It’s going to be awfully hard for Garrett Beaver to surpass the freshman season he had as a relief relief pitcher for the Salisbury Seagulls, a team that advanced all the way to the Division III World Series last spring.
But you better believe the former Waynesboro standout is going to give it a shot.
The current college baseball season has only just begun, but already Beaver is in mid-season form and has yet to allow a single run this spring.
In College Corner this week, we’ll be taking a closer look at the season of Beaver and other former Waynesboro athletes who are competing at the next level. This month’s College Corner features updates on 35 athletes competing in baseball, softball, golf, track and field, wrestling, swimming, basketball, cheerleading, and beach volleyball.
Next month, College Corner will take a closer look at athletes from Greencastle-Antrim, before shifting to Chambersburg, and eventually rotating back to Waynesboro.
Are we missing anybody? Please send additions for College Corner to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
BASEBALL
Garrett Beaver, Sophomore, Salisbury
Very few college relief pitchers were more effective down the stretch last spring than the right-handed Beaver, who allowed just one run over his final nine appearances of the season. Beaver’s clutch freshman season was a big reason why the Seagulls were able to make their third consecutive appearance in the Division III World Series.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Beaver is back for another spring on the mound, but his performance in 2023 will be a tough act to follow. Beaver appeared in 10 games last season, posting an 0-0 record with a 2.53 ERA. He worked 10 2/3 innings, allowing five runs, three earned, on nine hits and four walks, while striking out 12.
Salisbury is off to a 4-2 start this season, and Beaver has performed even better than expected thus far. He’s appeared in two games for the Seagulls and has worked 4 1/3 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.
Salisbury returns to the diamond on Saturday, when it plays host to Rowan.
Bryce Shaffer, Junior, York
Shaffer will be counted on to be a key player this spring after a productive 2023 season which saw the 6-foot-2, 195-pound right-handed pitcher/first baseman contribute all over the field.
Shaffer was most effective on the mound, where he worked 47 1/3 innings to the tune of a 6-2 record and a 4.94 ERA. He allowed 34 runs, 26 earned, on 60 hits and nine walks, while striking out 22 batters.
At the plate, Shaffer batted .233 (10 for 43) with a double, triple, two runs, and seven RBI. Shaffer also exhibited strong glove work, as evidenced by his .980 fielding percentage.
Shaffer and the Spartans are set to open the season on Saturday, when they hit the road to face Lynchburg in a doubleheader.
Fred Guarino IV, Junior, PSU Altoona
Guarino has seen action in one of two games for PSU Altoona, which is off to a 1-1 start this season.
Guarino, a 6-foot-1 first baseman, is batting .250 (1 for 4) with two runs and three RBI.
The Lions (1-1) return to the field on Saturday for a doubleheader at Dominican (Ill.).
Dylan Morgan, Freshman, PSU Mont Alto
Morgan, a 5-foot-9, 120-pound second baseman/outfielder, is hoping to pick up consistent playing time for Mont Alto this spring.
He’s appeared in two games for the Lions, batting 0 for 1 with a run scored.
Mont Alto (1-4) returns to action on Sunday, when it plays Henry Ford College at Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach, Fla.
Garrett Rosenberry, Freshman, PSU Mont Alto
Rosenberry has played in all four games for Mont Alto this season.
Listed as a 6-foot-1, 185-pound utility/right-handed pitcher, Rosenberry is batting .111 (1 for 9) with two runs and an RBI. He’s also made one appearance on the mound, where he has walked two batters and is looking to record his first out.
Maddox Brooks, Sophomore, Potomac State
It’s a change of scenery for Brooks, who comes to Potomac State after spending his freshman season at James Madison.
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound catcher has appeared in all four games for the Catamounts this season and is batting .250 (3 for 12) with two doubles and two RBI. Defensively, he’s sporting a perfect fielding percentage.
Potomac State returns to action on Saturday, when it travels to Lenoir CC for a doubleheader.
Ethan Earley, Freshman, Hagerstown CC
Earley, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound infielder, is aiming to work his way into the lineup for Hagerstown, a squad that went 24-24 last spring.
Earley has appeared in one of two games for the Hawks this season, and is 0 for 1 at the plate.
