MILLERSVILLE, Pa. - 2022 is a new season, but for Millersville baseball, the goal and destination never change: Carey, North Carolina.

Cary is the site of the NCAA Division II Championship, a town where Marauders' seasons have concluded twice under Coach Jon Shehan—2011 and 2016. Four other times, including last season, the Marauders have come within two wins of an Atlantic Regional title and reaching the final site.

Every aspect of Millersville's program, from recruiting, development, mental training, team building and game strategy has in mind playing in Cary in June.

Millersville has reached the NCAA Tournament in an astounding eight consecutive season and nine times in the last 10—a streak unmatched among Atlantic Region teams. The Marauders were oh-so-close to Cary in 2021, needing two wins over Seton Hill in the final day of the regional. They led 4-1 after three innings, but the Griffins hit two home runs in the fourth and went on to win 8-5.

In the offseason, Shehan took an introspective look at his program that had just won back-to-back (and seven of the last 10) PSAC East titles. A voracious reader, Shehan reread the book "Legacy" by James Kerr, which analyzes the sustained success of the All Blacks rugby team in new Zealand. Inspired, Shehan asked himself what changes or tweaks were needed to not just continue reaching the regional, but to get the team back to Cary.

Millersville posted a 4-4 record in the 2021 postseason. They were 4-0 when holding teams to four runs or fewer and lost every game in which it gave up five or more runs. While Millersville ranked second in the PSAC with 404 strikeouts (nearly 9.0 per game), they also hit more batters than than any team in the league and issued the second-most walks—84 more than Seton Hill, which played 32 1/3 more innings. Shehan knew that moving forward, the Marauders needed to throw more strikes and be more aggressive early in counts. In recent years, with the incredible technological advances overtaking the game of baseball, it became fashionable and easy to become fixated on spin rates and velocities. There is nothing inherently wrong with increasing spin rates and boosting pitch speed. Both can be beneficial to pitchers. But an issue arises when it becomes the primary focus of a pitcher's development. Shehan realized that Millersville had lost the "art of pitching." The remedy required a systemic change to all areas of the program, starting with recruiting.

"We revised how we recruit a little, specifically with pitching," said Shehan. "We want to reestablish the art of pitching. We started out with the art of pitching 15 years ago and got pretty good at it. But we got away from pitching. We became more efficient with the throwing aspect. We saw velocities and spin rates jump, but we need to combine the two. If we do, we will pitch really well this year."
 
Millersville ranked in the top 10 in the nation in strikeouts and the increase of strikeouts has not only become a trend, but a focus in the game of baseball. In 2021, PSAC offenses struck out an average of 7.6 times per game. Going back just five years, to the last time Millersville won a regional, PSAC teams averaged 5.7 strikeouts per game. Millersville's lineup averaged 6.6 strikeouts and 4.09 walks last season. Millersville's historically fantastic offense in 2016 struck out 5.35 times per game. The emphasis on throwing the ball past hitters and missing bats has come with an increase in free passes, though. In 2016, Millersville's pitching staff, which featured three future pros, struck out 6.8 batters per game while walking just 2.2 per game. It posted a .234 batting average against and a 2.99 ERA. Last season, Millersville posted a nearly identical .236 batting average against but its ERA was a whopping 4.70, largely because of the 4.2 walks and nearly one hit batter per game.

"We haven't thrown as many strikes," said Shehan. "What we have realized is that pitching to contact earlier in the count was more advantageous in the early years of my career. The game has changed quite a bit since then, but I haven't been satisfied, even with all the talent we've had, with how we've pitched. The teams that get to Cary are the teams that pitch and play defense. Our main focus has been locking in our arms and buying in to winning counts rather than getting swings and misses."

Shehan's belief that pitching and defense gets a regional championship is rooted in his own experiences. Not only did the 2016 team do both exceptionally well, the 2011 club allowed more than five runs just once in its entire playoff run and owned a team ERA of 3.11—not because of its limiting of hits either. The .228 batting average against is not significantly better than the 2021 team's, but it walked just 2.6 batters per game. The team also fielded at a .979 clip, which led Division II.

By the way, the team that did win the regional in 2021, Seton Hill, ranked 27^th nationally in fielding, and perhaps most importantly, first in the PSAC with 2.2 walks allowed per game.

