While the regular season remains months away, the journey to the 2022 WCC Championship began throughout the summer — all over the country.
"The summer months are critical for player development," said pitching coach and summer placement coordinator Mat Keplinger. "That development can come in the form of maturity by getting out of your comfort zone, going across the country, and hearing new voices and ideas."
Individual training. Recovery. And of course, competition. From Northern California to Cape Cod, this year's Dons made strides in their on-field performance while simultaneously developing their leadership skills. Here are just a handful of the faces and stories from an eventful summer.
Owen Stevenson
Summer Teams: Humboldt Crabs (Far West League), Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (Cape Cod League)
After labeling his freshman year as a "learning experience," sophomore pitcher Owen Stevenson approached his summer with one goal in mind: play more relaxed.
"Throughout the season, I went through ups and downs and always put tons of pressure on myself," Stevenson said. "This summer, I learned more about relaxing and playing free."
Whatever Stevenson did to relax, it worked. In seven starts with the Humboldt Crabs of the Far West League, he surrendered just three runs across 39 innings pitched, good for a 0.69 earned-run-average. Notably, he struck out 49 hitters compared to just 10 walks, producing a 0.92 WHIP and holding hitters to a .186 batting average.
Beyond the playing field, Stevenson remained committed to a weekly schedule that paid dividends to his body. All of the work resulted in a significant improvement to his game: locating his off-speed pitches.
"I improved the most on commanding my offspeeds for strikes and having a clear plan on attacking hitters," Stevenson said. "I also worked on my body a lot this summer in the weightroom, and adding that strength will only help me grow further both physically and mentally."
His summer manager, long-time Crabs coach Robin Guiver, called Stevenson "as good as any pitcher (they) had all summer." But the development didn't stop on the West Coast. After wrapping up his time in Arcata, he flew across the country to join the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in the Cape Cod League. The new environment was a welcome sight, as he added a save to his summer, pitching four innings across two appearances out of the Red Sox bullpen.
Sophomore pitcher Owen Stevenson gained valuable experience in the Far West League and the Cape Cod League this summer.
"Owen really matured this summer, both physically and mentally," Keplinger said. "He is going to be a really exciting arm for us this spring and his experience with the Crabs and in the Cape have played a major role in his development."
Of all the Dons who competed this summer, perhaps no one traveled farther to develop than Stevenson, who is originally from San Francisco and was a standout at Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep before coming to the Hilltop. After 15 appearances and four starts in his inaugural campaign, it's safe to say that Stevenson's summer was a memorable change in scenery.
"I definitely have some great memories from both teams, and it's hard to choose just one," Stevenson said. "My most memorable experience was starting on the Fourth of July in Arcata, in a packed ballpark full of Crabs fans. The Crabs always draw a crowd, but it was extra special on the (holiday) with the Crabgrass band playing and the great barbeque that followed our 19-1 win."
Luke Keaschall
Summer Teams: Orleans Firebirds (Cape Cod League), Gaithersburg Giants (Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League)
How does an All-Conference First-Team selection find new ways to improve? Just ask Luke Keaschall, the Dons' sophomore star on the left side of the diamond.
After one of the strongest freshman seasons in program history, Keaschall didn't miss a beat when spring turned to summer. His East Coast stops include 20 games with the Gaithersburg Giants of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, and 21 contests with the Orleans Firebirds on Cape Cod.
That's a lot of baseball for a player who played in all 53 of USF's games in 2021, including 51 starts. Being able to manage the workload and establish a unique routine was a difference maker.
"The biggest thing I learned was how important it is to find a routine that works for me, and that I can stay consistent with," Keaschall said. "Being able to have a set routine for myself allowed for me to consistently grow and find ways to get better each day."
The reigning WCC Co-Freshman of the Year got off to a hot start with the Giants, slashing .321/.356/.464 while knocking in 15 runs as one of the lineup's most productive hitters. But it was with the Firebirds where he really hit his stride.
