Category: Salem

Salem, MACU to Meet in Small College World Series First Round

Two New South teams will square off on the first day of competition in this year’s USCAA World Series Baseball Tournament.

Mid-Atlantic Christian was seeded seventh by the USCAA on Sunday afternoon, but had to wait until Monday to learn its opponent. After a dramatic win to take home the NSAC crown on Sunday evening, the Salem baseball team came off the bubble and was tabbed as the #10 seed to face the Mustangs. First pitch will be at 2:45 PM on Monday, March 15th.

The USCAA World Series features the top 10 USCAA programs from across the country and is hosted in Dubois, Pennsylvania. The Tigers defeated the Mustangs in their only meeting this season, 17-2, on Saturday of the NSAC Tournament in Ettrick, Virginia.

Image courtesy salemtigers.com/Chris Waugaman

Salem Wins Four Straight to Take NSAC Title

After falling into the losers bracket with a loss to Virginia State on Friday, Salem bounced back with four straight wins on Saturday and Sunday to claim the New South Athletic Conference baseball title.

On Saturday, the Tigers slipped past Apprentice 5-4 and manhandled Mid-Atlantic Christian 17-2 to advance into Sunday’s finals, where they needed two wins over the host Trojans to take the trophy to West Virginia.

In Sunday’s game one, the Tigers opened up the scoring when Tyler Shinn had two RBI’s from a single and a sacrifice fly out bringing home Luis Angarita twice. Salem scored again in the 7th and 8th inning thanks to sacrificed fly outs from Angarita and Jacob Hurley which allowed Jose Lojo and Hayes Lightsey to score. In the 9th inning, five total runs were scored by a double from Hurley and a single from Aaron Forbes. This took the final score to 10-0 giving that Frankie Gulko and Tyler Salmons a scoreless game with 10 strikeouts between the two.

In the second game of the day, Virginia State came out of the gates strong scoring three runs in the 1st inning and two in the 2nd. Salem answered this by scoring three runs in the 3rd inning when Kaiden Zacharias doubled down the right field line earning 2 RBI’s and bringing home Angarita and Forbes. Shinn then singled up the middle scoring Zacharias. In the 8th inning the Tigers scored another three, Shinn ran home on an error, a sacrifice fly out from Forbes bought home Lightsey and Brett Ehr scored on a sacrificed bunt. In the last inning Ben Matos walked with the bases loaded, allowing Nathan Kuhn to score the walk off run and Salem the 7-6 win.

Congratulations, Salem Tigers!

Story and image courtesy salemtigers.com

Trojans, Tigers Advance to Sunday Championship

ETTRICK, VA – Joseph Hastings was absolutely dominant on the mound Saturday afternoon as he allowed just one hit and a walk through seven innings to lead Virginia State to a 3-1 victory over Mid-Atlantic Christian University and a berth to the New South Athletic Conference Championship on Sunday.

Hastings struck out six batters and took a no-hitter bid into the sixth inning before surrendering his first and only hit of the game. At the plate, the Trojans generated just enough offense, especially with Ricky Jones two-RBI single through the left side in the fourth.

The Trojans’ overall record improves to 21-27 and will play in the championship game of the NSAC Tournament at 1 p.m.

The Trojans avoided disaster in the bottom of the seventh to secure their place in the title game. A catcher’s interference call on the Trojans led to the bases being loaded with no outs. Avante Banks recorded the first out by catching a popup foul ball and Virginia State completed a very close double play (shortstop to second to first) to win the game. The Trojans are defending conference champions for a reason and Hastings and the defense showed why in the half-inning.

The four combined runs in this game all came in the fourth inning.

Virginia State led the inning off with four consecutive singles from Norman Jackson, Liam Simpson, Ricky Jones, and Dawsyn Hock. Jones scored Jackson and Simpson with his single and Hock’s hit up the middle brought Jones home.

The lone Mustang run was caused by a lone Trojans’ fielding error in the outfield that resulted in the runner advancing to third base and scoring on the next at-bat.

The Trojans are a win away from earning their second consecutive NSAC Championship.