It isn't that Millersville is entirely unfamiliar with the "art of pitching." Grad student Jeff Taylor is the embodiment of it, and he pounded the strike zone and located his pitches to the PSAC East Pitcher of the Year Award in 2021. Opponents hit just .192 against him in 69 innings, and he surrendered fewer than two walks per start. He also did it without lighting up the radar gun or buckling knees with a wipeout curve.
 

"Jeff is an ace," said Shehan. "He is a leader verbally, in the weight room, in workouts, on the field. He has a plus pitch with his change-up and worked hard to establish a breaking ball this fall. I think he's done that. He's ultra-consistent. He knows what he is good at, what is weaknesses are, and he knows how to pitch. He's one of the guys that made us focus on what actually wins in this league. He's throwing 88 with a change-up and flipping a breaking ball in there, and he's consistently winning, but the guys throwing 93-95 weren't getting many outs."

Taylor gives the Marauders a proven No. 1 and a workhorse who has averaged nearly six innings per start over his two-plus season with the Marauders.

Taylor wasn't the only Marauder to win hardware in 2021. Now sophomore Conor Cook found his way after three rough outings to start the season and quickly became a star, winning the PSAC East Rookie of the Year award with a 2.70 ERA and 5-0 record. Cook tossed three complete games against the East, two of which were shutouts, and in an elimination game against Charleston in the NCAA regional, Cook gave up just three hits over 6 2/3 shutout innings.

"Cook is the opposite of Jeff in a lot of ways," said Shehan. "He works up in the zone, throws his breaking ball for a strike. He's unbelievably competitive even though he is very quiet."
There is a change in the PSAC format in 2021. No longer will the teams play the familiar four seven-inning games on Fridays and Saturdays. Instead, the teams play one nine-inning game on Friday and a seven and nine-inning doubleheader on Saturday. This means teams no longer need four weekend starters and the role of the bullpen increases.

Had Alex Mykut been healthy, Millersville's weekend trio would be unmatched in Division II. Mykut was 4-0 with a 1.48 ERA when he suffered a season-ending injury to his throwing arm that required surgery. The team is hopeful that he will be available at the end of May, which is in the timeframe of the super regional and NCAA Championship. Without Mykut, the Marauders look to a quartet of unproven pitchers. Colby Gromlich, a 6-foot-5 right-hander looks every bit the part, and he appears to have the inside track.

"Colby was really close to being ready last year, but he had a hip strain that kind of kept him out and redshirted him," said Shehan. "He's in the low 90s with a different repertoire. He's fastball, change, drops a curveball in and throws a splitter. We haven't had a good splitter guy since Tad Barton. That could be a nice change of pace for us."

Also in the mix is junior Ben Wilchacky, sophomore Harry Prince and freshman Matt Shamany. Wilchacky came to Millersville has a position player, but the staff sought to develop him much in the same way they did Reid Anderson, who had a long run in the minors as a reliever. Wilchacky looked good in the highly competitive Coastal Plains League over the summer until an injury cut short his stint. The hard-throwing Prince was on his way to a redshirt season in 2021 until the Marauders decided to use him in the postseason. He made three appearances, and his best came against Seton Hill in the regional where he tossed three shutout innings. Shamany, a 6-1 right-hander, impressed in the fall. Shehan's scouting report on Shamany includes three pitches and a "fearless" attitude on the mound.

How PSAC coaches elect to line up their starters in the new three-game series should be interesting. Right now, Shehan is leaning toward rolling with Taylor in the Saturday seven-inning game, knowing that the veteran can routinely work a complete game, freeing up the bullpen for the nine-inning games.

That bullpen is led by a pair of seniors in Kris Pirozzi and Christian Wingard. Pirozzi tossed 29 1/3 innings in 2021 and had an outstanding month of May in which he gave up just here earned runs with 18 strikeouts over five appearances and 12 2/3 innings. Wingard tallied five saves last season and brings with him plenty of experience in pressure-packed moments.

Nate Young is a senior transfer from George Mason, but he's a player that Shehan and staff recruited out of nearby Ephrata High School. Like Wingard, he's a lefty, and Shehan says he's confident in that trio at the end of games.

