Penn State Brandywine’s move to Division III has been nearly two decades in the making, but the wait is finally over. And if you ask head coach Vinny Gallo, now in his ninth season at the helm, his squad isn’t just here to fill a schedule—they’re here to compete.
“There are some really good teams in this conference—Keystone and Penn State Harrisburg are receiving votes—but we believe we’re going to fit right in,” Gallo said. “We’re not shy about that, either. We feel like we can surprise some people over the next few months.”
Brandywine will compete in the United East Conference, joining local programs Penn State Abington, Cairn, Rosemont, and Valley Forge. The program finished 23-15 last season, reaching the PSUAC Tournament before falling to Penn State Mont Alto. Now, with a core of returning talent and a new challenge ahead, Brandywine is ready to prove it belongs.
The Bats to Watch
Owen Lawton might not be the loudest guy in the dugout, but his bat does plenty of talking. Coming off a breakout season, he set career highs in hits (40), runs (22), and RBIs (22) while hitting safely in 22 games. He also swiped 14 stolen bases, finishing 14th in the PSUAC.
In conference play, Lawton torched opposing pitchers for a .423 average, collecting 22 hits in 52 at-bats. Eight of his 12 extra-base hits came in conference games, and he delivered a season-high three RBIs in a win over Penn State Hazleton.
Another bat to watch? Ryan Snyder. The senior outfielder was one of just six players in the PSUAC to reach the 50-hit mark, finishing with 51 hits in 132 at-bats (.386). He got on base in 28 of 37 games, racking up six games with three or more knocks—including a ridiculous 5-for-6 performance against Penn State York on April 19, when he also drove in five runs.
Snyder’s patience at the plate was just as impressive, as he worked 20 walks, finishing with a .471 on-base percentage while adding 37 runs and 27 RBIs.
And then there’s the glue guy: senior catcher Mike DeGirolamo. Behind the plate, he was an ironman, competing in a career-high 38 games. At the dish, he was as steady as they come, hitting .297 with a .377 OBP while driving in 25 runs. He collected 38 hits, including 10 for extra bases, and showed some pop with two home runs.
On the Mound
Owen Lawton might not be the loudest guy in the dugout, but his bat does plenty of talking. Coming off a breakout season, he set career highs in hits (40), runs (22), and RBIs (22) while hitting safely in 22 games. He also swiped 14 stolen bases, finishing 14th in the PSUAC.
In conference play, Lawton torched opposing pitchers for a .423 average, collecting 22 hits in 52 at-bats. Eight of his 12 extra-base hits came in conference games, and he delivered a season-high three RBIs in a win over Penn State Hazleton.
Another bat to watch? Ryan Snyder. The senior outfielder was one of just six players in the PSUAC to reach the 50-hit mark, finishing with 51 hits in 132 at-bats (.386). He got on base in 28 of 37 games, racking up six games with three or more knocks—including a ridiculous 5-for-6 performance against Penn State York on April 19, when he also drove in five runs.
Snyder’s patience at the plate was just as impressive, as he worked 20 walks, finishing with a .471 on-base percentage while adding 37 runs and 27 RBIs.
And then there’s the glue guy: senior catcher Mike DeGirolamo. Behind the plate, he was an ironman, competing in a career-high 38 games. At the dish, he was as steady as they come, hitting .297 with a .377 OBP while driving in 25 runs. He collected 38 hits, including 10 for extra bases, and showed some pop with two home runs.
On the Mound
Every team needs an ace, and for Brandywine, that role now belongs to junior right-hander Jaylen Bryant. Last season, he made 12 appearances (10 starts), posting a 4-3 record with a 3.75 ERA. He tied for the team lead with four complete games, struck out 46 batters in 50.1 innings, and finished eighth in the PSUAC in strikeouts.
“He’s been our No. 2 the last two years, but he’s ready,” Gallo said. “His leadership, his ability to get out of jams, how competitive he is—he’s great. He is the leader of this staff.”
Keep an eye on sophomore righty Josh Hess, a Panama City, Florida, native who made serious strides this fall.
“He’s really worked on his command, and he put together a great fall,” Gallo said. “He’s going to pitch some quality innings for us.”
A Long Time Coming
Brandywine’s transition to Division III has been in the works since before the iPhone existed—literally.
“I was a freshman in the fall of 2007, and these talks started two years before that about us making the move,” Gallo said. “It’s exciting that we’re finally over that hump.”
And now, after nearly two decades of waiting, Brandywine is ready to make its Division III debut.
Their first test? A Feb. 15 season opener at Maplezone against Marywood. The wait is over. Now, it’s time to play ball.
“He’s been our No. 2 the last two years, but he’s ready,” Gallo said. “His leadership, his ability to get out of jams, how competitive he is—he’s great. He is the leader of this staff.”
Keep an eye on sophomore righty Josh Hess, a Panama City, Florida, native who made serious strides this fall.
“He’s really worked on his command, and he put together a great fall,” Gallo said. “He’s going to pitch some quality innings for us.”
A Long Time Coming
Brandywine’s transition to Division III has been in the works since before the iPhone existed—literally.
“I was a freshman in the fall of 2007, and these talks started two years before that about us making the move,” Gallo said. “It’s exciting that we’re finally over that hump.”
And now, after nearly two decades of waiting, Brandywine is ready to make its Division III debut.
Their first test? A Feb. 15 season opener at Maplezone against Marywood. The wait is over. Now, it’s time to play ball.
