BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb baseball announced its incoming group of signees, a talented collection that includes 10 transfers and four high school recruits.

Head coach Jim Chester continues to build a Big South Conference contender in Boiling Springs, with this class poised to join a strong corps of returning starters for a team that heated up late in 2022. 

The signees joins fall recruits Ryan Kennell (Westland, Mich.) and Erick Delgado (Miami, Fla.) on the 2023 Gardner-Webb roster.

Nine of the signees are pitchers – eight transfers – with NCAA Division II All-America utility man Jacob McCaskey (Tarentum, Pa. / Cal U Pa.) among that group. McCaskey – a standout two-way performer – earned second-team ABCA Division II All-America honors in 2022 and was a first-team All-Region and All-PSCA West selection for the Vulcans.

He started 48 games in the field, seing action at six different positions. McCaskey batted .373 with 13 doubles, 10 home runs and 45 RBI in 2022, while going 6-1 with a 3.17 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 54.0 innings of work. He tossed a pair of complete games and is blessed with a fastball that sits in the 90s.

"Jacob is a special player that can literally play any position on the field," said Chester. "He will be a two-way player for the Runnin' Bulldogs, and will be a special piece to the lineup."

Gardner-Webb also added transfer arms LHP Brendan Bean (North Wildwood, N.J. / Penn), RHP Tanner Chafin (Cumming, Ga. / LaGrange College), RHP Kazuya Kojima (Kamakura Gakuen, Japan / Tacoma CC), RHP Joe Miceli (Oakland, N.J. / Virginia), RHP Joe Nestal (Drexel Hill, Pa. / UMBC), RHP Grant Vera (Tiffin, Ohio / Kent State) and RHP Dalton Wood (Katy, Texas / Rice). High schooler Quin Spalding (Plantation, Fla. / American Heritage) also joined the squad.

Bean tossed 57 career innings in the Ivy League at Penn, striking out 64 batters with a 3.32 career ERA.

"Brendan is the ultimate competitior and will be a huge upgrade to our pitching staff," said Chester. "I am excited to see his success this year."

Chafin pitched 125 innings at Division III Lagrange College during his career, with 86 strikeouts and a 3.60 career ERA.

"Tanner comes from a very successful D3 program where he was an intregal part of the bullpen," added Chester. "He adds depth and experience to our staff."

Kojima joins GWU after a successful junior college career at Tacoma Community College, where he was an All-Conferenxe choice in 2022 after hurling 29.2 innings with 33 strikeouts and a 1.21 ERA as a reliever. He walked on six batters all season.

"Kazuya was one of the top bullpen arms in the NWAC," said Chester. "He comes from a winning tradition at Tacoma and is a perfect fit for our program."

The Hard-throwing Miceli spent one season at the University of Virginia, where he worked out of the bullpen without allowing an earned run in 2022. He previously starred at Bergen Community College in his home state of New Jersey and has a fastball that reaches into the mid-90s.

"Joe is an experienced arm and was one of the top junior college arms in the country a year ago," said Chester. "We got better with Joe joining the Runnin' Bulldog Baseball family."

Nestal struck out 41 batters in 41.0 career innings at UMBC and is another experienced arm from the Division I level to join the Gardner-Webb program for the 2023 season.

"Joe is another piece to the pitching staff puzzle," said Chester. "His experience and success makes us better."

Vera, a former shortstop at Kent State, is another reliever with a fastball that touches in the mid-90s. He moved to the bullpen full-time for the Golden Flashes and will remain in that role for Gardner-Webb.

"Grant takes the back end of our bullpen to the next level," added Chester. "He brings experiencenand leadership to our pitching staff."

Wood, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound righty, is another strong reliever with a big fastball. He pitched 59.0 career innings at Rice and held opposing batters to a .248 batting average during his time in Houston.

"Dalton is another experienced arm that adds talent an depth to our staff," said Chester. "We are excited to see him compete this fall." 

Catcher Mark Black joins the Gardner-Webb program after spending the 2022 season at Wake Forest. He made two starts for the Demon Deacons and collected his first hit as a Division I player against UNC Greensboro – belting a grand slam as part of a 23-3 win.

Black hit .288 with three home runs and 28 RBI as a freshman for national junior college power Chipla (Fla.) College and was a star at Pittsburgh's Serra Catholic High – also the alma mater of Gardner-Webb skipper Jim Chester.

Black was named a first-team High School All-America at catcher by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and was named Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Baseball Player of the Year in 2019. Black batted .521 with 14 home runs and 41 RBI as a junior in 2019, leading the team to a spot in the WPIAL Class 2A finals. 

The 5-foot-11, 210-pound slugger was rated as the nation's No. 14 catcher prospect in the Class of 2020 by Perfect Game and participated with the Team USA 17U National Developmental Team program in 2019. He also took part in the 2020 PBR Super 60 Pro Showcase and played in both the 2019 Yankees Area Code Games and 2019 Reds East Coast Pro Showcase.

"Mark is a middle of the order bat with the ability to play multiple positions," said Chester. "His expereince and talent is an upgrade to our lineup."

Max Smyley signed with Gardner-Webb as a transfer from Division III University of The Redlands. A shorstop, Smyley batted .287 for his career with 73 hits, 64 runs scored, 13 doubles and nine home runs. He drove home 48 in 254 career at bats. The Whitefish, Mont., native is also noted as a strong defender.

"Max comes from another outstanding D3 program," added Chester. "His energy and competivness will raise the level of play in our infield."

Gardner-Webb's high school signees are catcher Brian Daker (Burr Ridge, Ill. / IMG Academy (Fla.), infielder Matt Illgenfritz (New Cumberland, Pa. / Cedar Cliff HS) and infielder Joe Stanzione (Lincroft, N.J. / Middletown South HS) along with Spalding.

Daker also played at Hindsdale Central High before moving to play in Florida, earning West Suburban Silver All-Conference honors.

"Brian is a workhorse behind the plate," said Chester. "He has a bright future in our program."


Illgenfritz was a first-team All-Conference choice at Cedar Cliff (Pa.) High

"Matt is agreat all-around player," said Chester. "We are exccited to watch his development this fall." 


Stanzione brings big power to the roster, with a conference-record 15 home runs under his belt during the 2022 high school season. He earned first-team All-State honors in New Jersey as well.

"Joe has as much raw power as anyone in our program," added Chester. "He adds depth and talent to our corner infield in addition to his offensive potential."

Spalding went 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA and 23 strikeout in 17.0 innings this past spring for American Heritage. He made 15 appearances over his final two prep seasons, including three starts.

Quin is a young arm with a lot of potential, we are excited to follow his progress this fall"

Gardner-Webb's current roster is on campus for the fall semester and already preparing for a strong run into the 2023 season.