Hagerstown (0-2) returns to action on Friday, when it hosts Westmoreland County CC.
Evan Swanson, Sophomore, Elizabethtown
Swanson is aiming to move up the depth chart after appearing in two games for the Blue Jays as a freshman.
Swanson, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound catcher, has been inactive for Elizabethtown through three games this season.
The Blue Jays (1-2) return to action on Sunday with a doubleheader against Kenyon.
Brady Bakner, Senior, Wilson
Bakner, a Waynesboro native who went to Scotland Campus, will be looking to earn consistent playing time for a Wilson team that went 34-10 last season.
Bakner, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound left-handed pitcher/outfielder, was inactive for the Phoenix in their first game.
Wilson (1-0) returns to the action on Saturday, when it hosts Alfred State College for a doubleheader.
SOFTBALL
Trysta Bricker, Freshman, PSU Mont Alto
Bricker will be competing for playing time on a Mont Alto squad that went 24-13 last season, including a 15-3 mark in the PSUAC.
Bricker, a 5-foot-5 second baseman/shortstop, is a Human Development and Family Studies Major.
The Lions are set to kick off their season on March 4 at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Haley Eyler, Sophomore, Bethany
Eyler will be looking for an uptick in playing time this spring after seeing the field in eight of 30 games last season.
Eyler, a 5-foot-6 infielder, batted .158 (3 for 19) last spring with two runs, two RBI, and a home run. She also boasted a sparkling 1.000 fielding percentage.
Bethany will be battling to improve upon last year’s 8-21-1 overall record, which includes an 8-10 mark in the PAC.
The Bison open their season on Saturday at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.
Michelle Baker, Freshman, Chestnut Hill
Chestnut Hill is hoping that Baker, a 5-foot-8 pitcher/outfielder, can help elevate a program that went 8-39 last season.
The Griffins threw Baker right into the mix in the second game of the season, a 10-2 loss to Staten Island on Feb. 26. Baker struck out four batters in her collegiate debut.
Chestnut Hill (0-2) returns to action on Sunday, when it travels to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic.
Slaydon Fisher, Freshman, Albright
The 5-foot-7 Fisher will be aiming to help put Albright back on the tracks this season. The Lions are coming off a 2023 spring that saw them go 3-29 overall and 0-14 in the MAC Commonwealth.
Albright is scheduled to kick off its season on March 11-14 at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Cameron Witte, Freshman, Millersville
Witte made her collegiate debut in a 6-1 win over Bloomfield on Feb. 21.
Witte, a 5-foot-4 first baseman/outfielder, went 0 for 1, in the game for the Marauders, who are off to a 4-0 start this season.
Millersville returns to the field on Saturday when it hits the road for a doubleheader at Newberry.
Savannah Brosius, Freshman, Lancaster Bible
Brosius, a 5-foot-2 outfielder and pitcher, will be competing for playing time on the Chargers this spring.
She will be looking to assist a Lancaster Bible team that posted a 10-26 overall record last season and a 5-19 mark in the United East.
The Chargers kick off their season on Sunday at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
GOLF
Dylan Byers, Sophomore, Shepherd
Byers and the Rams are set to compete in the spring season.
In Byers’ most recent appearance on Oct. 9 at the Gannon Fall Invitational, he carded a 73-74-152 to finish as Shepherd’s top golfer and 14th overall.
Brogan Beall, Senior, PSU Mont Alto
Beall, a Business Major, is set to take on his final spring of collegiate golf.
The season begins on April 10 with the Mont Alto Spring Invite.
Devin Smith, Sophomore, Mount Saint Mary’s
After leading Mount Saint Mary’s golfers in three of five invitationals in the fall, Smith is ready to contribute once again this spring.
Smith, who averaged a 74.53 in the fall, and The Mount return to competition on March 16-17 at the Binghamton Tournament.
TRACK & FIELD
Cora Helman, Sophomore, Shenandoah
Helman stayed active over the winter months, competing for the Hornets in the 3,000 at a pair of invitationals.
Helman competed at the Kaye & JJ Smith Invitational on Jan. 14, and placed 26th in the 3,000 in 13:01.35. She was back at it less than a week later on Jan. 20, running a 12:50.81 in the 3,000 to place ninth at the Robert Comstock Cardinal Track & Field Classic.
