With an impressive .586 winning percentage (139-98) over seven seasons, and a formidable presence in the Atlantic East Conference, Cabrini has held a distinguished position among the region's baseball programs. The departure will leave a significant void in the Philadelphia college baseball scene.
Weisheipl has been at the helm since the program originated in 2015. The club finished 26-16 last season and fell to top-seeded Immaculata in the Atlantic East Conference championship.
"We've got a rather small group of guys now, so in some ways, it's made things easier for me," Weisheipl commented. "We probably had more fun in the fall than we normally do simply because of our roster size and the flexibility it gave us. We did more small group work and things like that, so when we did a drill there weren't ten infielders, maybe there were just four. It allowed us to go into a deeper dive with each of the guys and break things down at a more personal level."
Despite the somber circumstances, the Cavs are entering their final season with a roster brimming with talent, led by outfielder Dustin Sutton from Bear, Del. (Wesley). Sutton, now in his graduate year, showcased a remarkable performance last season with a stellar 1.131 OPS, nine home runs, and 45 RBIs. Adding depth to the batting order is graduate student Christian Strickland from Garnett Valley (St. Elizabeth), who impressed as an All-Atlantic East honoree last season with a .360 batting average and a .960 OPS.
Graduate student outfielder Zack Brook (Mt. Royal, NJ.) also returns, poised to play a pivotal role at the plate after hitting .327 last season with four homers and 34 RBIs. Junior third baseman Jaden Dickerson (New Castle, Del./St. Elizabeth) is another returnee, having led the club with 21 doubles last season while posting a 1.005 OPS.
Garrett Laraia, returning as a graduate student for his sixth
season with the program, brings valuable experience to the team, having
maintained a career .308 average over 123 games played. Laraia's
defensive prowess is equally noteworthy, with just six errors committed
while playing in the infield over the past four seasons (.983 fielding
percentage).
"Offensively and defensively, we return a hell of a lot of talent," Weisheipl affirmed. "One through nine out there, we have some guys that can do real damage with the bats. It's exciting to write the lineup and get out of the way."
Senior right-hander Dom Marotta (Sewell, NJ./Paul VI) is expected to contribute significantly after transitioning from a relief role last season. Additionally, graduate student right-hander Josh Colon (Blairstown, NJ.), a transfer from Mansfield, could play a role in the weekend rotation.
"We return some solid pieces, but we just don't have the type of [pitching] depth we've had in the past," Weisheipl acknowledged. "We will just need to get a bit creative in how we do things."
Cabrini begins the 2024 season at home on Saturday against Clarks Summit, followed by matchups against local rivals Rosemont and Cairn before heading to Myrtle Beach for the Cal Ripken Experience. The conference segment of the schedule starts on March 28 with a matchup against Marymount.
Despite the hurdles ahead, the Cavs are determined to make their final season memorable.
"Sure, we have a roster mostly of seniors and graduate students, but we do have a few others on the roster who hopefully use this season as a springboard to something for the future," Weisheipl observed. "I find myself being not only their coach, but almost like an agent, trying to help these guys land elsewhere. I love it though, because these are such first-class kids."
