DETROIT -- The 2024 season is officially here for the Wayne State University baseball team as the Warriors will travel to Holly Springs, North Carolina to face Hillsdale in a four-game set Friday through Monday. WSU and HC will play one contest on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday before wrapping up the series on Sunday, all at the Holly Springs Salamanders' Ting Stadium.
Paced by 16th-year head coach
Ryan Kelley (455-283-1 career record), the 2023 GLIAC Coach of the Year, Wayne State returns three starting position players, three of four from the starting rotation and four primary relief pitchers.
Of the 18 total letterwinners coming back, that group includes 2023 GLIAC Pitcher of the Year
Karter Fitzpatrick (Monroe, Mich. / Carleton Airport), Honorable Mention All-GLIAC right-hander
Griffin Kilander (Livonia, Mich. / Stevenson), Second Team All-GLIAC shortstop
CJ Maury (Brampton, Ont. / Mayfield SS) and 2023 GLIAC Freshman Player of the Year
Tony Hatzigeorgiou (Oxford, Mich.) at third base.
Also back are 2023 GLIAC All-Tournament Team member and first baseman,
Bennett Hitzelberger (Richmond, Mich.), Second Team All-GLIAC left-hander
Seth Marano (Canton, Mich. [Lansing CC]), southpaw
Kaden Stively (Washington, Mich. / Romeo) and righty
David Thurman (Southfield, Mich. / Detroit Edison) among others.
Newcomer wise, the program welcomes in a group of 11 new faces including nine rookies and two Division I transfers in
Reagan Paulina (Highland, Mich. / Detroit Catholic Central [Oakland]) and
Avery Mona (Bloomfield Hills, Mich. / University of Detroit Jesuit [Central Michigan]).
As for Hillsdale, the Chargers are entering year three under head coach Tom Vessella (48-52 overall, 34-40 G-MAC). HC (26-26 in 2023) is coming off a season that saw them post the most conference wins in program history with 20 (20-12), a top-four finish in the G-MAC regular season standings as well as a G-MAC Tournament appearance and victory.
Last month, Hillsdale was picked to finish tied-for-sixth out of 13 teams in the 2024 G-MAC Preseason Coaches Poll. The top returner at the plate for the Chargers is All-Region and First Team All-G-MAC first baseman Will Shannon. Shannon led HC in batting average (.388), hits (73), slugging percentage (.697), runs scored (46), doubles (15) and triples (2) while finishing second in home runs (13) to go with 30 RBIs.
On the mound, Hillsdale's most experienced returner is Tommy MacLean. MacLean racked up the second-most innings pitched on the team last season with 68.2, a record of 3-5 and 5.37 ERA. Also back is Daly Skees with 47.1 frames of work, 3-3 mark and 4.56 ERA.