Helman will now focus on the outdoor season, which begins on March 14-16 at the Shamrock Invitational in Conway, S.C.
Joel Weber, Sophomore, Pitt-Johnstown
Weber competed in two invitationals this winter.
Weber made his season debut on Jan. 13 at the Jud Logan Memorial, where he ran a 5:25.45 in the mile to take 21st place. He was back in action on Jan. 27 at the Mount Union Wuske Open, where he posted 34th-place finishes in both the 800 (2:18.48) and mile (5:16.74).
Weber will now shift his focus to outdoor season, which begins on March 22-23 at the West Virginia Stan Romanoski Open.
Samantha Gembe, Sophomore, Thiel
Competing in the shot put for Thiel’s indoor squad, Gembe saw action in three meets this winter.
She made her collegiate indoor debut on Jan. 20 at the Muskie Meet No. 2, where she posted a throw of 20-7.25 to take 27th place. Gembe got more work the following month, when she recorded a throw of 19-9.75 for 26th place at the Mid-February Meet on Feb. 9, and again on Feb. 17 when she took 23rd with a heave of 20-5.75 at the Mount Union Tune-Up.
Thiel opens its outdoor season on March 16 at the Bethany Invitational.
Joey Jacobs, Freshman, Mount Saint Mary’s
Jacobs, a distance specialist, was inactive for Mount Saint Mary’s indoor track team this season.
The outdoor season is set to begin on March 14-15 at the Alan Connie Shamrock Invite in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Dillon Turner, Sophomore, Wingate
Turner was inactive for Wingate’s indoor track team this winter.
The Bulldogs are scheduled to open their outdoor season on March 14-16 at the Charlotte 49ers Classic.
Josh Schuurman, Sophomore, Wheaton
Schuurman, a pole vaulter, was inactive for Wheaton’s indoor track squad this winter.
The Thunder are set to open their outdoor season on March 28-29 with an invitational at North Central College.
WRESTLING
Madison Matta, Junior, Lock Haven
Matta’s postseason came to an end last weekend after a sixth-place showing at the NCWWC Region I Tournament, hosted by Lock Haven.
Matta wrestled to a 3-3 record in the 136-pound bracket. She opened with a fall in 0:48 over Delaware Valley’s Eva Herrera before being knocked out of championship contention with a 10-7 loss to Sacred Heart’s Aliza Leander.
Matta went to work in the wrestlebacks after that, collecting pins over Elmira’s Tess Clabaugh (2:15) and Leslie Monterrosa (4:26) before her tourney ended with losses to East Stroudsburg’s Ruth Ansah (5-0) and Sacred Heart’s Leander (8-1).
It was another winning season for Matta, who wrestled to a 17-5 record with 14 falls and one technical fall. Matta has a career record of 48-16 wearing the Bald Eagles singlet.
Quinton Frampton, Senior, Keystone College
Keystone College concluded its dual season with a 4-11 record, with the 141-pound Frampton seeing mat time in 17 bouts.
Frampton compiled a 7-10 record this season and most recently competed at the Mideast Futures Tournament, where he posted a 1-2 mark with a fall.
The Giants return to the mat on Friday for the NCAA Mideast Regionals.
Donte Hibbert, Senior, Messiah
Messiah recently wrapped up its regular season at 11-11, with Hibbert contributing with a 2-5 individual record.
Hibbert, a Hershey grad who calls Waynesboro home, most recently competed at the Messiah Open on Feb. 10. He went 1-2 with his win coming in the form of a 16-8 major decision over Pitt-Johnstown’s Teague Conover.
Messiah is now looking ahead to the postseason, which begins this weekend with the NCAA Division 3 Southeast Regional.
SWIMMING
Cara Toney, Sophomore, California (Pa.)
California wrapped up its regular season schedule with Toney making appearances in four meets.
Toney took on three events at the FIU Sprint Invitational on Jan. 3, taking 31st in the 100 backstroke (1:15.81), 41st in the 50 backstroke (33.62), and 45th in the 50 butterfly (33.01).
She was back in the pool on Jan. 12, completing three events in a 117-79 win over Wheeling. Toney placed third in the 200 freestyle (2:25.16) and fourth in both the 100 butterfly (1:14.64) and 100 backstroke (1:14.22).