After a tough loss on Friday evening, Salem had its work cut out in the elimination round. The Tigers faced off with the Builders of the Apprentice School, and picked up a dramatic 5-4 win. That win earned them a contest with the Mustangs of Mid-Atlantic Christian, and Salem ran away with that one with a dominant 17-2 victory.

The two wins today have earned the Tigers a spot in the NSAC Championship and a rematch with the Virginia State Trojans at 1 p.m. Sunday. Should Salem win, tht will force a second and deciding game starting 30 minutes after the close of the first game.

Story content and image courtesy govsutrojans.com and salemtigers.com

Hammond, Redman Lead All-NSAC Team

VSU’s Tahraun Hammond

Virginia State’s Tahraun Hammond and Apprentice’s Nick Redman have been selected as the New South Conference Baseball Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, respectively, to lead the All-Conference voting.

Hammond, a sophomore shortstop from Tappahannock, Virginia, enters the conference tournament batting .322 with 37 hits, 32 runs, 16 RBIs and 34 BBs. He also pitched 59.2 innings with a 3-2 record and four saves.

Apprentice’s Nick Redman

Redman, a freshman leftie from New Kent, Virginia, has a sparkling 8-1 record in 13 appearances with 64.2 innings on the mound. Nick has given up only 16 earned runs for an ERA of 2.23 and 84 strikeouts (11.69 per game).

Congratulations to Tahraun, Nick, and all the members of the 2023 NSAC All-Conference Team!

First Team

  • Tahraun Hammond, SS, Virginia State — Player of the Year
  • Nick Redman, LHP, Apprentice — Pitcher of the Year
  • Alex Miller, OF, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Hunter Johnson, INF, Apprentice
  • Caleb Whitley, OF, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Ricky Jones, OF, Virginia State
  • Nathan Kuhn, OF, Salem
  • Jalyn Lee, INF, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Riggs Ellis, INF, Apprentice
  • Colin Langley, P/C, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Sam Schmitt, LHP, Salem

Second Team

  • Luis Angarita, 2B, Salem
  • Joe Hastings, P, Virginia State
  • Jaryd Lund, LHP, Salem
  • Bryce Post, RHP, Apprentice
  • Liam Simpson, LF, Virginia State
  • Travis Snell, OF, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Anthony Torres, MIF, Mid-Atlantic Christian
  • Camden Weston, SS, Apprentice
  • Nate Yeary, CF, Apprentice
  • Kaiden Zacharias, 1B/OF, Salem

NSAC Honors 2023 Baseball All-Academics

Each season, the New South Conference is proud to recognize its student-athletes who excel in both the classroom and the field. The following young men have all achieved at least a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4-point scale while also displaying excellence on the diamond.

“This is my favorite award,” said NSAC commissioner Mike Davis. “Athletic achievement is hard enough, but it’s compounded when combined with the rigors of academics. I’m proud to say that our member schools do not sacrifice one for the other.”

The 2023 New South Athletic Conference Baseball All-Academic Team:

The Apprentice School

  • Jack Daszkowski
  • Thomas Ellis
  • Logan Mize
  • Matthew Phoebus
  • Bryce Post
  • Jake Sanchez-Tiller
  • Braxton Wallace
  • Kyle Whitlock
  • Tyler Winegrad

Mid-Atlantic Christian University

  • Titus Bleckley
  • Bobby Brown
  • Josiah Collado
  • Drew Copeland
  • Trey Dail
  • Riane Franklin
  • Aidan Guise
  • Sean Henry
  • Giovanny Mendez
  • Landen Miller
  • Ryan Mitchell
  • Jamel Moss
  • Anthony Torres
  • Syler White

Salem University

  • Max Atkinson
  • Jacob Barcikowski
  • Evan Bell
  • Liam Conway
  • Tommy Downey
  • Brett Her
  • Memphis Elliott
  • Chase George
  • Frankie Gulko
  • Tyler Gump
  • Alex Harper
  • Gavin Hissam
  • Trey Hissam
  • Ryan Hopping
  • Jackson Hutchison
  • Zach Kendall
  • Nathan Kuhn
  • Travis Lavendier
  • Jaxon Lehr
  • Hayes Lightsey
  • Jose Lojo
  • Jordan Mosley
  • Adlai Muench
  • Haidyn Norman
  • Keegan Oliver
  • Gabe Ross
  • Tyler Sammons
  • Sam Schmitt
  • Ben Sitarenios
  • Tyler Shinn
  • Keith Wallace
  • Kaiden Zacharias

