IN CONTACT: Princeton Day School baseball player Owen Ehrenkranz makes contact last Saturday as PDS opened the season by hosting Hightstown. Sophomore transfer Ehrenkranz got the lone hit for PDS as it fell 11-0 to the Rams. In upcoming action, PDS hosts Trenton Central on April 2 and Somerville on April 4 before playing at Robbinsville on April 7. (Photo by Frank Jacobs III)
By Bill Alden
Having undergone a rebuilding process under Eric Schnepf that has seen the Princeton Day School baseball team go from 1-22 in 2023 to 10-17 last spring, the program is poised to produce a winning campaign.
“We are a little bit older now coming into this between being experienced and the kids continuing to develop,” said PDS head coach Schnepf. “They know what to expect at the game. They know what to expect of each other. They know what is going to be asked of them and hopefully through last year’s experience and the start of this year’s preparation, they are feeling confident in what they have done and they will execute.”
The Panthers gained some confidence from their preseason trip to Florida in late March.
“A lot of teams from the Northeast come down here and we had a few scrimmages,” said Schnepf. “We have been practicing and saving some time for the boys to have some fun. Between practices, getting to play some games, and some live at-bats, the
boys did really well.”
Schnepf believes his squad’s pitching staff will do well this spring.
“We are bringing a lot back,” said Schnepf. “We are excited about the depth and the talent. We think it is going to be advantageous for us.”
The PDS mound corps will include sophomore transfer Owen Ehrenkranz, junior Mason Roitburg (33 strikeouts, 3.78 ERA in 2025), junior Keegan Fullman (17 strikeouts, 0.52 ERA), sophomore Cameron Kelemen (18 strikeouts, 2.69 ERA), and senior Grayson McLaughlin (3 strikeouts, 21.00 ERA).
“Owen and Mason are both standing out, Keegan is coming back from an injury so we are just making sure to work him back correctly and make sure that he stays healthy,” said Schnepf. “Cam is throwing the ball really well. Grayson was throwing the ball really well down in Florida. A lot of guys have gotten better and made good strides mentally and emotionally.”
Sophomore Vince Filis (.277 batting average, 23 hits in 2025), Fullman (.380, 32 hits), and sophomore AJ Doran (.385, 30 hits) figure to be spark the PDS batting attack.
“Vince has been at the top of the order for some of our scrimmages, he has done a really good job of getting on base,” said Schnepf. “He runs really well, he hits the ball well. Keegan was in the two-hole last year so we are really excited about bringing him back there again. AJ will bring some pop in the three-hole. He looks great. He had such a great year as a freshman. Now as a sophomore, the physical is going to continue to grow and the maturity in the box can grow. He has been doing a great job so far. We are really excited to see what his second year looks like for us.”
The trio of Ehrenkranz, sophomore Gavin Ross (.239, 16 hits), and junior Matt Silverman has shown promise with that bat
this spring.
“We are thinking about putting transfer Owen in the four-hole, he will also add some pop there,” said Schnepf. “Then you have Gavin who is back and will be in the five-hole. Matt played really well in Florida. He is healthy so it is really good to have him back. I am sure he is excited to be back and contribute.”
As for the PDS defense, sophomore Elijah Morris and freshman Mack Chiavarone are vying for the catcher spot with junior Bailey Mitra along with Silverman and Ehrenkranz getting time at first base, Ross at second, Filis at shortstop, and McLaughlin, Roitburg, and freshman Dominic Carabelli competing for time at third. In the outfield, Fullman, Doran, Ehrenkranz, Silverman and Roitburg will be in the mix, depending on who is pitching.
With PDS having been plagued by some shaky play in the early going the last two seasons, Schnepf is looking for his team to be sharper out of the gate
this spring.
“It is always nice when you get off to a good start and build some success early,” said Schnepf, whose team fell 11-0 to Hightstown in its season opener last Saturday and will look to get on the winning track as it hosts Trenton Central on April 2 and Somerville on April 4 before playing at Robbinsville on April 7. “We have struggled with that last year and the year prior of having that success early. It is coming out and playing good baseball and being ready to compete and overcome adversity. If you can do those things, which is by no means easy to do, it puts you in as good a position as you can be to secure some wins.”
In Schnepf’s view, the Panthers have gained the maturity to compete hard and deal with adversity.
“The kids have done really well in just growing and developing and overcoming challenges,” said Schnepf. “We lost a couple of seniors but think the kids are excited for the task of stepping up and contributing in a bigger role. It is enjoying the opportunity, taking advantage of the opportunity, and seeing what success comes with that.”