After his Cape debut in mid-July, Keaschall was arguably the hottest hitter in the league. Through ten games, he owned a .409 average and a 1.085 OPS. In an eight-day span, Keaschall accumulated 20 hits, producing a multi-hit streak highlighted by not one but two heroic moments in a single game.
2021 WCC Co-Freshman of the Year Luke Keaschall continued making a name for himself with a strong performance this summer with the Orleans Firebirds.
Against the Brewster Whitecaps on July 21, Keaschall's grand slam gave the Firebirds a 5-0 lead — an advantage that would disappear by the late innings. In the eighth, Keaschall worked a long at-bat before tripling home the winning runs. Six RBI later, there wasn't much of a question who the Player of the Game was.
"It was an awesome experience being able to produce for my team against some of the best talent," Keaschall said. "I got an interview after the game, signed a bunch of baseballs, shirts, hats and whatever some of the fans wanted."
Player of the Game would later become Player of the Week, as Keaschall achieved a hit in 14 of his 26 at-bats. Alongside fellow Firebirds star and Vanderbilt pitcher Pat Reilly, Keaschall earned recognition as a Top-10 college prospect for the 2023 draft, also landing on the Top 25 Cape Cod Prospects List. While the accolades will continue to pile up, Keaschall says he's worked on focusing on the things that matter, while learning from any in-game mistakes.
"Last season I often struggled after a strikeout or something to move on and be ready for my next at bat," Keaschall said. "This summer I really focused on releasing the fear of failing again and playing more loosely. Focusing on hitting the ball hard instead of the result."
While his on-field performance speaks for himself, the rest of the program looks forward to his growth as a leader entering year No. 2.
"Luke had the opportunity to compete at the highest level this summer," Keplinger said. "He is a special player with a work ethic second to none and is a great teammate on top of that. As much as Luke developed his skills and increased his versatility defensively, I believe this summer will catapult his leadership abilities this year."
Darius Foster
Summer Team: Bethesda Big Train (Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League)
While it's easy for student-athletes to focus their priorities solely on baseball during the offseason, redshirt junior Darius Foster had a unique perspective on his summer experience.
"My most memorable experience this summer was living and becoming very close with my host family," Foster said. "Living with (my host) family this summer was amazing. I had the ability to be the big brother to Jackson (9) and Fina (7). I had the opportunity to grow super close with everyone, it didn't take long to feel like I was a part of the family."
Having already played for the Cal Ripken League's Bethesda Big Train two summers ago, Foster admittedly didn't need to take as long as his teammates to adjust to new surroundings. But in his second stint with the team, it's evident that he impacted more than just his teammates.
"One of my favorite moments was driving a little over an hour with my roommate to watch my host brother Jackson play baseball," Foster said. "Jackson and the entire family came out to as many games as possible so it was nice to be able to give back and show how much we appreciated them as a family. After spending the summer with them I know if I ever needed them or simply wanted to visit I could. I couldn't be more grateful for them and what they did for me."
Fresh off a season in which he swiped 23 bases in 27 attempts, it's no secret which area Foster would contribute to his summer home. In 2019, he stole 19 bags while nearly walking as much as he struck out. This summer, he upped his steals total to 25 in just 27 games played, punctuated by a much-improved .465 OBP.
Redshirt junior Darius Foster helped lead the Bethesda Big Train to a Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League championship.
"After looking back on the spring season I sat down with the coaches and we talked about cutting down my strikeout rate," Foster said. "In order for me to help this team win I would need to make a change. I made it my goal to cut down that rate and put more balls in play. Looking back on the summer prioritizing putting the ball in play and creating a two strike approach that worked for me helped me put together more quality at bats."
With his contact-rate up and his activity on the basepaths higher than ever, Foster's strengths as a player extend beyond one area of the game. Playing in fewer games than he did two summers prior, Foster improved his run-total from 27 to 37, helping lead the Big Train to a Cal Ripken League Championship. Now, he'll look to do the same on a Dons team that saw fellow 2021 base-stealing titleist Jack Winkler earn a draft selection by the Oakland Athletics.
