WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Washington & Jefferson College baseball team enters 2025 on a run of five consecutive Presidents' Athletic Conference titles and will look to make conference championship and NCAA Tournament runs once again this spring. 

The Presidents became the first program to win five-straight PAC titles since Allegheny did so from 1960-64 and looks to become the first program to win six consecutive PAC titles in the conference's history. 

2024 Season Review: W&J concluded the season with a 34-14 overall record and a 16-4 conference mark last season. The Presidents won a dramatic 4-2 ballgame over Grove City in the title round of the 2024 Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship. The win gave the program its 11th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and 16th PAC title. 

The early season slate began with a string of narrow defeats for the Presidents as the squad started 2-6. W&J was able to put together a strong performance during its annual trip to the RussMatt Invitational in Florida with a doubleheader sweep of Framingham State (March 18), a 12-2 win over William Paterson (March 21), and a 6-2 win over SUNY Cobleskill (March 22) to conclude the trip.  

The Presidents got off to a scorching start in the conference slate, with sweeps over Saint Vincent, Geneva, Chatham, Franciscan, Waynesburg, Westminster, and Thiel. Out-of-conference wins over Point Park, Marietta, Mount Union, and Otterbein also bolstered the Presidents resume down the stretch. The Presidents clinched the top seed in the PAC Tournament with a split at Allegheny (May 4). The conference decided ahead of the season that the PAC Tournament would automatically be held at W&J's Ross Memorial Park. 

W&J rolled to four-consecutive wins in the PAC's new six-team tournament format to claim its 16th consecutive win overall in PAC Tournament play, and fifth-straight conference title. The Presidents went back-and-forth in the opening round against Thiel and headed into the bottom of the ninth inning all tied up at 5. The Presidents were able to get runners on the corners with one out before Drew Garth (Glenshaw, Pa./North Hills) knocked an RBI single to deep left center to claim the walk-off win.  

The Red and Black offense got it going in the next two games as Jacob LaDuca (Clarence, N.Y./Canisius), Scout Zaas (Powell, Ohio/Wellington School), Garth, and Zac Stern (Coraopolis, Pa./Montour) launched homers as the Presidents would win 10-3 over Waynesburg and 12-5 over Grove City to march to the title round. 

The stage was set for a title round matchup against Grove City and its strong pitching staff. Then-freshman Bobby Budacki (New Brighton, Pa./New Brighton Area) got the start and held the Wolverines to two runs through five solid innings. Trailing 2-0, the Presidents knotted things up in the bottom the fifth as Ben Schuler (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) and LaDuca each drove in a run. The score stayed at 2-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh, where Schuler ripped a two-out double to get on base. LaDuca stepped to the plate and launched an opposite-field home run to give W&J the 4-2 lead that would hold. Nate Nolan (McDonald, Pa./West Allegheny) pitched four clean innings in relief for Budacki and picked up the win.  

The Presidents advanced to the NCAA Regionals and were placed in the Cortland, N.Y. pod. W&J fell 9-2 in the opening game against 25th ranked SUNY Cortland. Facing elimination, W&J bounced back with a 7-0 victory over Colby. Dante DiMatteo (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) went the distance on the mound, striking out 12. With a chance to advance to the title round of the regional, the Red and Black battled in a low-scoring affair with Cortland and claimed a 3-1 victory on the back of Ethan Marszalek (Katy, Texas/Seven Lakes) who finished off the second complete game of the day for the Presidents. W&J was eliminated in the title round by eighth-ranked Salve Regina, who eventually advanced to the Division III World Series semifinal.  

Four Presidents garnered All-Region status, Scout Zaas, Jacob LaDuca, Drew Garth, and Nolan Lutz. 

LaDuca was selected as the PAC Player of the Year while Mountain was named PAC Coach of the Year for a 12th time. W&J had six players earn All-PAC honors. 

Joining LaDuca on the First Team were first baseman Nolan Lutz, pitcher Anthony Pass, outfielder Scout Zaas, and designated hitter Drew Garth. Pitcher Dante DiMatteo was listed as an Honorable Mention. 
 

W&J – Players to Watch 

Mountain on the consistent success the program has shown through the years:  
"It's hard to maintain as everyone is getting better in the conference. It really comes down to the path that was laid by players years ago, and all subsequent upperclassmen setting a great tone of what expectations are when new players come into the program. Cohesion has been a huge piece of things within our team, and this needs to continue for us to have success. We have not lost a conference tournament game since 2018, and every senior class that has come through the last several years have played in a lot of postseason games (19 for this senior class in 3 years)." 

