Category: Apprentice

Apprentice Claims USCAA Coaching Staff of the Year Award

DUBOIS, Pa. – The Apprentice School baseball coaching staff highlighted the USCAA Awards Sunday afternoon at the awards banquet ahead of the Small College World Series.

The staff, comprised of Ben Jones, Chris Scarola, John McConnell and Cam Weston, was named Coaching Staff of the Year, marking the first time the program won the honor since the 2018 season when Bryan Cave won Coach of the Year.

Additionally, four Builders earned All-American honors. Pitchers Brayden Hayes, Nick Redman and Grant Stratton earned first team honors after leading the pitching staff to numerous top marks in the USCAA. Outfielder Jaeden Anderson was named to the second team after leading the team at the plate all season. Anderson, Aiden Henry and Chase Mytrysak earned All-Academic honors.

The Builders open up the Small College World Series Monday afternoon at 4 p.m.

Story and image courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics

Apprentice Claims #2 Seed in USCAA Small College World Series

PITTSBURGH – The Apprentice School baseball team will be the No. 2 seed in next week’s USCAA Small College World Series as they look to win their fourth national title in program history.

The Builders head into the tournament with a 35-5 overall record, the most wins and best winning percentage in the country. They will take on the winner of seventh-seeded Central Maine CC, the YSCC champions, and 10th-seeded Central Penn Monday at 4 p.m. at Showers Field in DuBois, Pennsylvania.

Defending national champion Salem is the top seed in the tournament. Penn State Mont Alto, winners of the PSUAC, claimed the third seed, while host Penn State DuBois is seeded fifth. United States Sports University will make their first appearance at the SCWS as the No. 4 seed. Miami Hamilton is No. 6, and Cincinnati-Clermont and Florida National will play in the No. 8 vs. No. 9 game to start the tournament Monday.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics; image courtesy Kaitlyn Olson @shotsbyk8lyn

Hernandez, Hayes Lead All-Conference Selections

Millennia Atlantic’s Sergio Hernandez and Apprentice’s Brayden Hayes lead the 2026 New South Athletic Conference All-Conference Team as Hitter/Fielder and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, as selected by the league coaches.

Hernandez, from Venezuela and in his second season with the Macaws, put up impressive numbers with 42 hits in 97 at bats (.433 BA) including 28 doubles, 3 triples, 2 homers, 26 RBIs and 34 runs scored.

Hayes anchored the pitching staff for the Builders. The freshman righty from Warsaw, Virginia had an eye-catching 1.65 ERA and an 8-0 record in 13 appearances and 55 innings.

Congratulations to the entire squad!

FIRST TEAM

  • Sergio Hernandez, Millennia Atlantic, Hitter of the Year
  • Brayden Hayes, Apprentice, Pitcher of the Year
  • Brandon Willaims, Lighthouse
  • Jassiel Valbuena, Atlantis
  • Jaeden Anderson, Apprentice
  • Matthew Lopez, Atlantis
  • Titus Bleckly, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Matthew Sobrino, Atlantis
  • Ethan Lopez, Lighthouse
  • Preston Branzelle, Virginia State
  • Rodrigo Ruiz, Millennia Atlantic
  • Adrian Astidillo, Atlantis
  • Trevor Walker, Lighthouse
  • Colin Langley, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Pablo Contreras, Millennia Atlantic
  • Hagen Marse, Lighthouse
  • Norman Jackson, Virginia State
  • Jackson Thomas, Apprentice

SECOND TEAM

  • Seth Harrison, Apprentice
  • Grant Stratton, Apprentice
  • Antonio Boone, Virginia State
  • Landon Turner, Apprentice
  • Cutter Williams, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Jacquan Tucker, Virginia State
  • Nate Yeary, Apprentice
  • Victor Velasquez, Millennia Atlantic
  • Travis Knowles, Atlantis
  • Patrick Tavarez, Millennia Atlantic
  • Jose Ruiz-Galves, Atlantis
  • Jordan Luckie, Lighthouse
  • Chris Pinales, Millennia Atlantic
  • Jamarkus Jefferson, Lighthouse
  • Gavin Stevens, Virginia State
  • Landen Miller, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • RJ Cabrera, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Lennox Munoz, Millennia Atlantic

Builders Sweep Trojans to Wrap Up Regular Season

ETTRICK, Va. – The Apprentice School baseball team wrapped up its New South Athletic Conference schedule with a three-game sweep of Virginia State this weekend. The fourth game of the weekend set was canceled due to inclement weather Saturday.

