Four Bucs Set Sail for Waynesboro
Waynesboro, Virginia
After not having a single Buccaneer on the roster last summer, East Tennessee State University will make up for it this year with four players making their way to Waynesboro. ETSU is currently the 6th seed in the Southern Conference and will look to make a run in the tournament. The Bucs finished with an overall record of 32-19 and an 11-12 mark in conference play. Of the four players that ETSU will send, there will be one position player and three pitchers. Matt Mercer is a left-handed pitcher, Zach Kirby and Joseph Acosta are right-handed pitchers, and Ethan Cady is a first baseman and corner outfielder.
Matt Mercer – Left-Handed Pitcher
Matt Mercer is a 6’0 178 pound sophomore from Chattanooga, Tennessee. He’s a graduate of Chattanooga Christian School. Matt appeared in five games for ETSU as a true freshman and, even with limited playing time, showed flashes of brilliance. He had five strikeouts in his first career start vs Northern Kentucky in just three innings. This season, Matt has appeared in 19 ball games to place second on the Bucs pitching staff. Over those 19 appearances, he’s made one start. He’s 1-2 with a 5.08 ERA over 28.1 innings pitched. In just over 28 innings, Matt has only allowed 25 hits and has struck out 34 to lead all bullpen arms for ETSU. He’s also one of six total pitchers on the staff that have recorded at least one save. He’s recorded two to tie himself for the 2nd most on the team. Matt looks to continue what has been a solid sophomore campaign in Waynesboro this summer. Welcome, Matt Mercer!
Zach Kirby – Right-Handed Pitcher
Zach Kirby is the son of Lauren and John Kirby. The 6’0 212 pound righty is a native of Upland, California and a graduate of Damien High School in La Verne, California. After compiling a 6-1 record at Damien in his senior season, Kirby has provided an immediate impact. He’s appeared in 17 games for the Bucs and has made a start. Kirby has thrown 28 innings in his 17 games on the bump, and has only given up 13 earned runs en route to a 4.18 ERA and a 1-1 record. He, like Mercer, has recorded a save this season. All these numbers tell the story that Kirby is one of the top guys out of the pen for ETSU and we look forward to him possibly shutting the door a few times in Waynesboro this summer. Welcome, Zach Kirby!
Joseph Acosta – Right-Handed Pitcher
Joseph is the son of Alicia and Joseph Acosta. The 6’1 165 pound freshman hails from Vineland, New Jersey and Vineland High School. He was a four-year letter winner at Vineland and led them to a conference championship in his junior season. Now in Johnson City, Tennessee, Acosta has appeared in nine games for the Bucs this season. He’s 1-0 and, you guessed it, he has also recorded a save just like his two teammates above. Joseph is averaging just below a strikeout per inning this season where he’s struck out 10 in 10.2 innings. The ERA may be a little higher than Joseph wants it, but it’s another reason for excitement for the Generals as he’ll show up determined to get better this summer. Welcome to Waynesboro, Joseph Acosta!
Ethan Cady – Outfielder
Ethan Cady is the son of Tammy and Colin Cady. Listed at 5’11 195 pounds, the junior is a true left-hander from Soddy Daisy, Tennessee. This is Ethan’s first year with the Bucs after transferring from Lipscomb to Columbia State Community College, then ending up in Johnson City. With Columbia State, Cady showed that he had some pop. He hit 15 homers and racked up 52 RBI while hitting for a solid .295 average. This year for the Bucs, Ethan has appeared in 47 out of 51 games and has hit .242 with 11 doubles, three triples, five homers, and 24 RBI. Look for Cady to cause problems on the base paths in the Valley this summer. He’s a perfect 13 for 13 in stolen bases to lead the team. A solid left-handed bat in the lineup for the Gens this summer that could end up seeing his name written into middle of the order. Welcome to Waynesboro, Ethan Cady!
