SALISBURY, Md. – After making their mark on the field and in the classroom, three recent Salisbury University baseball graduates will continue their collegiate careers as graduate students at esteemed NCAA Division I institutions.
Left-handed pitcher
Jackson Balzan recently committed to play the 2024 season at Seton Hall University, while outfielder
Kavi Caster will enroll at Georgetown University, and catcher
Jacob Ference is headed to the University of Virginia.
"Jackson, Kavi and Jacob prove that our players can succeed at all levels of college baseball," said Sea Gull head baseball coach
Troy Brohawn. "I'm super proud of all they've accomplished at Salisbury University, and we all wish them the best as they continue their journeys in the game."
Balzan is set to join a Pirate program that finished 31-24 in 2023 and advanced to the Big East Tournament semifinals. He graduated from SU this past spring with a B.A. in Marketing and plans to study for his Certificate in Supply Chain Management at SHU.
One of the most decorated pitchers in Salisbury history, Balzan went 27-6 with a 2.97 ERA over 45 appearances from 2020-23. He departs ranking second in Sea Gull history in starts (44), third in strikeouts (262), fifth in wins, 11th in ERA and 13th in innings pitched (236.0). Balzan was a three-time All-Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) selection and was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team twice, earning Most Outstanding Player honors in 2021.
Joining Balzan in Big East country is Caster, whose Hoyas went 30-27 and finished runner-up in the Big East Tournament after dispatching SHU in the semifinals. Caster earned a B.A. in Economics at SU and will enroll in Georgetown's Certificate in Lean and Agile Practices program.
Arguably the most versatile baseball player to ever don the maroon and gold, Caster slashed .385/.497/.674 with 75 extra-base hits, including 29 home runs, 153 RBIs, 170 runs scored and 72 stolen bases over 126 games from 2020-23. He set single-season records for runs (71), walks (47) and total bases (144) and graduated ranking top-10 in 10 career categories, including the top slugging percentage in SU history. Caster slotted on the NCAA All-Tournament Team in 2021, and in 2022 he earned C2C Player of the Year and consensus All-America laurels.
Ference is primed to join a Virginia program considered one of the finest in the nation at all levels of competition. NCAA Division I national champions in 2015, the Cavaliers finished 50-15 en route to their sixth Men's College World Series appearance in 2023. Ference will study Social Foundations at UVA after earning his B.A. in Business Management at SU.
A reliable contributor for years, Ference enjoyed a breakout 2023 season that him eclipse the 25-year-old Salisbury single-season home run record with 14 big flies (shared with teammate
Danny Sheeler). He played in 101 games from 2020-23, slashing .318/.444/.592 with 42 extra-base hits, including 20 homers, 87 RBIs and 97 runs scored. Ference earned All-C2C recognition in 2023 and graduates ranking top-10 in program history in slugging, homers and defensive putouts (664).
Balzan, Caster and Ference begin the next steps of their careers after leaving an indelible mark on Salisbury baseball. In their four years together, they helped lead the Sea Gulls to an overall record of 117-27, three straight C2C championships, three straight berths in the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship, national runner-up honors in 2022 and SU's first-ever national title in 2021.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with the New Jersey Athletic Conference for football and men's and women's swimming, and the Coastal Lacrosse Conference for men's lacrosse. With over 500 student-athletes in 21 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, and dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on-and-off the field. The Sea Gulls have celebrated 23 team national championships, 24 individual national champions, 196 conference championships and 44 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or on social media @SUSeaGulls.
