Despite late-season woes, coach optimistic about future of Gateway baseball

By: Brennan Valladares
Sunday, May 18, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Two weeks into the 2025 season, Gateway baseball seemed to be on pace for a breakout year.

Through the Gators’ opening six games, they had already surpassed their four-win total from the previous season with a series sweep of section rival McKeesport. Through 91/2 innings against the Tigers, the Gators surrendered only two runs while scoring 18 of their own.

That lopsided scoring was beginning to feel commonplace under first-year coach Andy Hoover, as by April 11, Gateway was outscoring its opponents 79-22.

“If you look at the scores, our pitching and defense was great,” Hoover said of his team’s 6-3 start. “… I think the most runs we gave up in those first nine games was we gave up five. … So we were pitching and defending well (along with our hitting).”

But the Gators’ sixth win — a 7-5 victory over Armstrong — would be their last. Over the final 10 games of the season, Gateway was outscored 83-18, scoring more than three runs only once.

“Most of our guys had played JV the year before, and when we ran into some more velocity and some more polished pitching later on in the year, and especially in section play, we struggled offensively,” Hoover said. “I think we pitched well for the most part. We just had a hard time scoring runs later on in the year.”

Even with a winless close to the season, Hoover commended his team’s work ethic and determination.

“We have a makeup of guys that are willing to work hard,” Hoover said. “They’re not going to give up.

“… These guys were willing to come in every day, punch the time clock, go to practice, work hard and try to get better and try to compete. And they knew nothing was going to be given to them. … (The hard work) didn’t pay off this year, but that’s why I’m excited about next year because we’ve got a group of guys that are willing to put the work in and continue to fight and work hard and get better every year.”

Those returning players who give Hoover hope for a better 2026 campaign include sophomores Jon Saunders and Roman Jennings, along with junior and team captain Grady Dunsmore.

Saunders, the team’s top hurler, led the Gators to three of their first six wins, allowing only three runs through 20 innings. He finished the year first in wins (3), earned run average (1.33) and strikeouts (44).

Jennings, in his first nine games at the varsity level, went 10 of 14 at the plate and recorded eight of his 11 RBIs. By season’s end, he was the team leader in batting average (.321) and hits (18) and was second in RBIs.

Dunsmore, one of six returning juniors, was in the top six in batting average (.262), hits (11) and RBIs (9).

All three players are part of a talented, young core that Hoover hopes will have earned the right experience to improve next season.

“It was just a young team that struggled,” Hoover said. “But the good news is, because we’re young, most of our contributors are all coming back next year, so they got some experience under their belts, and they should be ready to roll next year. … I hate talking about next year already, but that’s all I got to talk about because I am excited about the talent that we have coming back. … Should be a good year next year, especially with all the sophomores that’ll be juniors.”

Gateway finished the 2025 season 6-13 (2-8). Of the 17 players from this year’s team, 12 are expected to return in 2026.

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