base, joining outfielder Joey Bartosic as the first GW players to earn Atlantic 10 All-Rookie honors since 2007.
Sophomore Kevin Mahala will hold down the shortstop position after starting all 50 games as a freshman. He batted .244 in his debut season while ranking fourth on the team with 13 multiple-hit games. He also possesses great defensive range in the field.
Sophomore Eli Kashi will open the season as the starting third basemen after playing in 44 games with 37 starts as a freshman. Primarily a middle infielder, Kashi's athleticism and quick feet make him the perfect candidate for the hot corner.
Freshman Robbie Metz will open the season at second base after a standout career at Poolesville High School in Poolesville, Maryland. An MSABC Maryland All-State selection, Metz batted .462 as a senior an also excelled on the mound, posting a 7-0 record, 0.15 ERA and 70 strikeouts. Metz will also see time on the bump for the Colonials this season as a midweek starter.
Senior Brookes Townsend, juniors Andy Young and Gabe Scott and sophomores Cody Bryant, Colin Gibbons-Fly and Andrew Selby will also log time around the infield for GW.
OUTFIELD
Senior Ryan Xepoleas will be the lone senior in the starting lineup when he lines up in centerfield on opening day, a position he occupied for all 50 games last season. In his debut season he tied for the team lead and was 10th in the conference with a .337 batting average while also leading the team with 27 RBIs, 14 walks, 87 total bases and two triples and two home runs.
2014 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie selection Joey Bartosic will be the starting left fielder after a breakout freshman campaign. He hit .298 in 46 games as a freshman while ranking fifth in the conference with 20 stolen bases. His game-changing speed and ability to get on base will have him start the season at the top of the lineup.
Freshman Mark Osis will open the season in right field following a strong career at Bayard Rustin High School in Pennsylvania. He batted .450 as a senior with four home runs and 19 RBIs and was a First Team All-Area selection in addition to being named the Outfielder of the Year.
Senior Xavier Parkmond returns from an injury-shortened junior season and will log time in the outfield as well as add depth to the catching corps.
Sophomores Andrew Selby and Colin Gibbons-Fly, along with junior Gabe Scott and freshman Matt Cosentino, are also expected to log time in the outfield.
CATCHERS
Junior Matthieu Robért headlines a solid stable of backstops for the Colonials in 2015. The junior will serve as GW's primary catcher to open the season after appearing in 88 games with 82 starts through his first two seasons. He collected a career-high 32 hits as a sophomore.
Freshman Brandon Chapman, a three-year varsity starter at Sarasota High School and First Team All-State selection as a senior, will also log time behind the plate, in addition to sophomore Jon Steele, senior Xavier Parkmond and sophomore Colin Gibbons-Fly.
