2025 Knightly News Baseball Awards
By Paul Miller
Knightly News Co-Adviser and Knights Play-by-Play Commentator
As I sit down to write my favorite article of the year, it is difficult to put into words the amazement of the 2025 Central Penn College Knights baseball season. Not only did the Knights faithful get to witness an unprecedented three-peat in the Eastern States Athletic Conference (ESAC) championship, but the team was selected for their first USCAA Small College World Series since 2017. In the process, they won their first Small College World Series game, all en route to setting the single-season record for victories in school history with 26.
Getting to be a part of the broadcast team is one of the greatest aspects of my position at Central Penn College. Not only do I get to spend many spring days at FNB Field on City Island, I get to know so many of the wonderful players and coaches that make Knights athletics something special to our college community. It is truly my honor to have this opportunity, and it is one that I do not take lightly.
From the outset, I knew that this Knights team was something special. Even losing several integral players coming into the season, Coach Chaz Stevens rebuilt his squad with a number of new players that had an immediate impact and had quality leadership from seniors Owen Zell, Colten Zerby, Colby Criswell and Brady Park. Even from the very beginning, and with a lot of new faces, this team played so well together. And even though they faced a fair amount of adversity during the season, this is, without question, the best season from the Knights that I have ever witnessed.
As often happens when trying to start the season in February in Pennsylvania, the Knights experienced a number of cancellations and postponements. In the much anticipated trip south to Mid Atlantic Christian College, only one of the three scheduled games was played. But that Feb. 7 game set the tone for the season, as the Knights were victorious against a tough team, giving them the confidence that they could play with anyone.
It would be nearly three weeks until the Knights played again, dropping both games of a doubleheader to Penn State Scranton. So, having only played three games in a month and staring at a 1-2 record, the Knights came together and went on a truly amazing run to start the season. Starting with a doubleheader sweep against arch rival Bucks County Community College, the Knights won 10 of their next 11 contests, headlined by a walk-off win during the home opener against Penn State Mont Alto on March 18.
As the season progressed, the Knights were flawless at home, putting together a stellar 15-0 mark at FNB Field. Doubleheader sweeps against Williamson Trade on Senior Night and Bucks County Community College on Community Night cemented this team’s place in the ESAC Championship Game.
But the ESAC Championship Game was not a walk-over by any means. While the Knights beat the Centurions four times already in the 2025 schedule, the championship game was arguably one of the most exciting contests of the season. The Knights showed their fight on the way to a 12-7 victory in nine innings.
With the phenomenal play on the field during the season, the Knights got what they had worked so hard for, a berth into the Small College World Series, overcoming a 5-0 first inning deficit in their first game to beat Central Maine Community College by a score of 12-6. The victory was the first-ever for the Knights at the national tournament, a milestone that will never be forgotten. And while the Knights were not able to advance any further, a three-peat in the ESAC Conference and a win at the USCAA National Tournament most certainly equate to one of the most memorable seasons in program history.
Because of this monumental season, The Knightly News recognizes six players with special awards. The categories are as follows:
- Most Valuable Player — Best all-around player
- Cy Young Award — Best pitcher
- Silver Slugger Award — Best offensive player
- Rookie of the Year — Best freshman player
- Gold Glove — Best defensive player
Award #1 – Gold Glove — Best Defensive Player – Terrell Smith-Cole
Smith-Cole, one of the key freshman on the team, stepped into a difficult position. In his first year, he was tasked with playing shortstop, without question the most difficult position on the field. But Smith-Cole excelled in this role, racking up a team-leading 62 assists, along with 47 put outs while being involved with eight double plays on the season. In addtion, Smith-Cole made some of the finest, most acrobatic plays you will ever see on any diamond, making him a clear choice for the Gold Glove Award in 2025.
Award #2 — Rookie of the Year — Kyle Brent
With Zach Boyer, one of the most prolific members in Knights baseball history, graduating at the end of last season, Coach Stevens needed to find a replacement at the hot corner. Brent stepped in smoothly at the position, playing a remarkable defense with only two errors on the field. But it was his offense that impressed most. A mainstay in the middle of the Knights order, Brent hit .275 with an astounding 19 walks in 30 games, giving him an impressive .431 on-base percentage. Brent also drove in 12 runs, scored 19 times, and stole six bases on the campaign.
What is most unique about Brent, though, is his dedication to his studies. It is rare to pass by the Learning HUB in Bollinger Hall and not see Brent working on homework or assisting his teammates. To me, the new crop of players on this year’s team exhibited these types of traits, one of the reasons that the Knights were able to have such a memorable run.
Here are his team rankings for statistics this season:
- Runs – 19 – 6th.
- Walks – 19 – 4th.
- On-base percentage – .431 – 7th (over 35 at-bats).
- Fielding Percentage – .926 (only two errors this season).
Honorable Mention: Tanner Boyd
Award #3 – The Silver Slugger Award – Best Offensive Player – Nic Joseph
The Silver Slugger Award is one of the most high-profile honors one can receive in Major League Baseball, celebrating the offensive contributions of a player during a season. This year, Joseph stands out above the rest. While Joseph was as consistent as they come in the batter’s box throughout the season, he shined at his brightest on the biggest stage. The ESAC Championship Game was among the best of his career, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs scored, with none bigger than a triple in the sixth inning that grew the lead to 10-2 en route to a three-peat.