Team Captains: Dante DiMatteo, Drew Garth, Jacob LaDuca, Scout Zaas 

"The continued positivity and patience from Jacob and upbeat positivity from Drew will be pivotal as some of our leaders this season," said Mountain. "Having confident leadership from Dante and Scout who lead by example will also contribute to our efforts in 2025." 

Position by Position Breakdown 

"I'd like to prioritize getting off to a good start this year. We've traditionally been a team that improves as the year goes along, but it would be great to start fast and get better," said Mountain. "We've generally had a team of players that may not necessarily agree with their roles, but buy into them. This will need to continue for us to have success. It's a huge senior class, and they will need to be connected with each other to set a great tone for the team." 

Infield – W&J returns two players in the infield who have seen substantial starting experience in Jacob LaDuca and Josh Dezenzo (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington). 

In his third year leading the infield, LaDuca had his best season as a President batting .366 with 59 runs scored and 31 RBI. He led the team with 21 steals and finished the campaign with 18 extra base hits. LaDuca was awarded as the PAC Player of the Year and picked up his third All-PAC selection. His performance in the the postseason earned him his second consecutive PAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player. 

"Jacob makes a huge impact on every game with his strong defense and exceptional instincts," Mountain said. "He has shown rock solid consistency for 3.5 years." 

After emerging on the scene as a freshman, Dezenzo got off to a record-breaking start in 2024. Dezenzo had the performance of a lifetime against Muskingum on March 14, launching a school-record three home runs in a single game. Dezenzo lost much of his season due to injury but put together monstrous numbers in 85 plate appearances. Dezenzo launched six homers, slashed .455/.482/.831 (AVG/OBP/SLUG), and ripped nine doubles. 

"It is crazy to think what kind of numbers he would have put up if he stayed healthy," Mountain said of Dezenzo. "That will be the key for him." 

Sophomores Brendan Cruz (Carnegie, Pa./Chartiers Valley) and Brian Feldman (Gibsonia, Pa./Eden Christian Academy) will look to lock down the corners for the Presidents. Cruz picked up 15 starts at third base last season, playing stellar defense at the hot corner. Feldman spent time as a rotational starter and pinch hitter down the stretch last season for W&J. He put together excellent numbers in the limited sample, batting .400 with three homers in 45 at-bats. He will look to fill a hole at first base with the graduation of Lutz. Senior Eli Owens (Alexandria, Va./West Potomac) will also see time in the infield for W&J. 

Other returning players in the mix include Nate Hess (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny), Ben Schuler, Ryan Ross (Fredericktown, Pa./Beth-Center), Knox Meier (Tampa, Fla./Berkeley), Liam Sayer (Berwyn, Pa./Westtown School), and Drew Colaizzi (Washington, D.C./Jackson-Reed). Freshmen Jack Anderson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum), Rhys Arnold (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park), Tyson Leach (Middletown, Pa./Middletown), Owen Saiani (Indiana, Pa./Homer Center), Kody Carver (Wintersville, Ohio/Steubenville), and T.J. DeCapio (Chester, W.Va. / Madonna) will also add to the equation. 

Catcher – The Presidents enter 2025 with a bevy of catchers in the mix. W&J returns Brody Bartenstein (Corning, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) and Luke Alvarez (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) who both were in the rotation behind the plate last season. Carl Wagner (Honey Brook, Pa. / Westtown School) will look to make an impact after missing his freshman season due to injury. 

Freshmen Jack Anderson and Tommy Dietrich (Davidsonville, Md./DeMatha Catholic) will also look to make an impact behind the plate for W&J. 

"This is probably the deepest we have been back there in some time," Mountain said of his catcher group. "We are very happy with what we've seen from all the catchers to this point. It is a very fun group to work with." 

Outfielder – W&J returns its entire core group in the outfield heading into 2025 as Scout Zaas, Drew Garth, and Zac Stern all return in the outfield for the Presidents this season.  

