Senior catcher John DeMucci is making waves as a standout player for West Chester, earning a well-deserved spot in the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association (NCBWA) first-team All-Atlantic Region squad. The recent announcement, made on Tuesday afternoon, underscores the recognition of DeMucci's exceptional on-field contributions.
Having previously received accolades as an all-region pick last spring, DeMucci showcased his leadership by leading West Chester with an impressive .345 batting average. His remarkable stats include a .923 OPS, a .483 slugging percentage, and a .440 on-base percentage. Going beyond his batting prowess, DeMucci displayed versatility with 18 successful steals in 20 attempts, coupled with eight doubles, two triples, and four home runs. One standout moment was his record-setting performance with eight RBIs in a memorable 30-2 victory over Salem last spring.
Reflecting on the previous season, West Chester concluded with a strong 32-20 overall record, including a notable 14-10 standing in the PSAC East. The team secured a commendable third place in the regular-season standings and made an impressive run to the PSAC Championship Game. Notably, six position players and four starting pitchers return from that successful campaign, which also featured an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
In additional news, West Chester's baseball program has been slated to finish second in the Eastern Division of the PSAC, as revealed by the organization on Thursday afternoon.
The upcoming season kicks off with West Chester on the road, facing Glenville State on Feb. 23. Following this, consecutive matchups against D'Youville and Charleston (WV) are scheduled for the subsequent two days. The team will then participate in a four-game round-robin tournament at the DII Baseball Challenge in Cary, N.C. The Golden Rams return home for the highly anticipated home opener at Serpico Stadium on March 6 against Jefferson.
