Baseball has "quality depth" with veterans, young players

"We are in a better place than when we took over," he said. "We had eight players in the preseason that first year and two basketball players came in to give us 10.  We brought in 26 players in the first recruiting class to get the numbers up, and we have brought in 15-20 since.  We are going after higher-caliber players now."

Going after quality instead of quantity has meant there is talent all over for Fayette, and a strong group of upperclassmen that were the foundation for what Sikorski and his staff are trying to do will lead the way.

Senior Ross Mazer (Frostburg, MD/Salisbury-Elk Lick HS) and junior Matt Morgan (Eighty-Four, PA/Ringgold HS) are in at least their fourth year in the program and will be looked at for veteran leadership.  Other seniors joining Mazer include Garrett Stevenson (Hempfield, PA/Hempfield HS), Noah Hansen (New Kensington, PA/Kiski Area HS) and TJ Lux (West Newton, PA/Yough HS).

The experienced nucleus is being joined by a talented freshman class that includes high school teammates Nate Zimcosky (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands HS) and Kaleb Scott (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands HS) as well as Kade Musgrove (Connellsville, PA/Connellsville HS), among others.

When discussing the team and the depth of the roster, Sikorski listed several players at each position, and many players have a chance to see time at different positions.

One position that is locked up is as the ace of the pitching staff, and Stevenson is the choice.

"He is one of our top guys and is a solid, dependable kid," Sikorski said. "He has a good mentality and is a go-getter."

Hansen, a southpaw, is in his second year with the team and currently has the inside track as the number-two pitcher.

Several other players are looking to fill out the starting rotation, and those who don't, will be a strength in a deep bullpen.

The group includes junior Trevor Stewart (Grindstone, PA/Brownsville HS), PSU New Kensington junior transfer Chris Rendulic (Port Vue, PA/South Allegheny HS), Musgrove, sophomore lefty Joe Sager (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park HS), sophomore Jorge Palmas (Upper St. Clair, PA/Upper St. Clair HS), sophomore Cory Fleming (Monessen, PA/Monessen HS) and sophomore Dylan Bohna (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands HS).

"We have several young guys who will be battling for the final two starting spots," Sikorski said. "Scott will be our closer and he has a bulldog mentality."

Morgan returns as the starting catcher but Scott, freshman Cade Warrick (Mill Run, PA/Connellsville HS) and sophomore Anthony DellaPenna (Brownsville, PA/Beth-Center HS) fill out a talented quartet behind the plate.

Hansen returns at first base while Warrick, Musgrove, freshman Pat Minda (Elizabeth, PA/Elizabeth Forward HS) and sophomore Nik Gibson (Uniontown, PA/Uniontown HS) are vying for time.

Stevenson, Mazur, freshman Andrew Despot (Moon, PA/Moon HS) and Bochna are at second, Gibson and Minda are at third while freshman Nate Zimcosky (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands HS), Rendulic and Stewart are the shortstops.

"Nate is one of our biggest pieces this year, if not the biggest," Sikorski said of the newcomer.

Lux is the only lock in the outfield, and he will man center while left field and right field are up in the air.

Battling to win the corner positions include Musgrove, junior Kyle Ridley (Dunbar, PA/Connellsville HS), sophomore Alex Gesk (Uniontown, PA/Laurel Highlands HS), freshman Creed Potkul (Fairchance, PA/Albert Gallatin HS), Bohna, Minda and Warrick.

Sikorski spoke about the expectations that he and his staff have for this year's team.

"We need to go out, compete and finish games," he said. "We had trouble closing out games (two years ago) despite having some of the bigger teams on the ropes.  We want to play as a team, rely on each other and have trust.  If we play routine baseball, we will finish games and if we do this, we will be in a good place."

Penn State DuBois, the two-time defending United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) small college World Series champions, are once again the Penn State University Athletic Conference favorites and Penn State Greater Allegheny is also expected to be near the top.  Fayette and Penn State Mont Alto are considered the next tier and Sikorski knows the current pandemic situation has teams scrambling.

"We have to hit the ground running with the short practice sessions and there hasn't been a lot of time to get going," he said. "We will find out a lot this weekend and will know which players will be where when we come back."

Fayette opens with a double header Saturday at Penn State York and then it heads to Penn State New Kensington Sunday.

For more on the Penn State Fayette baseball team, go to https://www.psfathletics.com/sports/bsb/index.