Penguin Baseball History

The Penguins baseball program began in 1948 with Men’s Basketball Coach Dom Rosselli at the helm. The program was halted following the 1950 season but returned in 1958 and has been a sport at YSU ever since. The Penguins have had 8 coaches in school history, including current coach Steve Gillispie.

In the 2013-14 season, the Penguins qualified for the NCAA Regional and advanced out of the losers bracket ...falling to regional champs Stanford. This was the program's first NCAA tournament win as a Division-I program. Having one of the programs worst seasons in years, the Guins went 4-0 in the Horizon League tournament; advancing to play Indiana in the first round. In 2004, the Penguins qualified for their first NCAA Division I Regional in school history by winning the Horizon League Tournament. Playing host to the tournament at Eastwood Field, YSU posted a 4-0 mark beating the No. 2 seed, No. 3 seed (twice) and No. 1 seed on the way to the title. The Penguins played at the Austin Regional losing to Texas and TCU at the event.

Prior to making the NCAA postseason in 2004, YSU last appeared on the Division II Regional stage in 1977, 1966 and 1964. Dom Rosselli also coached the program through 1981 and had a record of 418-219. All-time the Penguins have had nine Major League Baseball Draft picks, highlighted in 2001, when the San Francisco Giants selected Brad Hennessey in the first round. The most newsworthy Penguin to play in the majors is perhaps pitcher Dave Dravecky. Dravecky battled back from cancer to return to the Major Leagues in the early 1990’s before having his arm amputated because of his illness.

Penguin NCAA Postseason:
2013-14    NCAA DI Regional
2003-04    NCAA DI Regional
1976-77    NCAA DII Regional
1965-66    NCAA DII Regional
1963-64    NCAA DII Regional

Penguin Historical Classifications:
1948-1959    NAIA
1960-1981    NCAA Division II
1982-present    NCAA Division I

Penguin Historical Baseball Conferences:
1948-1950    Independent
1973-1977    Division II Independent
1978-1980    Mid-Continent Conference
1981-1988    Ohio Valley Conference
1989-1991    Division I Independent
1992-2000    Mid-Continent Conference
2001-present     Midwest Collegiate Conference/The Horizon League

Prepared, in-part, by YSU Sports Information Director Trevor Parks.
Additional data provided by the NCAA.