On Jan. 20 in a double dual that saw the Vulcans fall to Clarion (238-50) and Edinboro (171-77), Toney took fifth in the 200 butterfly (2:48.79), eighth in the 200 freestyle relay (1:57.48), and ninth in the 200 backstroke (2:45.42).
Toney then concluded her season in a 130-74 loss to Millersville on Jan. 27, a meet which saw her take fourth in the 100 backstroke (1:11.42) and 200 freestyle relay (1:54.58), while also competing in the 50 freestyle (27.78).
Toney was inactive for the PSAC Championships on Feb. 14-17.
The Vulcans finish their season with a 4-9 record.
Sean O’Connor, Junior, Frostburg State
It’s been a busy New Year for O’Connor, but his season finally came to an end at the GMAC/MEC Championships on Feb. 14-17.
At that meet, he competed in the 50 freestyle (23.27), 100 butterfly (57.85), 100 breaststroke (1:02.31), 100 freestyle (50.63), and 200 breaststroke (2:18.59).
O’Connor warmed up for the conference championships by competing in three January duals. On Jan. 13 in a 160-32 win over Notre Dame (Ohio), O’Connor placed fourth in the 200 medley relay (1:59.56), while also adding fifth-place finishes in the 200 breaststroke (2:48.44) and 200 freestyle relay (1:49.45).
He was back in the pool on Jan. 20 in a double dual that saw the Bobcats take losses from UMBC (155-50) and Salisbury (137-68), with O’Connor placing 11th in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.64) and 12th in the 100 freestyle (53.24).
O’Connor got work in four events in the season finale, a 133-129 win over Mary Washington on Jan. 27. He placed fifth in the 200 medley relay (1:47.46), while also competing in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.94), 200 breaststroke (2:27.54), and 100 butterfly (58.92).
BASKETBALL
Jay Alvarez, Junior, Houston Christian
Alvarez has been Houston Christian’s most efficient scorer this season, as the 6-foot-5, 210-pound guard/forward is averaging 15.5 points per game.
Alvarez has appeared in 22 games, including 19 starts, and in 655 minutes of action he’s totaled 341 points, seven 3-pointers, 102 rebounds (4.6 rpg), 20 steals, and seven blocks.
He recently played one of his biggest games of the season, nearly recording a double-double in an 86-83 win over UIW on Feb. 10. In that game, Alvarez went off for 25 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and a block.
The Huskies (6-20, 4-11 SLC) return to action on Saturday, when they play host to Texas A&M – Commerce.
Tanyon Shaull, Freshman, Hagerstown CC
Shaull, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound forward, has seen action in 26 games this season, including 11 starts.
In 377 minutes of playing time, Shaull has totaled 101 points, 13 3-pointers, 53 rebounds, seven assists, nine steals, and two blocks.
The Hawks (14-13) will play their regular-season finale on Friday, when they travel to face College of Southern Maryland.
Becca Cordell, Sophomore, Wilson
It was a busy winter for Cordell, who appeared in 23 of 26 games for the Phoenix.
In 239 minutes of playing time Cordell, a 5-foot-6 guard, has totaled 19 points, 32 rebounds, 20 assists, eight steals, and one block.
Wilson concludes its season at 13-13 overall and 12-6 in the United East.
Ryan Shaffer, Freshman, McDaniel
The season is a wrap for Shaffer, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound guard, and the Green Terror.
Shaffer appeared in five games for McDaniel, which posted an overall record of 11-14 and a mark of 6-12 in the Centennial Conference. In 12 minutes on the floor, Shaffer totaled three points and two rebounds.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Leah Helman, Junior, Lancaster Bible
Under the guidance of women’s volleyball head coach Julie Brubaker, Lancaster Bible will have a club beach volleyball team this spring.
Helman, a 5-foot-7 libero who played for the volleyball team in the fall, is on the roster.
The Chargers are set to kick off their season on Friday at the Liberty Invitational.
CHEERLEADING
Cammie Edwards, Junior, RIT
Edwards, who was born in Waynesboro and attended Ramstein American in Germany, is enjoying her junior season of cheer at RIT.
Edwards, who works the Base position, is a Biomedical Sciences Major.
