Selfless seniors shut the door

Sometimes, players have to make sacrifices for the greater good of the team. Some reluctantly take a smaller (or different) role and then there's Lehigh baseball seniors Nick Cassell and Joey McNamara. They have not only changed roles this season, but they have also embraced them and excelled.

The team-first attitude from Cassell and McNamara embodies the 2014 Lehigh baseball team, which has created a culture that breeds success.

"Both Joey and Nick were willing to accept roles that that aren't always the most glamorous, the role of setup man and closer," said head coach Sean Leary.

A starting pitcher over his first three seasons, Cassell struggled when facing opponents for a third and fourth time through the order.

"We sat down with Nick and went through his starts," said Leary. "He was really effective the first two times around. We'd be tied 2-2 in the fifth inning and we wouldn't lose 8-2, but we'd lose 4-3. It seemed like Nick would give up those two runs in the fifth or sixth.

"As I looked at our team and saw our number of starting pitchers returning, I told Nick I really wanted him to think about his role," Leary continued. "He told me he was thinking the same thing. He said he knew he could start and was determined to be a starter, but getting three or six outs might be best."

The change has certainly worked. Cassell is one of just 14 players in the nation leading his team in wins and saves. He was named second team All-Patriot League and owns a 4-3 record and 3.34 ERA with a league-leading seven saves.

"You prepare your body to be able to throw 100+ pitches as a starter once per week," said Cassell. "It's like a marathon. When you're a reliever, it's more like a sprint. You throw your bullpens closer together, you throw them shorter and with more intensity."

Not to be forgotten is McNamara, who is enjoying a career year as Lehigh's primary setup man (while also pitching long relief, closing and even starting once). It's not a glamorous position, but that doesn't bother him. He has continued to produce and is enjoying his strongest season in the brown and white.

"Joey's role comes with less stats, so it's been really impressive that he understands how vital a role he has. He could have gone the whole season 0-0 with no saves," said Leary. "Fortunately, he's picked up some numbers along the way (2-0 record, two saves, 2.79 ERA), but that's not his mindset. Like the senior class as a whole, he wanted to find a way to get over the hump, get more wins and reach the playoffs."

This selflessness is one of the biggest reasons the Mountain Hawks have advanced to their first Patriot League Tournament since 2010. Lehigh opens the postseason at Army on Saturday in a best-of-three series. After a doubleheader Saturday, game three will be played on Sunday, if necessary.

McNamara has helped Cassell in his transition to the bullpen. Cassell closed in summer leagues, but he had a natural transition to the pen at the collegiate level. The biggest difference is mindset on a day-to-day basis.

"I think I keep Nick loose," said McNamara. "As a closer, there's so much pressure on a game-to-game basis. The game rides on you. In between games, during games and during practices, you can't really be so serious all the time."

"As a starter, you tend to be more focused," said Cassell. "As a reliever, you never really know when you'll be called upon. You've got to stay loose and relaxed until it's your time to go in the game."

Leary has witnessed Cassell help McNamara as well. They have pushed each other to new heights.

"Early success helped inspire and motivate each other," said Leary. "They were both doing so well and you could see them feeding off each other's success.

"Neither gets too high or too low," Leary continued. "I think Joe provided some guidance on what it's like to be in the pen and how to get loose. He's wonderful at getting loose in eight pitches. On the other side, it was Nick's mentality and success he had that raised the bar for Joe."

It's one thing to agree to change roles, but another thing to go out and make it happen.

"We thought if they worked hard and believed in their training, it would result in better numbers," said Leary. "To their credit, they believed then went out and started executing. They have kept us in the majority of Patriot League games and have certainly been the biggest jump forward of any phase of our team."

The senior relievers have helped Lehigh post its lowest ERA (4.05) in Leary's 19 years as Mountain Hawks head coach. Cassell and McNamara have done all they can away from the diamond to set them up for success on gameday. One of the biggest challenges is pitching back-to-back days.

"You train a little differently arm-wise and conditioning-wise," said Leary. "Nick and Joey are very often running on Saturday night to try and get the lactic acid out so they can throw again on Sunday. It's a different mindset than the guys who know they have a week off."

