MARIETTA, Ohio —The 2025 Etta Express has its sights set on a return to the NCAA Tournament after missing the postseason last spring. Head Coach Brian Brewer, in his 22nd season at the helm of the Pioneer program, will be looking to fill several key roles as Marietta returns just four position starters from last year's 24-19 team.
 
"We have a good group that works hard, and I really enjoy coaching this team," Brewer said. "With the number of new faces, we have a long way to go. But I am confident we will get there."
 
A big key to achieving the program goals of an Ohio Athletic Conference regular season and tournament title, NCAA Regional, NCAA Super Regional, and NCAA National championship will be turning around last year's results in one-run games. The Pioneers lost 12 one-run games in 2024 to go along with a pair of two-run and two three-run losses. 16 of the 19 losses last spring were by three runs or less.
 
Leading the way for the Etta Express this season is a pair of returning All-OAC players. Seniors Nick Bonnizzio (Hudson, Ohio/Twinsburg) and Jeremy Tonelli (Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg) will be counted on to anchor the Pioneer lineup.
 
Bonnizzio split time between third base and the outfield last year and earned first team All-OAC honors after hitting .337 with 10 doubles. Tonelli was a second team selection in the outfield and is Marietta's leading returning hitter after batting .373 with 10 doubles and 25 runs batted in a year ago.
 
On the mound, the Pioneers return just one of member of the starting rotation in sophomore righthander Austin Ziance (Highland Heights, Ohio/Mayfield). Ziance was 2-3 with a 4.99 earned run average during his rookie season.
 
Seniors Jacob Rocky (Strongsville, Ohio/St. Ignatius) and Zach Marzetz (Blacklick, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln) will move from the bullpen into the starting rotation. Both have made spot starts in their career and should have no problem settling into their new roles. Rocky, a lefty, was 4-1 with a 2.67 ERA last year in 15 appearances and four starts. The righthanded Marzetz also appeared in 15 games, making one start, last spring and posted a 0-0 record and 4.97 ERA.
 
Anchoring the bullpen will be senior Forrest Havanis (Washington, Pa./Trinity) and junior Jared Bees (Pittsburgh, Pa./Eden Christian), both righthanders. Havanis was 5-3 with one save and a 2.82 ERA in 19 appearances last spring. His ERA ranked fifth in the OAC. Bees was 2-2 with two saves and a 3.24 ERA in 13 appearances.
 
Junior righthander Cooper Fiehrer (Hamilton, Ohio/Badin) is starting the season on the injured list but will be counted on in the bullpen and as a spot starter once healthy. In the meantime, freshman lefty Reece Rupert (Gibsonia, Pa./Pine Richland) will get the opportunity to fill that role.
 
A trio of catchers will battle for the starting job left vacant with the graduation of Ben Kaplin (Louisville, Ky./Ballard). Junior Eli Shouldis (Huntington, W.Va./Huntington) gained a lot of experience on the junior varsity team the last two years and is ready to step into the varsity role. In addition to Shouldis, freshmen Will Loftus (Westfield, Ind./Brebeuf Jesuit) and Bryce Bogan (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick) will challenge for playing time behind the plate. Brewer describes both rookies as plus-defenders that have the potential to become standouts at the position.
 
Three players are in the mix to step into the starting job at first base. Bonnizzio, Fiehrer, and sophomore Drew McKenna (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) will all see time at first base. With Fiehrer out for the start of the season and Bonnizzio in the mix at third base and in the outfield, McKenna could move into the varsity starting lineup after spending 2024 in the junior varsity lineup.
 
Bonnizzio spent most of his time at third base last year. Junior Shane Rothlisberger (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston), sophomore Brennan Stobbs (Medina, Ohio/Medina), and Fiehrer are also in the mix at the hot corner. Rothlisberger hit .200 in limited varsity at bats last spring.
 
The middle infield is wide open with four players vying for playing time. Junior Thomson Babineau (Scituate, Mass./Calvary Chapel) and sophomore Diego DeCello (Hamilton, Ohio/Badin) each saw considerable playing time last year. Babineau made nine starts and appeared in 22 games, while DeCello started 15 games and made 24 appearances. Babnieau batted .192 with one double and DeCello hit .220 with seven doubles in 2024. Sophomore transfer Caden Hall (Cox Mills, W.Va./Gilmer County) and freshman Jameson Embrescia (Aurora, Ohio/Aurora) will also see time in the middle infield. Hall started 16 games at Glenville State last spring.
 
Marietta returns its starting outfield intact from 2024. Tonelli and fellow seniors Cael Magill (Atco, N.J./King's Christian) and Cole Rieman (West Chester, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller) are all back this spring. Rieman will miss the first several weeks of the season with an injury. He batted .302 a year ago.  Magill batted .294 with six doubles, two triples and 16 RBI last spring. In addition to that trio Bonnizzio has extensive outfield experience as well.
 
Three freshmen are also in the mix to see time in the outfield. Cam Russell (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon-McMillan), Gavin Frazier (New Castle, Ind./New Castle), and Zack Molloy (Chambersburg, Pa./Saint James) give Marietta plenty of depth in the outfield.
 
The Pioneers open their season at the D3 Showcase in Greensboro, North Carolina. Marietta will face three national-ranked opponents in No. 15 SUNY Cortland, No. 11 Christopher Newport, and No. 9 Lynchburg.
 
Marietta will also play nonconference games against No. 5 Denison and No. 14 Case Western Reserve this spring. In the OAC, Baldwin Wallace starts the season ranked No. 13. Several other Pioneer opponents are receiving votes in the nation poll including Berry, North Central, Ithaca, Spalding, and Washington and Jefferson.
 
Fans can follow the Etta Express all year long at pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on X and Instagram.