On Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019, Pennsbury seniors Shane Marlin, Tyler Babel, Devin Sweeney & Sam Ruta were recognized for committing to continue their baseball careers at the collegiate level. To view photos of the signing event, please visit the Photo Gallery at the following link: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/p419572384
Tyler Babel – Manhattan College (Baseball)
Final list of colleges: Manhattan, West Point, Lafayette, Hofstra, Georgetown
Reasons for choosing Manhattan: “I really liked the location in the city because there’s a ton to do in the city, good internships, and I liked their baseball program. They’re going to have a good team, and I really got along with the coaches the best there. I’m going to be spending most of my time with the team and the coaches, so it’s good I have a good relationship with them.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “It’s always been a dream for me to play at the Division I level. My whole life I’ve been working towards it, trying to get better and get myself to the DI level, and it felt really good knowing I achieved my goal. I can’t stop now. I have to create more goals.”
Coach Joe Pesci says: “Tyler is a second-year varsity player who was in a reserve role last year. He got some pinch-hit opportunities and some relief opportunities on the mound. He had a couple of starts here and there. He had a couple of big RBIs against Neshaminy in the last game of the year that helped propel us to a win and the league title. Tyler had a very good developmental summer. He got his fastball up to 87 miles per hour, and he had some interest from a couple of mid-major schools. He ended up committing to Manhattan College. The Jaspers are a very good mid-major Division I program where Tyler is going to excel. We look forward to seeing him on the mound and hopefully be a two-way player for us in the field and on the mound this year.”
About Tyler:
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite movie: The Godfather
Favorite music/artist: Hip Hop/Gunna
Shane Marlin – Lock Haven University (Baseball)
Major: Business Management
Final list of colleges: Lock Haven, Arcadia, Salem (W.Va.)
Reasons for choosing Lock Haven: “Overall, Lock Haven just had a great school. I really liked the PSAC, which is the conference they’re in for baseball, and I liked the family feel. When I stepped onto campus, it was just a really great atmosphere, and I felt at home there.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “Around 10 years old, I started seeing myself progressing, getting better, and at that point, I realized I should probably take this a lot more serious and think about taking my game to the next level. That’s when I started to fall in love with the game and kept going.”
Coach Joe Pesci says: “Shane is committed to Lock Haven University, which is in the PSAC. It’s arguably the best Division II conference in the country. Shane, as a catcher, is a very, very hard worker. It’s a very tough position to play, a lot of attention, and he does a great job handling our pitching staff. Shane did a great job last year. He was second team all-league, a left-handed batter who hits for power. He also had a great on-base percentage. He’s another kid who’s an extension of the coaching staff. Anytime I need something, I can shoot him a message, and he’s going to help get the equipment together, he’s going to get the kids together. He is a very, very hard worker. He helps my grandmother out and cuts her grass. He is a kid who will do everything above and beyond that you need him to do. Again, he’s a great player but also a very, very good person, so the opportunity for him to play in the PSAC and have an opportunity to start right away is a phenomenal opportunity for him.”
About Shane:
Favorite food: Cheesesteak
Favorite movie: Sandlot
Favorite music: Hip Hop
Sam Ruta – West Point Academy (Baseball)
Major: Pre-Law
Final list of colleges: West Point, Virginia, Notre Dame, Harvard, Columbia
Reasons for choosing West Point: “What really made me choose West Point was the combination of the baseball team plus the academic side. They have, in my opinion, the best coaching staff in the country along with the education I couldn’t pass up. The military portion of the academy really pulled me in.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “I definitely wanted to play baseball for as long as possible. In middle school, I knew I had a chance to play college baseball, so I kept working and working. Junior year when I was offered, it finally came about.”
Coach Joe Pesci says: “Sam had several suitors, high level DI programs and was up in the air and was committed to finding the best program that was going to help him not only baseball-wise but also academically for his career path. He chose West Point, which is obviously a very prestigious school. He knew that the smaller recruiting class was going to give him an opportunity to play right away, and Sam making that decision really set himself up for future success in baseball and his career. He is a kid that is one of the better players in the league and in the area, two years in a row first team all-league third baseman. He has a big-time lefty bat. He does all the things right, he has all the tools to be successful, but he also works incredibly hard in the weight room, incredibly hard in the batting cage. He’s always doing the extra that you need to do. Not to mention he’s a very high academic kid and he is a really good teammate and a really good connection of the coaching staff. Sam is definitely going to be successful at West Point academically and in baseball.”
About Sam:
Favorite food: Cheesesteak
Favorite TV show: Intentional Talk with Kevin Miller & Chris Rose (MLB Network)
Favorite artists: Travis Scott & Drake (Hip Hop & Rap/Country)
Devin Sweeney – University of Delaware (Baseball)
Major: Business
Final list of colleges: Delaware, Rider, Arcadia, Mercer County, Seton Hall
Reasons for choosing Delaware: “My favorite thing about Delaware was the campus, the coaches, they have a really nice field, and they have a really solid business program.”
What was the progression that led you to playing baseball at the collegiate level? “It’s always been one of my goals to keep playing, always make it to the next level and be impactful at the next level. Eighth grade I decided to try out for a showcase team, and right after the tryout they invited me to play in a tournament they had the following weekend. That weekend I started talking to Seton Hall, which was the first school I’d ever spoken to.”
Coach Joe Pesci says: “Devin is a kid who’s been on varsity for a couple of years now. Last year he was able to get a handful of starts and met with some success. He’s a big left-handed pitcher and was up 84-86 miles per hour, which is phenomenal because he projects really well to the next level. He had some good interest and a good summer of performance and development, which got him to the University of Delaware. He is again a kid who works really hard in the weight room, and he’s a very good teammate. He really started to break out of his shell last year, and we’re definitely excited to see him on the mound as our ace. We worked through the fall, and again, he was another extension of the coaching staff. He’s a very good academic kid and a hard worker who’s going to have success at Delaware.”
About Devin:
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite TV show: Last Chance U
Favorite artist: Lil Wayne
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