NCBWA Preseason Top-10  |  NCBWA All-Atlantic Region Team
 
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The Slippery Rock University baseball team was ranked fifth in the initial National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Atlantic Region poll of the 2023 season in addition to landing five athletes on the organization's preseason all-region team.
 
Defending Atlantic Region champion West Chester was ranked first in the poll after totaling 110 points and eight first-place votes. The Golden Rams were followed in the top five by Millersville (109), East Stroudsburg (96), Seton Hill (80) and The Rock (59). Millersville also garnered three first-place votes with East Stroudsburg receiving one as well.
 
The remainder of the top-10 consists of Charleston, Gannon, Mercyhurst, Concord and Glenville State. Frostburg State, Fairmont State and California (Pa.) all received votes as well outside of the top-10.
 
Representing The Rock on the preseason NCBWA All-Atlantic Region Team as first team selections were starting pitcher Devin Dunn and outfielder Alex Robenolt while second baseman Koby Bubash, designated hitter Eddie Morris and Luke Trueman (utility) were all honorable mention choices.
 
Slippery Rock is coming off a 2022 season in which it went 33-18 overall with appearances in both the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. SRU's 33 wins last season were the most for the program since 2009.
 
While Slippery Rock will be tasked with replacing significant pieces from last year's team including All-American catcher Connor Hamilton, four-year starting third baseman Abraham Mow, starting pitcher Ricky Mineo and reliver Andy McClymonds, SRU's 2023 roster is hardly lacking talent as head coach Jeff Messer returns six everyday starters and three starting pitchers from a season ago including the five all-region honorees.
 
Dunn anchored The Rock's starting rotation in his first season with the program a season ago. Over 12 starts, he went 9-2 with a 2.80 ERA, .231 opponent batting average and 77 strikeouts in 70.2 innings pitched. Dunn, who threw three complete-game shutouts last year, gave up three runs or less in seven starts. For his efforts, he was named a first team All-PSAC West pitcher and a consensus all-region choice by the NCBWA, American Baseball Coaches Association and the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association.
 
One of three Rock athletes to start all 51 games in 2022, Robenolt served as SRU's cleanup hitter in addition to corner outfield duties for much of the year. He had a career-year, batting .363 with 39 runs scored, 11 home runs and 51 RBI while slugging .654 and compiling a .412 on-base percentage. He concluded the season tied for the team lead in both total hits (66) and extra-base hits (29). Like Dunn, Robenolt earned first team All-PSAC West and consensus all-region accolades.
 
Trueman did it all for The Rock in 2022 as he started 11 games as part of SRU's stellar starting pitching rotation while also starting 35 games in right field. At the plate, Trueman hit .293 with 27 runs, nine home runs, 28 RBI and a .379 on-base percentage. Over 11 starts on the mound, he went 5-5 with a 4.15 ERA and 73 strikeouts through 65 innings. Trueman's versatility was recognized following the season as a second team all-league choice from the utility slot.
 
In his first season as a full-time starter, Morris was voted a first team All-PSAC West designated hitter after batting .329 in 46 starts with 34 runs, eight home runs and 32 RBI. Morris, who also had 12 doubles and a triple, slugged .584 with a .410 on-base percentage.
 
Bubash split time at second base with the now-graduated Anthony Cinicola a season ago as he made 34 total appearances and 30 starts, hitting .402 over 102 at-bats with 27 runs, five home runs, 21 RBI, seven doubles, a .441 on-base percentage and a .637 slugging percentage. Bubash closed the season reaching base in 19 consecutive games.
 
Slippery Rock's 2023 season officially begins with a nine-inning game Feb. 24 at Shippensburg University.
 
NCBWA Atlantic Region Preseason Poll
West (# of 1st Place Votes)
1. West Chester (8)
2. Millersville (3)
3. East Stroudsburg (1)
4. Seton Hill
5. Slippery Rock
6. Charleston
7. Gannon
8. Mercyhurst
9. Concord
10. Glenville State
Receiving Votes: Frostburg State, Fairmont State, California (Pa.)




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