Zaas and Garth will stay in the corners for W&J after putting up excellent performances in 2024. The duo were both All-PAC and All-Region selections last season for W&J. Zaas put together a slashline of .433/.506/.681, with an on-base plus slugging of 1.187, each of which led the conference. Zaas also ripped eight homers and drove in a team-high 43 runs. Garth had similar numbers, slashing .388/.493/.667, and led the PAC with 10 homers. Stern will hold it down in centerfield for W&J after a stellar freshman campaign. Stern started 31 games last season, batting .304 and ripping four homers and eight doubles. 

"All three of those guys were terrific last year," Mountain said of his starters. "None of them need to try to do too much." 

Eli Owens will also be in the mix in the outfield as a utility player for the Presidents. Owens will see time all over the field after appearing in 20 games last year.  

Andrew Miko (Portage, Pa./Portage Area) is another option for W&J after playing in 32 games (21 starts) last season. Miko batted .301 with an on-base percentage of .407 along with a home run. 

John Klein (Vienna, Va./Madison) has appeared in 93 games (23 starts) in his career at W&J. Klein has often served as a defensive substitution, but stepped up when called upon in 2024, batting .316 with 12 walks in 92 plate appearances. 

Meier, Paddy Hernjak (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley), Eli Kite (McKeesport, Pa./Serra Catholic), and Zach Scherzer (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) are among the returners, while Grant Wilharm (Weirton, W.Va./Madonna) comes in as a freshman. 

Pitcher – The Presidents will return much of its production among the pitching staff despite losing one of its most used relievers (Ethan Boring). W&J will look for some young pitchers to step up. 

After living in the ninth inning as the Presidents' closer, Dante DiMatteo led the team in strikeouts last season with 75 and held a 4.17 earned run average (ERA) over 58.1 innings in 13 appearances (9 starts). DiMatteo tossed a complete-game shutout in the 2024 NCAA regional victory over Colby. 

Ethan Marszalek made 13 appearances for the Presidents as well. Marszalek made seven starts and compiled 59 innings, while holding an impressive 3.51 ERA. Marszalek threw a complete game in the victory over Cortland in the 2024 NCAA regional. 

"What [Marszalek and DiMatteo] did in the regional last year shows what their ceilings are," Mountain said of the duo. "To combine to give up 1 run in 18 innings in that type of setting was amazing." 

Nate Nolan has accumulated 75 innings in 29 appearances through his first two seasons playing for W&J. Nolan made two appearances in the 2024 PAC Tournament where he tossed five scoreless innings, including four in the title round where Nolan picked up the win. 

Bobby Budacki stepped up late last season for W&J as a freshman. Budacki recorded four starts for W&J including the PAC Championship, where he allowed just two runs over five innings and set the Presidents up for the win. 

The Presidents will look to get production in the late innings from a trio of juniors as Justin Giarrusso (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum), Max Stanger (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph Collegiate), and Jake Stiehl (Reston, Va./South Lakes) will all look to be factor into the equation. Giarrusso held a 3.60 ERA over 20 innings for the Red and Black while Stiehl, who spends time in the field for W&J, put together a solid 2024 in limited action with a 3.18 ERA over 11.1 innings. Junior Ben Pierce (Bel Air, Md./John Carroll) missed the 2024 season due to injury and will look to build off a freshman campaign where he tossed 21.1 innings. 

Other pieces returning in the bullpen include Brandon Bastian (Barto, Pa./The Hill School), Thomas McLaren (Mars, Pa./Mars), and Brendan Cruz. 

Newcomers – The Presidents welcome 12 newcomers into the fold for the 2025 campaign. 

"Last year we had four freshmen start the last game of the season in the NCAA tournament, which is rare for us. None of them were day one starters but they improved steadily from September through May, and took advantage of opportunities," stated Mountain. "We are hopeful to get the same improvements from these newcomers throughout the season." 

Jack Anderson C/1B (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) 
Rhys Arnold INF (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) 
Kody Carver LHP/1B (Wintersville, Ohio/Steubenville Central Catholic) 
TJ Decapio INF (Chester, W. Va./Madonna) 
Tommy Dietrich C (Davidsonville, Md./DeMatha Catholic) 
Brady Dojonovic RHP (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) 
Ryan Lawler RHP (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley) 
Tyson Leach INF (Middletown, Pa./Middletown) 
Owen Saiani INF/RHP (Indiana, Pa./Homer-Center) 
Andrew Sokol LHP (Rostraver Township, Pa./Belle Vernon) 
Erik Streussnig RHP (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) 
Grant Wilharm OF/LHP (Weirton, W. Va./Madonna) 

Coaching Staff - W&J baseball enters their 23rd season under the direction of storied skipper, Jeff Mountain.  