Virginia State University

  • Rahzel Atkinson
  • Avante Banks
  • Thomas Chandler
  • Justis Crawley
  • Alexander Dayle
  • Tahraun Hammond
  • Joseph Hastings
  • Dawsyn Hock
  • Aldrewvonte Jackson
  • Norman Jackson
  • Ricky Jones
  • David Johnson
  • Gene Ligon
  • Ryan Messer
  • Jody Morris

Salem Sweeps VSU, Earns Top Seed for NSAC Tournament

NUTTER FORT, W.V. – The Salem baseball team played host to the Trojans of Virginia State for a 4-game weekend series at Frank Loria Memorial Field in Nutter Fort. The Tigers also took the opportunity to celebrate the graduating team members with Senior Day festivities ahead of Sunday’s matchups, and they celebrated with style as they beat the Trojans in all four weekend contests, and in the process secured the top seed in the upcoming New South Baseball Tournament.

The teams battled both their opponents and some wet conditions for Sunday’s matchups. In Game 3 of the weekend, Salem starter Alden Halfinger got the win with 5 innings of work with 7 strikeouts while allowing just 2 Trojan hits in a 3-1 victory.

Salem uncorked its strongest offensive outing of the weekend in the final contest when the Tigers plated 5 runs in the fifth inning, cruising to an 8-2 win.

Salem ends is conference schedule at 6-0, earning the Tigers the top seed in the NSAC Baseball Tournament beginning Friday, May 5 in Petersburg, Virginia.

Conference regular season play will conclude on Tuesday when Apprentice hosts VSU for a doubleheader.

Story and image courtesy Salem athletics

Tigers Take Two from Trojans

NUTTER FORT, W.V.- Saturday’s doubleheader between Virginia State and Salem University featured one-score games entering the sixth inning but the Tigers pulled away  to secure a pair of wins over the visiting Trojans.

In the first game, Virginia State found themselves trailing 5-4 entering the sixth inning before the Salem added three runs as insurance. In the second game, the Tigers struck sixth inning magic again, flipping a 4-2 Trojans lead into a 5-4 Salem victory.

Salem improves to 23-24 overall and 4-0 in the NSAC, while the Trojans drop to 18-24 and 1-7. The two teams will face off in another doubleheader Sunday afternoon.

Story and image courtesy govsutrojans.com

Tigers’ Schmitt Named Pitcher of the Week

Salem pitcher Sam Schmitt chalked 13 strikeouts and allowed only 4 hits as the Tigers took down Mansfield 5-0 last week, earning Schmitt Pitcher of the Week honors from the New South Conference.

The sophomore leftie from Traverse City, Michigan got a 7-inning complete game win in shutting out the Mounties.

Congratulations to Sam Schmitt, our Pitcher of the Week!

Image courtesy Salem Athletics

Salem Hangs Tough in Weekend Series with Mansfield

On Friday and Saturday the Salem Tigers played two doubleheaders against Mansfield University. Salem managed to split the first two Friday games against the Mountaineers, dropping the opening game of the series 6-2, but they made an impressive comeback in game 2 with a 5-0 win. Day 2 was just as competitive with the Tigers only going down 3-2, then taking a 4-1 loss in the second game.

Story courtesy salemtigers.com/Image courtesy Erin Zappia/Salem Athletics

Three NSAC Teams in National Rankings

New South Athletic Conference baseball squads are getting recognized nationally for their work on the diamond.

Defending Small College World Series champion Apprentice School is ranked third in the first USCAA baseball poll of the season, behind only Miami-Hamilton and Bucks County. Mid-Atlantic Christian rounds out the poll at number 15, with Salem bubbling just under the radar.

Virginia State is currently ranked fifth in the Black College Nines’ Top 10 Poll.