"Darius had an impressive summer in multiple areas, but what I am most proud of are the contributions he made to help his team win a championship," Keplinger said. "He continued to develop the qualities it takes to win and finish. Darius also set a stolen base record in his pursuit of truly mastering his craft."
Gabe Giosso
Summer Team: Humboldt Crabs (Far West League)
One of the newer faces to the program, first baseman Gabe Giosso had a productive summer hitting baseballs very, very far. As Stevenson's teammate with the Crabs in Arcata, the graduate transfer from St. Mary's was named team MVP after slashing a jaw-dropping .443/.506./729 across 36 games.
Leading the Crabs in both runs (47) and runs batted in (43), Giosso became a popular figure amongst his teammates and fans alike. While his cumulative numbers speak for themselves, few can ever top his July 6 performance: a three-homer game, including two in the same inning, good for a total of eight RBI, an experience he described as "kind of cool."
"He's a big strong gifted kid and he's got a bunch of power," Guiver said. "He's fun to be around, but he's very serious about the game. He wants to get better and he wants his teammates to get better. He's got a leadership way about him."
After wrapping up a degree in business from St. Mary's this past year, Giosso joins the Dons as a proven leader who has contributed from day one. While most players are familiar with Giosso's power, particularly from an outburst while playing for the Gaels against the Dons on April 14, 2019, there's a lot more that their new slugger offers.
First baseman Gabe Giosso (17) earned 2021 Team MVP honors with the Humboldt Crabs. As a graduate transfer from St. Mary's (CA), Giosso enters his first year with the Dons program.
"One of the things I learned about myself (this summer) was that helping younger players with little things goes a long way," Giosso said.
A native of the East Bay, it's safe to say that Giosso has been a friendly face to a number of organizations throughout the state. Still, a road trip to play the San Luis Obispo Blues in late June was seen as one of his favorite memories of a summer that saw the Crabs win a lot of games, including their last 14.
As Giosso continues to find balance between his plate discipline and aggression, the valuable intangibles he brings to the program are undeniable.
"Gabe is a new addition to our program and I am happy he is in our dugout this year because he was really able to tap into his power this summer," Keplinger said. "Another beautiful component of summer ball are the new relationships you form. Gabe and Owen (Stevenson) were fortunate to be teammates this summer where they had a head start on that bond and connection."
Josh Mollerus
Summer Team: Portland Pickles (West Coast League)
If you needed a productive bullpen arm this summer, you missed out on junior Josh Mollerus. One of the returning arms on Keplinger's staff, Mollerus was lights-out in 18 relief appearances for the Portland Pickles of the West Coast League.
How nasty was his stuff? Try 23 innings and just one earned run allowed. That's a 0.39 ERA, accentuated by 37 strikeouts and perhaps most importantly, a significant up-tick in velocity. Last season, Mollerus made 18 appearances, including five starts, entering his fourth year approaching 100 innings pitched and an idea of where his role lies this coming season.
"Over the course of the summer, I learned that I love being a back end guy in the pen and getting hyped up to close out games," Mollerus said.
Mollerus' performance with Portland earned him First-Team All-West Coast League honors at the end of the summer. Thrust into a de facto closer role, Mollerus was far-and-away the Pickles' most effective reliever in high-leverage situations. Make that any situation.
"My most memorable game experience was pitching at the Corvallis (Knights) and closing for the last three innings with no hits to get us an important win," Mollerus said. "Outside of playing however, there were so many memories I was able to make with my teammates."
Getting ahead of hitters, cutting down on walks, and increasing velocity all helped make Mollerus one of the most effective relievers in the WCL. New metrics surrounding spin rate and arm extension offer insights into Mollerus' dominance. With a curveball that's improved vastly, along with a changeup that's also become a lethal weapon, Mollerus' summer performance is a big sign of things to come.
"Josh had one of the most impressive stat lines in the country and he did that in a very talented West Coast League," Keplinger said. "He settled into a nice role closing games and I am excited for him to continue to excel back on the Hilltop."