"We have a helluva staff. Our players and assistants will tell you the best thing I can do is stay out of the way," stated Mountain. "I've missed some games over the years for various reason and I don't think we've ever lost when I've been away." 

Mountain has helped W&J win 12 Presidents' Athletic Conference baseball titles and the 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 squads earned spots in the NCAA Division III Tournament field. In addition, W&J secured the 2006 and 2007 ECAC Division III Tournament Championships in the postseason. 

Mountain, the all-time baseball coaching victories leader at Washington & Jefferson College, is the 36th head coach in program history. He holds a 638-307-2 record (.675). W&J has made 15 total postseason appearances (11 NCAA, 4 ECAC) under his direction. Among Division III head coaches, Mountain's winning percentage currently ranks 22th and his 638 wins ranks as 34th most. 

Mountain is also a 12-time Presidents' Athletic Conference Baseball Coach of the Year and two-time ABCA Mideast Regional Coach of the Year. 

Josh Crummer '19 returns for his sixth year on the coaching staff in 2025. After joining the W&J staff in August of 2019, he has helped the Presidents maintain its strong tradition of success.  

During his time on Coach Mountain's staff, W&J has recorded four PAC championships (2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024). Crummer will continue to head the direction of hitting and outfielders this season.  

"Coach Crummer has handled a large day-to-day workload well and continues to grow and get more comfortable," said Mountain. 

Rick Bubash returns for his seventh season as an assistant coach after joining the 2019 season. Bubash continues his role working with the infielders this coming season.  

"Coach Bubash is as good as it gets working with infielders," said Mountain. 

Sam Bashioum returns to the Presidents for his fourth season with the team since joining the staff in February of 2022. Bashioum serves as one of the team's pitching coaches and coached eight W&J pitchers to All-PAC honors since joining the staff.  

The Presidents welcome Ryan Shawley to the staff in 2025. Shawley enters the fold with W&J after serving as NCAA Division I Kent State Flashes' Director of Player Development and Assistant Pitching Coach. There, Shawley was a pivotal part of the pregame development of the Flashes pitching staff heading the scouting and analytical process prior to games, creating fluid evaluation documents and heading efforts on baseball specific analytical programs (Rapsodo, Yakertech, Synergy). 

"With Coach Shawley and Coach Bashioum we are just fortunate that their family situations brought them back to the Washington area," replied Mountain. "They are great people and teachers of the game." 

W&J also welcomes back volunteer coaches Tony Pascarella (Bench Coach), Jason Gregovits '22 and Peter Kalinski '22 (Catchers) for the 2025 campaign.  

"Coach Pascarella sees the big picture and in game situations as well as anyone," stated Mountain. "We are all lucky to have them around as much as they're around." 

Looking at the Schedule – W&J opens the season hosting the W&J Invitational which features No. 25 ranked Penn State Harrisburg and Scranton on Feb. 22-23. 

The nonconference slate continues facing key opponents with national recognition, No. 14 ranked Case Western Reserve and Keystone (receiving votes). The Presidents then travel to Florida to open their annual spring break trip at the RussMatt Invitational on Sunday (March 9).

PAC play opens on Saturday (March 22) against Geneva. Senior Day will be held in conjunction with a doubleheader against Bethany on Saturday (May 3). The six-team PAC Tournament will be held at W&J on May 7-10.   

"We try to attack every year the same. Challenging non-conference schedule and a goal to improve from the beginning of the season to the end. We are at a point where every year seasons that don't end with regional, super-regional, and world series victories and appearances are disappointing to some extent," stated Mountain. "Four of the last six times we've made the NCAA tournament we've won multiple games, and I believe in the 11 years we've made the tournament we've won games in 10 of them, so, the expectations are high every year." 

Final Word from Mountain - "Optimism is high. We have a lot back, but games aren't won on paper. Team chemistry and acceptance of roles have been huge keys for us in the past. We need to get to the point where they are as good as in past years. There are always ups and downs for any team throughout the course of the season. We will need to navigate through that and push through the challenges and inevitable struggles. Good health and player availability will be important."