Norfolk State University baseball is facing the prospects of a rebuilding year with the losses of 10 seniors from last season’s MEAC conference championship team including Alsander Womack and Danny Hosley. Womack signed a free agent contract with the Chicago White Sox this past summer.
Notable returnees James Deloatch (LHP) and Nolan Manzer (RHP) should make pitching the strength of the 2022 team. Offensively, outfielders Jacob Council and first team All-MEAC selection Dionte Brown return to spearhead what will have to be a revamped offense. Raphy Rodriguez will be the top defender and will start at shortstop for the Spartans.
This fall is going to be important for some of the new players to step up and show head coach Keith Shumate what they can do. The Spartans have some quality returnees who have a lot of experience. They will have to continue to work hard and lead the younger players in their development.
For the new players it’s really important to come in, learn how the program works, understand where the team is coming from and show what they can do..
A plus for the program is the addition of transfer Tanner Brandon, Black College Nines’ 2021 HBCU Small School Division Player of the Year.
Norfolk State lost a good deal of talent, but they also have a lot of new talent. They have all fall to figure it out. Shumate and his staff have a lot of questions, but they do have a lot of options. It should be a very, very interesting fall as far as competition, because there is a lot of it.
Camrin Sturgeon and Malcolm Perry are two freshman that will contribute this year.