GAME 1 – AS 10, VSU 2
The Builders scored 10 straight runs to start off the weekend series. Seth Harrison’s sacrifice fly in the first got things going before AS added two in the second. Jaeden Anderson singled before Nate Yeary got a RBI groundout to make the score 3-0.

The third inning is where Apprentice did much of its work. Landon Turner started the scoring with a RBI single before Issac McCallister and Anderson both had RBI groundouts. That was after Turner scored on a throwing error by the Trojans.

Yeary again brought home another run in the fifth on a single to stretch the lead to 8-0 before Turner scored in the sixth and Austin Wert singled in the seventh to make it 10-0.

The Trojans added two in the final frame to get to the final score.

GAME 2 – AS 7, VSU 6 (8 inn.)
Again, the Builders were first to the scoreboard, scoring a trio in the second. Winslow started it with a RBI single, setting up McCallister and Yeary for RBI singles as well to make it 3-0. VSU answered with four stright runs, all in the third inning to take their first lead of the weekend.

Apprentice answered in the fifth on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Harrison, but again the Trojans put more on the board in the bottom of the inning, scoring two to retake the lead at 6-4.

With their backs against the wall, Winslow came through with a bases-loaded single to tie the game in the seventh before Turner got a RBI single in the eighth to take the lead, giving Grant Stratton the ball to shut the door in the bottom of the inning.

GAME 3 – AS 4, VSU 3
The final game of the series started the same as the first two: Builders putting first runs on the scoreboard. Bradshaw got a RBI groundout in the second to mark the only run scored before the fifth inning.

In the fifth, Yeary broke through with a RBI single to stretch the lead to 2-0, but VSU answered in the sixth with a RBI double to tie it up. The Builders came back in the seventh with a run on a fielder’s choice and a Lucca Pascarella RBI single to take a 4-3 lead and did just enough to keep the Trojans from tying the game up in the bottom of the inning to get the sweep.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics; image courtesy Kaitly Olson @shotsbyk8lyn

Apprentice Defeats MACU Twice to Finish Season Series

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – The Apprentice School baseball team finished off its season series against Mid-Atlantic Christian with a doubleheader sweep Tuesday afternoon, making the Builders 7-1 against their rivals this season.

GAME 1 – AS 11, MACU 0 (6 inn.)
The Builders got things going in the second inning when Lucca Pascarella singled in the first run of the game in his first start in nearly two months. AS doubled its lead in the fourth when Landon Turner snagged third and scored on a throwing error.

The offense really came alive in the fifth and sixth innings. Jackson Thomas and Pascarella each brought home two runs in the fifth on a single and double, respectively. Seth Harrison and Landon Turner doubled and tripled, respectively, in the sixth to score the final five runs of the game.

Brayden Hayes improved to 9-0 on the year with seven strikeouts, allowing just one hit.

GAME 2 – AS 9, MACU 4
MACU was first to the scoreboard in the second game of the day, scoring a pair in the second before the Builders tied it up in the third on another throwing error by the home team, allowing Baker Green and Jaeden Anderson to score after the former stole second to start the play.

After the Mustangs added two more in the fourth on another pair of singles, the Builder bats came alive in the sixth, starting with a Nate Yeary bases loaded double before Jordan Higgins hit a sacrifice fly to take a 5-4 lead. After Yeary came home on a wild pitch, Turner also hit a sacrifice fly to take a 7-4 advantage.

The Builders put insurance up in the seventh as McCallister and Yeary scored on wild pitches to get to the final score.

