2025 Baseball Season Preview
The Providence Christian College baseball team kicks off the 2025 season with new head coach Eric Fuller leading the team and captain Sam Arcarese representing the blue and orange. We are anticipating an amazing season ahead with the return of twenty-eight players from the 2024 roster and the addition of fourteen new recruits. The seniors are approaching the 2025 season hoping to leave their mark on the Sea Beggar baseball program, and the new wave of transfers and freshmen desires to bring about positive change for the future. The team is looking forward to making it a memorable season and believes they can uplift the program in 2025.
It has been a rough start to 2025 as high winds and wildfires decimated a significant part of our local community, with many people losing their properties and some even losing loved ones. There are many tragedies around us, and some have lost hope in the future, but our Sea Beggars are linking arms, ready to share the hope and love of the Lord through the game of baseball. The Providence baseball coaches and student-athletes desire to be a beacon of light and hope for those that are lost and help them find peace and comfort in Christ alone.
As the school year began, Coach Fuller had a huge decision to make in regards to whether or not to choose a team captain. In the offseason, Coach Fuller and assistant baseball coach William Phillips met with several team leaders individually and discussed their thoughts about having a captain and who it should be. All of the team leaders responded in unity and named the same person to be this year's team captain. After considering the conversations with his leaders and agreeing with their assessments, Coach Fuller and Coach Phillips named Sam Arcarese as the team captain for the 2025 season. Coach Fuller stated that "Sam is not only a valuable teammate on the field, but he also lives out the leadership standard because that's who he is." After an offseason practice, Coach Fuller announced Arcarese as captain during a team meeting, and it was received with resounding cheers from the players. When asked about what it means to be a captain for this team, Sam replied, "As a captain, it is my hope to represent my team as a whole, not only on the field but in the classroom as well. This year we, as a team, have made it a priority to better represent Christ and carry ourselves in a way that is honorable. I am making it my priority to be approachable and honorable. I want to set an example that people can look up to. I plan on representing Providence baseball on the field by being a leader with my actions. Overall, I want my team to believe that I have their backs on and off the field, as I know they have mine." There is a consensus belief in the program and around campus that Sam's leadership will motivate every student-athlete to practice diligently, hold each other accountable, and help the team become one cohesive unit.
Coming into this season, every student-athlete looks to cherish each moment together, especially the multiple seniors graduating this year. The seniors have made a long-lasting impact on their teammates, this team, and this program, but each one is ready to leave one final memorable mark this upcoming season. Last season, senior third baseman Kyle Fuller, outfielder Nathan Oliveira, and utility Victor Vega had batting averages of .294, .284, and .296, respectively. With high batting averages, multiple home runs, multiple RBIs, and high OBPs, all three strive to carry over their success at the plate and continue to make an impact with their bats. Senior catcher Isaiah Ayala returns to guide each pitcher on the mound to effectively throw strikes and get outs on the plate and in the field. As a junior last year, Josh Colon received the 2024 Cal Pac All-Conference All-Defense Team at third base. When asked how he would like to impact the team this year, Josh replied, "My main goal is consistency and setting the tone with my work ethic and pushing the team to stay sharp and focused, no matter what my role is. Off the field, I'll help foster team unity and keep everyone motivated, making sure we stay connected and accountable to each other." The seniors are ready to set an example for their teammates in their work ethic and hope to finish their careers strong here at Providence Christian College.
During the offseason, many returning players have recognized and acknowledged the transformation in team culture, and they are anticipating a breakout season due to this change. There is significantly more depth at each position this season, with each player competing to earn their spot in the lineup and everyone understanding that each role matters. It has become apparent that this team will win or lose as a cohesive unit because of their selfless, team-first attitudes. Batters like Blair Hillig, Brandon McCray, and Preston Wilson expect to improve their skills at the plate and be an important piece in the game off the bench. Pitchers like Chaz Kantola, Daniel Leanos, and Luke Silvestro are prepared to throw strikes and be valuable assets from the bullpen. Sophomore starting pitcher Chris Gonzalez's outstanding performance on the mound in the La Sierra series, striking out six batters in six innings, which eventually helped the team win the game in a 10th-inning walk-off, earned him recognition as the Cal Pac Pitcher of the Week last year. Chris will be heavily relied on to bring consistency from the mound and leadership in the dugout. He recognizes that this team is grittier and more competitive this year. As they practiced hard in the offseason, Chris hopes to make a meaningful run at the conference title this year and break Providence's single-season win record. All returners trust that their hard work and perseverance throughout the offseason will benefit the team this upcoming season.
The Sea Beggar coaching staff recruited fourteen transfers and freshmen to join the Dirt Beggs and project that each student-athlete will improve the baseball program this season through embracing their unique roles. The coaching staff has high hopes for junior right-handed pitcher Brendon Demuth and junior left-handed pitcher Nolan Troxel to throw strikes in the zone and compete to win every time they take the mound. They are also anticipating outfielders Reese Shioji and Landon Raskin and infielder Jordan Aguallo to make significant impacts with their bats and make defensive stops on the field. The Beggars are eager to see how the rest of the additional players can propel the baseball program this season and in the future. Among the transfers, we are thrilled to see senior Tucker Panarisi return to Providence. After a year away at Cal State Los Angeles, Panarisi has spent the fall using his veteran experience to invest in each teammate, and he looks to continue to make a positive impact on the team this spring. When asked how this new team is preparing for this upcoming season, Tucker responded, "We as a team are strong, motivated, and eager to compete. The Providence community can expect high-intensity competition when they watch us on the field this year. We started completely fresh this year in regards to how we go about our business on and off the field. We have shifted our reputation as a team in a positive direction. We as a team set disciplines and standards that everyone has to meet every day. As we worked diligently and tirelessly this offseason, it will be our job to go out and execute everything on the field."
Coach Fuller comes to Providence with many years of coaching experience and is honored to be part of the Sea Beggar family. He made a goal to use the sport of baseball as an avenue for discipling young men. When asked about what he's looking forward to with this Sea Beggars baseball team, Coach Fuller responded, "I am not sure that I have ever seen a tighter, grittier group of young men that are willing to check their ego at the door and compete for one another. This group is willing to punch the clock with an anytime, anywhere attitude, do the difficult things, hold each other to the right standard, and pull in the same direction." Furthermore, Coach Fuller answered, "We talk about doing things from a grace-driven effort, meaning we play the game freely, from acceptance, not for acceptance, that is available through Christ. In other words, we don't belong to ourselves because we have been bought with a price." Coach Fuller will lead his staff and this team well into the future, and we have confidence that the Beggars are in great hands.
The Sea Beggars continue their 2025 season against Benedictine University-Mesa at 10 am on Friday, February 7th, at Glendale Sports Complex. Panarisi shared some encouragement for the Providence community, family, and friends to come out to their games: "Providence, it's time to show up. We're out there grinding every day to represent this school with pride, and we need you behind us. Your energy fuels us, your noise rattles the competition, and together, we can turn our field into our territory. This isn't just about baseball; it's about proving what Providence Christian College is all about. So bring the noise, pack the stands, and let's make it loud. Be there because when we win, we win together." Let's show up for our Beggars as they take the field to compete and bring hope of Christ through the tool of baseball.