By Chrissy Segrest
Elm Staff Writer
Finishing with one of the best records in Washington College history, the 2019 baseball team will be known for matching the 2012 school record of 28 wins in a season. Winning their last four games, the team has made a tremendous mark in the history books in just one year.
On Sunday, April 28, nine seniors were celebrated for their dedication and contributions to the program in a home game versus Haverford College. This senior class won 93 games in their careers, the most a class has won in WC baseball history.
The graduating Shoremen include TC Conrad, Matt Furlong, Billy Benson, Luke D’Ostilio, Dom Giandonato, Connor Morgan, Aaron Barclay, Jay Felts, and Nick Roberti.
“The best memory of playing for WC would be when we broke the record for most consecutive wins in school history,” sophomore pitcher Chris Lollo said. “It was an amazing feeling to be a part of that, and to be with this group of players was special.”
In 2019, WC baseball hit a winning streak of 14 to make a school record.
But first, on Tuesday, April 23, WC played Haverford College for the first time of the year. Morgan, Giandonato, sophomore Alex Bendzlowicz, freshmen Ethan Kile and Jonah Frankel all saw time on the mound.
The game started with Haverford gathering seven runs in the bottom of the second inning, and accumulating another one by the end of the third. The Shoremen couldn’t muster a run until the fourth, when junior Tommy Buckman went on to hit a double to score both D’Ostilio and sophomore Jack Kingman.
The only other run for the Shoremen came in the top of the sixth, when Barclay stole third base and then scored on an error from the catcher.
The next day, the Shoremen were at Lancaster Bible College, where they managed 20 runs for a 20-3 win over the Chargers.
Sophomore Ryan Mostoller got the win on the mound. In two innings he allowed no hits, no runs, had only one walk. He also managed four strikeouts.
Freshman Ben Ruvo had an impressive day, going 3-3 at the plate, highlighted with a triple, an runs batted in (RBI), and three runs.
Barclay hit .500 himself, with a homerun and a double. Freshman Joe Curtin went large and hit a grand slam.
“I think overall it was a really successful season,” Buckman said. “We broke a ton of team records and we have a lot to be proud of for what we did. Even though we didn’t make playoffs, we accomplished a lot as a program and moving forward I think we’ll be able to better prepare for the season and be able to do better in Conference play in the future.”
With their last away game on Saturday, April 27, WC swept Ursinus College in a double header. WC won the first game 6-4 and the second game a staggering 16-1.
Sophomore Mike Smith went the length, pitching six innings and only allowing two runs while gathering five strikeouts. On the day, sophomore Chris Baker went 5-11, belting three home runs, gathering five RBI’s two runs, and two steals. With the 6-4 win in game one, Head Coach Cory Beddick gathered his 100th career victory.
For their last game of the season, the team played in Athey Park with a 5-2 win over Haverford College for a senior day victory.
WC used five senior pitchers in the game. Benson got the win, going 5.2 innings, gathering only three hits, two runs, and one walk. Roberti made an appearance, as did Furlong, Morgan, and Giandonato. Benson was named the Goose Nation TV Shoremen Player of the Game for the first time in his career.
Junior Ryan Zweir finished the season with eight homeruns, while D’Ostiliio finished his career with 142 hits.