Alright, team huddle up! We’ve got to talk about Loren Torres and Point Park University. Torres is like the Gandalf of baseball right now—finding his way in a new league without missing a beat. It’s his 16th season cruising with Point Park, and they’re now in NCAA Division II territory after domming the NAIA scene. It’s like switching from a pickup league at the YMCA to the big leagues and not even breaking a sweat.
Torres promised that the culture and traditions of the team wouldn’t waver, and boy, has he delivered. The Pioneers have been on a tear this season, snagging their ninth consecutive win with a clean sweep over Wheeling. This run locked them in as the Mountain East Conference (MEC) North Division champs and the number one seed for the conference tourney.
So, even though they’re new to the NCAA Division II, it feels like they’ve been there forever. Torres and the squad were skeptical initially—questions up in the air about how Point Park would transition the big move. But they’ve shut down the doubters faster than you can say “home run.”
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However, there’s a bit of a bummer. Point Park won’t be able to participate in the NCAA Division II national tournament for three years because of those pesky probationary periods after climbing up from NAIA. But hey, they’re eyeing the conference tournament crown like it’s the World Series.
Senior catcher Joey Pilewski? He’s gunning for a ring—says it’s the cherry on top for their season. This squad’s led by Torres, who’s already bagged tons of victories at NAIA tournaments. He’s legit magic with pennants. He’s like the Pied Piper, but with bats and balls instead of a flute.
Meet Jared Campbell, the dynamite outfielder who’s got opponents even wishing for rainouts. Leading the MEC in homers, runs, and RBIs is no joke. The dude’s got a slugging percentage of .778 and an OPS of 1.284—seriously, these stats are video game level. And with five players hitting over .300, this team’s batting lineup is like a hyper-speed merry-go-round.
But let’s not forget about the arms dealing strikes from the mound. Senior ace Javier Cardoso II—projected future Point Park Hall of Famer—is destroying hitters with a 7-3 record and a 3.76 ERA. His right-hand man, Harold Boyce, stands with a slick 3.25 ERA. These guys are as tough as frozen beef.
Plus, sophomore Ethan Parker’s been steady from the bullpen. He makes those late-game innings as stressful—but rewarding—as fishing marlins. Ramon Rodriguez? Consistently securing outs with a 4.22 ERA.
From the get-go, Point Park knew they had to bring it in D-II. According to Campbell, it wasn’t about changing who they are but taking that NAIA grit and adding an extra layer of polish for the MEC. And it’s certainly served them well.
Even with the transition to a tougher league, the team’s made waves. Point Park’s tearing it up with 53 homers and a .509 slugging rate leading the MEC. And pitching? Six shutouts, allowing 339 hits, and barely letting free passes with 99 walks all year.
Cardoso, Samurai pitching, embodies the Pioneers’ ethos: resilient, flexible, and locked in. Whether they’re laying foundation stones now or building to championship futures, Point Park’s looking like they’re setting up shop at the upper echelon and kicking the know-it-alls to the curb.
The culture—oh, it’s real, alive, and future-ready. With mentors like Torres at the helm, you can bet Point Park is positioning themselves for a splash in regional and national championships. As Cardoso might say, they’re not just here to play—they’re here to win.
