By Rylee Douglas
On Oct. 9, Gardner-Webb baseball faced Queens University in a 14-inning battle that gave several players an opportunity to stand out. Fall games provide players with valuable reps and give coaches an opportunity to evaluate the team, identify areas of strength, and determine where improvements are needed before the regular season begins. From strong defensive play to quality at-bats and
pitching potential, five players distinguished themselves with their performances on the field.
Patrick Niehus — First Baseman
Patrick Niehus is a 6-foot-3, 210-pound redshirt freshman who bats and throws right-handed. At first base, Niehus showed good footwork around the bag, soft hands and the ability to pick balls out of the dirt. He displayed solid body control and awareness, providing a reliable presence on defense. At the plate, Niehus works counts well and shows power potential. With more at-bats
and continued development, he has the opportunity to progress as a hitter.
Drew Ripepi — Third Baseman
Drew Ripepi is a 6-foot, 225-pound redshirt junior who bats and throws right-handed. At the hot corner, Ripepi showed good reactions, quick hands and lateral range. He fields the ball cleanly, displays good footwork and makes accurate throws across the diamond. At the plate, Ripepi works counts well, shows patience and demonstrates good pitch recognition. He also uses his
lower half well to generate power, making him an intriguing presence in the batter’s box.
Willy Mendez — Outfielder
Willy Mendez is a 5-foot-11, 190-pound junior outfielder who bats left-handed. Mendez showed a great approach at the plate, with quick hands and present bat speed. He consistently finds the barrel and drives the ball to all fields. During his appearance against Queens, Mendez hit a line-drive RBI home run to right-center field that traveled approximately 360 feet, highlighting his
ability to make hard contact and produce runs.
Trey Grayson — Pitcher
Trey Grayson is a 6-foot-4, 220-pound freshman who throws right-handed. On the mound, Grayson showed a good feel for pitching, with a repeatable delivery and solid arm action. He worked ahead in counts and demonstrated the ability to fill up the strike zone. Grayson topped out at 94 mph, showing promising velocity and potential. With continued development, he could
become a reliable pitching option for Gardner-Webb.
Daniel Smith — Outfielder
Daniel Smith is a 6-foot-1, 210-pound senior outfielder who bats and throws right-handed. At the plate, Smith works counts well, displays quick hands and present bat speed, and uses his lower half effectively. He also shows a good feel for the strike zone and the ability to hit to all fields. During the game against Queens, Smith hit a line-drive single through the gap between first and
second base. His approach and ability to put the ball in play suggest he could provide Gardner-Webb with a reliable situational hitter.
Final Thoughts
Gardner-Webb’s 14-inning battle against Queens provided a look at several players who made an impression in different areas of the game. Niehus and Ripepi stood out defensively, Mendez showed his power at the plate, Grayson demonstrated promising potential on the mound, and Smith displayed an approach that could help him in situational hitting. Fall games give coaches
valuable opportunities to evaluate players, build team chemistry and identify areas that need improvement before opening day.
Redshirt-freshman first-baseman Niehus shared his thoughts on the team’s progress, saying, “The guys have been working as hard as ever, and the team is becoming more cohesive every day. I know we are all hungry for opening day to come and believe we can do something special.”
With continued development, these players have the opportunity to contribute to Gardner-Webb’s success moving forward.
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