But Joseph did not stop there, homering in the first two games of the USCAA Small College World Series, showing what the Central Penn fans have known all year, when you need a clutch base hit, Joseph is your man. His stats are almost as impressive as his leadership traits during the season, being one of the most consistent and reliable players on the team. His hard work this season earned a second-team All-ESAC honor.
Here are his team rankings for statistics this season:
- Runs – 29 – 3rd.
- Hits – 31 – 4th.
- Home Runs – 6 – 1st.
- RBI – 32 – 2nd.
- Batting Average – .326 – 5th (over 35 at bats).
Honorable Mention: Gabe Kaufman
Award #4 – Cy Young Award – Best Pitcher – Cameron Smiley
One of the most interesting things that Coach Stevens implemented during this season was having a true rotation of starting pitchers. In year’s past, several Knights would both pitch and hit, something that was almost non-existent this season. And, from the beginning of the season, Smiley was the person who the team relied upon in their most important contests. Smiley was dominant in the ESAC Championship, being named the Knightly News Player of the Game for his 5 1/3 innings, allowing only two runs while striking out seven.
But the true test of his character came in the first game of the USCAA Small College World Series, as he took the mound against Central Maine Community College. Smiley, by his own admission, was not at his sharpest that day, allowing five runs (two earned) in the first inning. But he battled through the adversity, getting out of the first and following with three scoreless innings to keep the Knights in the game. This contest illustrated the grit and determination that Smiley showed the entire season, and the Knights rallied to ultimately win the game.
Here are his team rankings for statistics this season:
- Innings – 52 2/3 – 1st.
- Wins – 3 – 1st.
- Complete Games – 3 – 1st.
- Strikeouts – 50 – 1st.
- Earned Run Average – 3.25 – 1st (more than five innings).
Honorable Mention: Wyatt Koser
Award #5 – Most Valuable Player – David Thomas
This award was extremely difficult to give out because the middle of the Knights order, consisting of Thomas, Joseph, Kaufman and Tanner McCoy, was unbelievably productive throughout the season. But Thomas stood out for a variety of reasons, including his on-base prowess and stellar defense in center field.
One of his finest moments of the season came on April 18 during the Knights doubleheader against Bucks County Community College. In the bottom of the first inning, with two men on base, Thomas launched a home run into the left-field stands, giving the Knights the early lead that carried them to an 11-1 victory. Then, during the ESAC Championship Game, Thomas knocked in two crucial runs, all while being extremely under the weather, that paved the way for the Knights to be victorious for their third consecutive season.
Thomas was a steady force in the middle of the lineup, providing speed, power and stellar defense all at once. One of the most complete players on the Knights, Thomas illustrated the traits needed to be called the 2025 Most Valuable Player. But his accolades don’t end there. Thomas was named a USCAA All American First-Team at the Small College World Series awards banquet earlier this month.
Here are his team rankings for statistics this season:
- Batting Average – .419 – 1st (over 25 at bats).
- Runs – 33 – 2nd.
- Doubles – 11 – 1st.
- Hits – 44 – 2nd.
- RBI – 28 – Tied for 3rd.
- Steals – 16 – 2nd
- Fielding Percentage – .955 – Only two errors on the season.
Special Award – Knightly News Athlete of the Year – Owen Zell
During the Athletics and Activities Banquet held in the Conference Center at Central Penn College on May 22, the Knightly News’s most pretigous honor of the year was given to Zell. While it is difficult to put into words what Zell has meant to Central Penn athletics over the years, I had the honor of sharing my personal thoughts as best I could. And while it was difficult to not shed a tear at the podium knowing that I had seen Zell’s last game at FNB Field, I was quickly reminded of all of the amazing moments that I had the opportunity to call over the last four years.
Zell is the type of player that conducts himself with professionalism and without flair, going about his business in a serious manner. While off the field, he is a serious but fun person, on the field is an entirely different persona. This season, and I am confident in saying this, was made by Zell. While stellar in the field (he was awarded the Gold Glove in 2024), his leadership really shined through. If he reached base, everyone in the ballpark knew he was running. And running he did, stealing 35 bases. But it was not just his speed on the basepaths, it was his keen ability to find holes in the defense to get on base, amassing 45 hits and 40 runs in 35 games.
To be honest, Zell is one of the most dynamic players that the Knights have ever seen and he will be sorely missed in 2026. But I can promise you that Zell’s impact will be felt for years to come, especially because he embraced the role of a leader this season and worked with the new players to understand the culture of the team.
Here are his team rankings for statistics this season:
- Batting Average – .372 – 2nd (over 25 at bats).
- Runs – 40 – 1st.
- Hits – 45 – 1st.
- Steals – 35 – 1st
- Fielding Percentage – .971 – Only two errors in 104 total chances.
As the 2025 season comes to a close, there is one thing that I continue to come back to. I have spoken to numerous players over the past few weeks, and none of them are happy about the way the season ended up in the Small College World Series. And that is what is the most heart-breaking aspect of sports, the fact that only one team gets to end their season with a victory. While the Knights may look back and wonder what could have been if things went differently in Dubois, that does nothing more than shift the focus away from what it should be.
What it should be is this: a celebration of a record-breaking season, a group of athletes who brought pride to their college, and a team that raised the standard for what Central Penn Knights baseball can be. And what this group of athletes did was to build a legacy. And while their final inning may not have ended in triumph, the story they wrote this season is one that will be remembered for years to come.