Charley Higginbotham (5-2) got the win in relief, tossing a one-hit inning.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics; image courtesy Kaitly Olson @shotsbyk8lyn

Baseball All-Academic Team Announced

The New South Athletic Conference proudly recognizes the outstanding achievements of its student-athletes with the announcement of the 2026 Baseball All-Academic Team.

“This year’s honorees exemplify the conference’s commitment to excellence both on the field and in the classroom,” said commissioner Mike Davis. “Each student-athlete recognized has demonstrated a high level of academic success while competing at a high level in intercollegiate baseball, balancing the demands of athletics with a strong dedication to their studies.

The conference commends these individuals for their discipline, work ethic, and commitment to representing their institutions with integrity. Their accomplishments reflect the core values of the NSAC and serve as a model for future student-athletes.”

Each team member carries a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Congratulations to all members of the 2026 NSAC Baseball All-Academic Team on this well-earned recognition.

2026 NSAC Baseball All-Academic Team

THE APPRENTICE SCHOOL

  • Jaeden Anderson
  • Justin Bradshaw
  • Sean Condon
  • Baker Green
  • Aiden Henry
  • Isaac McCallister
  • Chase Mytrysak
  • Grant Stratton
  • Landon Turner
  • Jett Winslow

ATLANTIS UNIVERSITY

  • Travis Knowles
  • Walter Mamarella
  • Daniel Zayas
  • Matthew Sobrino
  • Romel Guerrero

LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

  • Clay Allen
  • Trevor Medlin
  • Jamarkus Jefferson
  • Carlos Brown
  • Brandon Williams
  • Trey Hughes

MID-ATLANTIC CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

  • AJ Bailey
  • Titus Bleckley
  • RJ Cabrera
  • Aidan Guise
  • Dakota Inman
  • Landen Miller
  • Evan Price
  • Markell Simmons
  • Tristan Stinson

MILLENNIA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY

  • Erick Garcia
  • Dylan Diaz
  • Sebastian Gomez
  • Macintyre Askins
  • Isaac Martinez
  • Aden Edwards
  • Nick Sparafora
  • Victor Velasquez
  • Alejandro Contreras
  • Pablo Contreras
  • Chris Sanchez

VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY

  • Alexander Dayle
  • Luka Gilliam
  • Charles Jones
  • Gene Ligon
  • Joshua Mahan
  • Jerry Mitchell
  • DeCarlos Nora
  • Ralph Riviere
  • Nyle Shewmake
  • Jaquan Tucker
  • Julis Turner
  • Jaron Ward
  • Samuel Young
  • Antonio Boone

Apprentice Quiets Camp on Senior Day

HAMPTON, Va. – The Apprentice School baseball team scored early to put the game away Tuesday as they took down Camp CC 10-2 on Senior Day.

The Builders put up three runs in the bottom of the first, scoring on a Seth Harrison RBI single, a Jett Winslow RBI single and a Hurricane error to take an early 3-0 lead.

Two more unearned runs came across in the fourth before another three spot in the fifth. The Builders loaded the bases up as Jaeden Anderson took a walk, Nate Yeary got an RBI groundout and Baker Green scored on a wild pitch to stretch the lead to 8-0.

After an Isaac McCallister RBI single in the sixth, the Hurricanes finally scratched a pair on a two-run homer in the eight, but the Builders got one of them back on a McCallister infield single to get to the final score.

Brayden Hayes was credited the win with three innings of work, fanning five. Nick Redman got the start and went two scoreless and struck out two.

Prior to the game, Yeary, Anderson, Winslow, Redman, McCallister, Justin Bradshaw and Aiden Henry were all honored as the senior class of 2026.

The Builders will jump back into NSAC play next week in a Tuesday twinbill with MACU starting at noon on the road.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics; image courtesy Kaitlyn Olson @shotsbyk8lyn

Builders Sweep Weekend Series Over Trojans

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The Apprentice School completed a four-game weekend sweep of Virginia State University on Saturday, using a blend of explosive offense and timely pitching to control the series.

