The Keystone College baseball team fell short of the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time since 2007 when it was eliminated from the United East Conference playoffs in the semifinals.
The Giants made 17 straight tournament trips from 2008 to 2025. There was no tournament in 2020 because of COVID.
Penn State Abington eliminated Keystone with a 7-5 victory May 8.
The Giants finished 28-12.
Keystone rallied and produced 13 hits, but fell short.
Benny Hess led the offense with three hits. Dee Rice, who drove in two runs, and Dillion Bird, who scored twice, each had two hits.
Postseason awards
Cooper Ryan was named Pitcher of the Year and Jamie Shevchik was named Coach of the Year by the United East Conference.
Ryan went 7-1 with a save and 3.59 earned run average in 57 2/3 innings over 14 games. He struck out 68.
Shevchik recorded his 800th career win earlier in the playoffs and finished the season with an 801-282 record for a .746 winning percentage.
Ryan was one of three players to earn first-team, all-star honors for the Giants, who were the United East’s top team during the regular season.
Dante Ruby made the team as a middle infielder and Ray Moreta was selected as a designated hitter.
Catcher Benny Hess, corner infielder Ethan Schimony, outfielder Rice and relief pitcher Brandon Valles made the second team. Starting pitcher Leam Powell was chosen to the third team.
Ruby started all 38 games and batted .409 with 56 hits and 36 RBIs. He had 14 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 11 stolen bases
Moreta batted .396 with 22 RBIs in 24 games. He had eight doubles, two triples and a homer.
Coaching hire
Keystone named Tyshwan White as the new head coach for men’s and women’s wrestling May 15.
White most recently served as head women’s wrestling coach and event coordinator at Bismarck State College, where he led the first-year program to a 20th-place finish in the country in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Prior to Bismarck State, the former Lock Haven wrestler was an assistant at Chadron State and a head coach of both men’s and women’s teams at Penn State Altoona.
White won an Eastern Wrestling League championship and finished third nationally at Lock Haven. He continues to train as a freestyle wrestler, hoping to qualify for the World Team Trials.
“As a Pennsylvania native, he understands the tradition and toughness of wrestling in this region and we’re excited for the leadership, energy and momentum he will bring to our program,” athletic director Kacy Manning said, according to a story posted on the Keystone website. “We look forward to the impact he will have on our student-athletes, our campus community and the future of Keystone College wrestling.”