By: Sammy Johnson
The Peninsula Pilots are excited to welcome back nine returning players for the 2023 season.
Trey Morgan:
Trey Morgan is a redshirt junior from Virginia Military Institute who can play both sides of the ball. During the Pilots’ 2022 season, Morgan batted .273 and was second on the team in both hits and home runs. Morgan led the team in RBIs with 31 and drew 25 walks with just 21 strikeouts. He also was second on the team in stolen bases with 12. On the pitching side, Morgan posted a 2-1 record with an impressive 3.86 ERA through 37.1 IP. He struck out 32 batters, which was fourth on the team. At VMI, he earned second-team All-SoCon honors for the 2023 season.
Zac Morris:
Zac Morris is a redshirt junior short-stop from VMI. While Morris didn’t get too many chances at the plate last season, he should vie for more playing time this summer after a successful year at VMI, where he batted .318 with 10 HRs and 49 RBIs – both fourth on the team. Morris also earned 2nd team All-SoCon honors.
Elijah Dickerson:
Elijah Dickerson is a junior outfielder from Towson. Last season, Dickerson’s impressive season earned him a spot on the CPL East all-star team. Dickerson did it all, leading the team in at-bats, hits, doubles, and runs while hitting .284 with 26 RBIs. Dickerson also had an impressive season at Towson, hitting .313 with 38 RBIs.
Mason Dunaway:
Mason Dunaway is a redshirt junior short-stop from James Madison University. Last summer, he made the most of his 25 at-bats with a .280 average, 10th on the team. He batted .303 with 45 hits and 29 RBIs during his junior season at JMU.
Carmine Popitti:
Carmine Popitti, a redshirt junior right-handed pitcher from Tennessee Wesleyan, is back for his third season with the Pilots. Popitti started 7 games last year with 20.2 IP. He struck out 19 batters, earning him an 8.5 K/9. In the 2021 season, Popitti had an impressive 3.03 ERA with 46 Ks in 32.2 IP. He also posted quality numbers this year at Tennessee Wesleyan, with a 3.38 ERA on 24 IP.
Sam Rochard:
Sam Rochard is a redshirt junior right-handed pitcher from Tennessee Wesleyan. In 13 IP last summer, Rochard had a 1.39 ERA, and opponents batted just .104 against him. Rochard also recently wrapped up a quality season at Tennessee Wesleyan, with 70 Ks in 56.2 IP.
Cole Stanford:
Cole Stanford is a junior catcher from Lenoir-Rhyne University. Last season, Stanford batted .283 on 46 ABs. At Lenoir-Rhyne, Stanford batted .304 with 8 HRs. He also showed an incredible eye at the plate with 35 BBs and 19 Ks.
Justin Starke:
Justin Starke is a redshirt junior first baseman/catcher from VMI. Starke was on the Pilots during the 2021 season, when he batted .246 on 114 at-bats and had 17 RBIs. He excelled this year at VMI, leading the team in BA at .390 and in home runs with 13. Starke earned 1st team All-SoCon honors for the 2023 season.
Nate Varnier:
Nate Varnier is a junior left-handed pitcher from William Peace University. Varnier’s impressive 2022 season earned him a spot on the CPL East all-star roster. He pitched 46.1 innings and recorded a 2.91 ERA, finishing with a 3-1 record with one save in his only save opportunity.