The Builders opened Friday with a 4-2 victory, capitalizing on early runs and a four-run third inning to set the tone. Virginia State answered with late offense, but Apprentice pitching closed the door.

The second game quickly turned into a rout. Apprentice erupted for 10 runs in the first inning and rolled to a 15-0 win, highlighted by multiple extra-base hits and a three-RBI double from Nate Yeary.

Saturday’s games were tighter, but the outcome remained the same. Apprentice edged the Trojans 4-2 in the opener behind steady run production and controlled pitching.

In the finale, the Builders completed the sweep with a 5-4 win, scoring in five different innings and holding off a late Virginia State push.

Across the series, Apprentice (23-4 overall, 9-1 NSAC) consistently struck early and forced Virginia State (8-9, 0-4) into mistakes, outscoring the Trojans 28-8 over four games. The sweep extended the Builders’ winning streak and reinforced their position atop the conference standings.

Image courtesy Kaitlyn Olson @shotsbyk8lyn

Apprentice Takes Three from St. Vincent, Improves to 14-2

HAMPTON, Va. – The Apprentice School baseball team took three of four this weekend from Saint Vincent, splitting a Friday twinbill before winning both halves of Saturday’s doubleheader.

The Builders won the first game of the series Friday afternoon by a 4-2 final score. After the Bearcats jumped out in front in the top of the first, Justin Bradshaw tied the game up with a RBI single before Apprentice took the lead in the fourth on a Jaeden Anderson RBI single. Jackson Thomas brought home the final two runs for the Builders in the fifth on a single as well.

Nick Redman (5-0) got the win, striking out seven over six innings, while Grant Stratton shut the door in the seventh to earn his third save.

SVC got their revenge in the second half of Friday’s twinbill, winning 6-5, despite a late comeback attempt from Apprentice. The Bearcats scored four in the third to take the lead, but the Builders got one back in the fourth on a Jett Winslow RBI single. After single runs in the fifth and sixth stretched the lead to 6-1, Apprentice took advantage of walks and errors by SVC to score four runs. The Bearcats went to their closer, though, who struck out the final two batters of the game to get the win.

The Builders bounced back on Saturday with a sweep of SVC to earn the series win. The day started with a 5-0 win that saw all five runs come across in the first two innings. All three runs scored in the first inning came via bases loaded walks, while Isaac McCallister got a RBI single, followed by a Landon Turner sacrifice fly in the second to score the runs.

Charley Higginbotham (3-1) was near perfect on the bump, going the complete seven, allowing just four hits and a walk while fanning three.

The series win came in a 10-5 win in the nightcap. SVC scored two in the top of the first, but the Builders answered immediately with a Seth Harrison sacrifice fly followed by a Winslow two RBI single to take the lead. After the Bearcats tied it in the top of the second, Nate Yeary and Anderson had back-to-back sacrifice flies to retake the lead at 5-3. Four more Builder runs came across in the third, three of which were on bases loaded walks, before Drew Barbosa pushed the final Builder run across on a RBI groundout.

The Builders move to 14-2 on the season and now head to Myrtle Beach this week for a five-game week against Cincinnati-Clermont, Colby-Sawyer and NHTI.

Story courtesy Walker McCrary/Apprentice Athletics; image courtesy Kaitlyn Olson @shotsbyk8lyn

Championship Day is Upon Us!

WILSON, N.C. – John Melvin (LA) got a walk-off double to defeat Apprentice 11-10 Friday and earn its way into Saturday’s NSAC Baseball Championship game.

The top-seeded Millers gave up seven runs in the second inning and appeared doomed to enter the losers bracket but methodically clawed its way back into the game, sealing it in the seventh.

Lighthouse Christian, John Melvin (FL) and Mid-Atlantic Christian were eliminated on Friday. Virginia State and Apprentice will meet Saturday morning at 10:30 Eastern for the chance to advance to the title game against JMU.

Livestream for all games is available at wilsontobs.com.