Late Spring Star Spotlight: Outfielder Nick Yovetich & Pitcher Sam Beck
While it's easy for summer performances to signal the final chapter of last season, the spotlight deservedly should find its way back to a handful of late spring stars — here's two of the names who concluded 2021 with a bang.
Nick Yovetich
Summer Team: St. Cloud Rox (Northwoods League)
One of the most well-rounded players in the program, senior outfielder Nick "Yovi" Yovetich returns with several goals in mind, but one approach.
"This past season and carrying into the summer, I have solely focused on trying to compete better on a day to day basis," Yovetich said. "Although it sounds like a simple concept, I frequently noticed early last spring that I got so caught up in how to play baseball instead of just trying to play it at a high level. The amount of repetitions and practice have provided a solid foundation that has proven to compete at a high level, but consistently doing that is what is always being chased."
With 164 games and 120 starts under his belt at USF, Yovetich is no stranger to the ups and downs of each season. His insight into the transition from summer to fall and fall into spring will prove valuable to newcomers and underclassmen, while his play on the field will be vital to the Dons' success in 2022.
He concluded last season with a 4-for-4 performance at Santa Clara on May 29, producing five runs while leaving the yard twice for the first time in his collegiate career. This summer, Yovetich played for the St. Cloud Rox of the Northwoods League, scoring 21 runs while knocking in 18 of his own. Maintaining the versatility that makes him stand out is important, and he has taken the steps to improve in all areas, not just one.
"A constant mechanical thing I am working on is shorting down my swing path and making it more direct and through the baseball," Yovetich said. "Along with this, I began to grow and adapt as an outfielder and begin to execute playing all positions in the outfield. I had the opportunity to play left field a lot this summer, and I felt as though that will help me grow overall defensively.
While all of his starts to date have come in either right or center field, the possibility for a start in left field could be on the horizon. Regardless of where he sticks, Yovetich will undoubtedly have a place in the lineup and a lot in store for his final season.
"Entering my final year at USF, I am looking forward to helping establish and grow a strong culture with a new group of guys on the Hilltop," Yovetich said. "I look forward to competing amongst one another daily on the field, in the weight room, and any other chance we get. I look forward to helping others grow and excel within our already strong organization. I look forward to competing and winning at a high level this season and chasing excellence that is a WCC championship and beyond."
Senior outfielder Nick Yovetich (42) joined former teammate Jack Winkler (15) with the St. Cloud Rox of the Northwoods League this summer.
Sam Beck
Summer Teams: Perfect Game League, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (Cape Cod League), Hyannis Harbor Hawks (Cape Cod League)
Transfer pitcher Sam Beck endured a long and windy path to USF, but he enters the 2022 campaign fresh off a productive and active summer.
A graduate transfer from Lynn University, Beck found success with pinpoint control of his fastball as a junior, before missing all of last year due to injury. In 2019, With his transfer to USF on the horizon, Beck made a stop in the Perfect Game League this summer, before joining two different squads on Cape Cod for the remaining weeks.
"Over the summer I went in with the mentality that I was surrounded by the best players in the country," Beck said. "I wanted to learn as much as possible to improve my own game."
It took a few conversations with team staff to come to the conclusion that he needed to develop a new slider, one that mimicked some of the ones that his summer teammates possessed. Together, they collaborated to help Beck develop a one-two punch with his fastball that he hopes will elevate his game to the next level. With the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox and Hyannis Harbor Hawks, Beck didn't just keep balls out of the park — he missed a lot of bats.
Like many of his new teammates, Beck has emphasized the importance of moving on from a poorly executed pitch or missed location. His ability to maintain consistent arm speeds across pitches has seen a vast improvement, highlighted by a slider that helped him to a 3.09 collective summer earned-run-average and more than a strikeout per inning.
"The thing I am looking forward to most this fall and spring is competing," Beck said. "It's a new place with new coaches and new teammates; everything has to be earned. I also look forward to working a lot with Coach Kep and I can't wait to pick his brain all year long."
