Winning Season for Baseball in 2024
5/29/24
Despite losing in the East District Championship, MCCC baseball has a lot to hang their hats on for the 2024 season, including the Region 19 Championship title.
Sophomores Torin McKenzie (Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham) and Joe Gmitter (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) each got their 100th career hits this season. Freshman pitcher Collin Williams (Newtown, PA/Council Rock North) threw a no-hitter in a win at Cecil in April. In just his second season as Head Coach, Russ Stupienski led the Vikings to the Region 19 title and was named the Region 19 DII Coach of the Year.
The Vikings had an explosive offense that finished the 2024 season with a .323 batting average, which was 25th best in NJCAA Division II baseball. Mercer scored 462 runs in 57 games and had 35 home runs. The Vikings had seven players hit .300 or better for the season.
McKenzie led Mercer with 73 hits and Gmitter led the team in RBIs, with 55 on the season. Sophomore Ryan Ulisse (Columbus, NJ/Holy Cross) led the team with 10 home runs. McKenzie had a .378 batting average, 60 runs and 49 RBIs. Gmitter batted .356 on the season, finishing with 62 hits and 46 runs.
Freshman Jake Pope (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) had the highest batting average on the team at .402 and finished his rookie season with 66 hits. Sophomore Bannon Brazell (Vienna, VA/James Madison HS) hit .368 and had 46 hits in 41 games this spring. Sophomore Wyatt Baker (Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham) hit .388 this spring with 45 hits.
Freshman Slade Harrill (New Eygpt, NJ/Allentown) had a .333 batting average along with 33 hits and 29 RBIs. Freshman Joey Socorro (West Deptford, NJ/West Deptford) also hit above .300, finishing with a .313 average and 21 hits in 30 games.
The Vikings also got strong contributions from freshman Shane Hickey (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) who hit .290 and finished with 45 runs, 42 hits and 39 RBIs. Sophomore Ulisse had 49 RBIs and 45 hits.
The Vikings also had a strong pitching rotation. Freshman Matteo Mannino (Wrightstown, NJ/Northern Burlington) finished his rookie season with a 7-2 record, placing him in the top 50 in NJCAA Division II baseball. Sophomore reliever Ryan Conover (Hamilton, NJ/Notre Dame) had eight saves this season, which was eighth best in NJCAA Division II baseball. Williams averaged an impressive 11.97 strikeouts per game.
Sophomore relief pitcher Ryan Mignogna (Ewing, NJ/Notre Dame) had a 3.03 ERA and 33 strikeouts this spring. Williams had a 3.03 ERA. Sophomore pitcher Colin Bernhard (Florence, NJ/Florence Twp. Memorial) had four wins and finished with a 4.23 ERA. Sophomore pitcher Dyllon King (Old Saybrook, CT/Cheshire Academy) had 33 strikeouts on the season in 42.1 innings pitched.
Although the season didn’t end the way the Vikings wanted, there is plenty to be proud of. Many Vikings contributed to the team’s success, not just a few players and the Vikings did win the Region 19 title. The Vikings finished with a 34-23 record and with 12 more wins than the 2023 season.
For the latest on Vikings’ baseball, visit: https://www.mccc.edu/athletics_men_baseball.shtml
The Vikings won the Region 19 Championship
Torin McKenzie led the Vikings with 73 hits
Joe Gmitter had 66 hits and 55 RBIs this spring
Freshman pitcher Matteo Mannino went 7-2 this season
Relief pitcher Ryan Conover was named the Region 19 Tournament MVP and Head Coach Russ Stupienski was named the Region 19 Coach of the Year
Freshman pitcher Collin William threw a no-hitter vs Cecil in April