Millersville's offense was at times outstanding but also inconsistent in 2021. It produced nine or more runs an astounding 15 times in 45 games but scored 13 total runs in four regional games and was shutout by Bloomsburg with a PSAC championship series berth on the line.

The good news is that Millersville returns four of its five leading hitters and three All-PSAC East bats, including the reigning PSAC East Athlete of the Year in junior Bren Taylor. The sweet-swinging lefty is as disciplined a hitter as there is in the PSAC. He walked and was hit by a pitch a combined 32 times while striking out just 19 times. He ranked second in the PSAC in hitting and ranked in the top five in hits, triples, on base percentage and runs scored.

Luke Trainer is another left-hander with outstanding hit and on base ability. He hit .346 with a .418 on base percentage while hitting six homers and driving in 52 runs. He started the majority of games behind the plate, and Shehan believes the wear and tear took a toll on Trainer's offense late in the season. To keep Trainer fresh, they will try him at both DH and first base at times. Regardless of where he is on the field, his bat will be in the middle of the order.
 

The Marauders have something of a logjam on the corners, and the competition is a good problem to have for Shehan. Junior Darin Miller saw his numbers drop off in 2021, but Shehan sees the 2020 version of Miller—when he hit .326 with 14 RBIs in 18 games—in camp.

"Darin Miller looks like himself again—like he was before the shutdown," said Shehan.

Like Miller, Justin Taylor can also play first and third, and he worked his way into the starting lineup in 2021 by hitting .274 with a .377 on base percentage.

"Justin Taylor looks more consistent. He showed signs of being really good," said Shehan.

Pete Vaccaro played some at first base, too, but 24 of his 31 appearances came at designated hitter. Vaccaro not only hit .337 with a .396 on base percentage, but he was clutch in the regional, delivering the game-winning hit against West Virginia State before going 5-for-8 with a home run in the two games against Seton Hill.

Freshman Jimmy Kirk could work his way into the lineup at first base as well. Shehan called his fall performance "fantastic."

And if those weren't enough options, whoever isn't Millersville's starting shortstop--a battle between returner Tyler Wright and UNC Charlotte transfer Thomas Caufield--will most definitely be on the field. The Marauders must replace four-year starter Eric Callahan at short, and Wright and Caufield are both viable candidates. Both players are left-handed bats. Wright was an All-PSAC East First Team selection at third base a year ago, hitting .353 with a .448 on base percentage.

"Both of them have been swinging the bat really well," said Shehan. "You have to find a place for both to play every day. I don't see either one coming out of the lineup. Caufield can play third, short, right field."

One of the few jobs on the field that isn't up for grabs is second base. That belongs to senior Jimmy Losh—an outstanding defender with on base skills at the plate. The start to his Covid-shortened 2020 season was record-setting as he hit .492 over 18 games. Those numbers dropped off in 2021, but he still hit .297 with a .415 on base percentage and showed new-found power with six homers.

With Trainer expected to spend less time behind the plate, Millersville needs at least one other catcher to be ready to share time. Redshirt freshman John Seibert is an imposing 6-2, 220 pounds and holds a slight edge in winter camp. Sophomore Cole Houser received 10 starts in 2021.

With Bren Taylor holding down the job in left field, the staff has as many as four players for the other two starting spots. Sophomore Zach Chowansky was the 2021 opening day starter in right field but couldn't find his swing at the plate. He's battling Potomac State transfer Dale Houser for the starting job in center. Houser is a right-handed hitting junior who posted gaudy offensive numbers in 80 games played at the junior college level.

Either player could also play in right, and Chase Simmons, as well as Caufield and freshman Sam Morris are also in the mix there. Simmons is a junior who made four starters in 2021 but made the most of his opportunities with five hits and six RBIs in 15 at bats. According to Shehan, Morris was a standout in the Black & Gold World Series and is a proven winner.
 
Shehan and his staff have 16 games before PSAC East play begins, so expect a variety of lineups early in the season. They'll let it play out on the field.

"We can use a lot of different lineups early on to see who the bats are and who is going to emerge," said Shehan. "I feel like we will get enough games played before we get into the conference to allow guys to get at bats."