BEREA, Ohio – The Baldwin Wallace University baseball team has been selected to the 2024 NCAA Division III National Tournament and will host a first-round Regional from May 17-19.
Announced via the NCAA selection show on May 13, BW (36-8) receives one of 41 automatic bids to this year's tournament after claiming the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament Championship. The Yellow Jackets will take on the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference champions Penn State-Behrend (28-11-1) on Friday, May 17.
The four-team regional also includes the at-large bid from the Landmark Conference, Catholic (D.C.) University (31-12), and the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Champions Adrian (Mich.) College (29-14). The four teams will compete in a double elimination style tournament (May 17-19). The winner of each regional will advance to the best-of-three format super-regional on May 24-25. The eight super regional winners advance to the Division III World Series in Eastlake, Ohio from May 31 to June 6.
BW is led by junior All-OAC outfielder Joey Marousek (North Royalton) who leads the team in hitting with 65 hits and a .363 batting average. He has also drove in 35 runs and leads the team with 23 stolen bases. Senior All-OAC first baseman Max Anastasio (Chesterbrook, Pa./Conestoga) leads the Yellow Jackets with 37 RBI and has an average of .314 with 48 hits. Senior catcher Mark Mohnickey Jr. (North Ridgeville/St. Edward) leads the team in slugging percentage with a .584 mark and has a team-high eight home runs while junior All-OAC designated hitter Mally Kilbane (Olmsted Township/Olmsted Falls) leads the Brown and Gold in doubles and extra base hits with 15 and 21, respectively.
The BW pitching staff is highlighted by a trio of 2024 All-OAC Selections in senior right-hander Tyler Walker (Fairlawn/Copley), junior right-hander Vince Dolcemaschio (Los Angeles, Calif./Windward School), and freshman right-hander Jake Heatherington (Bellaire). Walker, the 2024 Kent Tekulve OAC Pitcher of the Year leads the team and the conference with a 9-1 record and has recorded two saves. He has an earned run average of 3.24 and has limited opponents to a .234 batting average all while tallying 52 strikeouts through 66.2 innings. Dolcemaschio is the team leader in strikeouts and innings pitched with 59 through 72 frames. He has an ERA of 3.88 and has held opponents to a .260 average on his way to a season record of 7-2 with two saves. Heatherington leads the conference with eight saves and is one short of tying the program record for most saves in a season. Through 40 innings, he has earned a perfect 5-0 record by striking out 43 and allowing only a .162 batting average with an ERA of 2.25.
BW is making their 11th NCAA Tournament appearance and seventh under head coach Brian Harrison who was named the Don Schaly OAC Coach of the Year this season for the third time in his career.