"Running after games and working extra hard is something that we selfishly do so we can get back on the mound," said McNamara. "I think it also sets a great example for the younger guys."

"After throwing Saturday, you go back out there Sunday knowing that you're less than 100 percent, but still have to get the job done," said Cassell.

Cassell has pitched on back-to-back days three times this season and has certainly gotten the job done. He's pitched 3.1 scoreless innings in these situations, allowing just three hits while striking out three and walking none. For a starter transitioning to the bullpen, those numbers are especially impressive.

Part of Nick and Joey's success is hard to pinpoint. There's an intangible that Coach Leary can't identify.

"I don't know how to teach it but I know it when I see it," said Leary. "It's the 'it' factor. A pitcher takes the mound and you feel this calm and presence that breeds confidence. When both of those guys take the mound, you can see that the entire team is excited the ball is in their hands. It's an intangible, but it means so much."

Lehigh is fielding .967 as a team, third in the Patriot League.

"Our pitchers know that if we throw strikes, our fielders are going to make plays behind us," said McNamara. "You're not trying to nibble and strike everybody out when you have great guys behind you."

The positive relationships between everyone on the team are all part of a culture of selflessness that's been built.

"Everyone is fighting for playing time, but on this team, everyone is excited for whoever has success," said McNamara. "If that person is in front of you [on the depth chart], you're still rooting 110 percent for that person. You're not trying to undermine anyone. Everyone has bought into the system and the goals that we've set."

The team-first attitude was evident when Joe Abeln moved from catcher to left field, Tyler Brong moved to designated hitter, Mike Burke moved from #2 to #1 starter then back to #2 without even a question when Colin Gotzon returned from injury.

"Every one of our seven seniors has given something up for the betterment of the program," said Leary. "Because we have such selfless seniors, we continually echo that to the underclassmen. It's important to actually be willing to give something up for the greater good of the team. This group has done it as well as any team in my 19 years."

Cassell and McNamara are just two examples. They not only took less glamorous positions, but they also accepted it with open arms and have most importantly, put in the work to execute at a high level.

These senior relievers have helped set the foundation and culture, and then followed up by performing.

"We have a lot of great leaders in our senior class. When you have that example where the team comes first, everyone sees that and you can't help but follow," said Cassell. "That's all the underclassmen have seen now. They'll continue to pass it on in the years to come."

"In our locker room, selfless is one of our team words on the wall and this group has been living proof of how it can make the team achieve at a higher level," said Leary.

McNamara and Cassell have achieved success off the field as well and have bright futures ahead of them.

"I will be working for a company called Oracle next year, starting in June up in Boston," said McNamara, a Political Science major. "I'm excited to get started, but hopefully we keep playing where I don't actually start on my start date, which is June 9. Everything the coaching staff has taught us and trained us to do over the years have helped me grow as a person. I look forward to taking those experiences and applying them to the professional world."

A Material Science and Engineering major, Cassell will return to Lehigh in the fall for one final semester and wrap up his degree while pursuing a minor in Psychology.

Before moving on after baseball, the Mountain Hawks have some work to do in the Patriot League Semifinals beginning Saturday at Army.

"We're a confident bunch," said McNamara. "Everything we've gone through this year, from not being able to play on the field because of snow in March, and all those things that we did as a team, really benefit us now.

"Coach always says that character is revealed during times of adversity," continued McNamara. "This group of guys has been through so much over four years for the seniors, but this year especially. We're ready, excited and can't wait to get going."

Completed Event: Baseball versus Bucknell University on May 3, 2026 , Win , 10, to, 4

Completed Event: Baseball versus Bucknell University on May 3, 2026 , Loss , 1, to, 2 , (7 inn.)

Completed Event: Baseball versus Bucknell University on May 2, 2026 , Loss , 0, to, 4

Completed Event: Baseball at Seton Hall University on April 29, 2026 , Loss , 5, to, 10

Completed Event: Baseball at Holy Cross on April 26, 2026 , Win , 14, to, 2 , (7 inn.)

Completed Event: Baseball at Holy Cross on April 25, 2026 , Loss , 2, to, 3

Completed Event: Baseball at Holy Cross on April 25, 2026 , Loss , 0, to, 9 , (7 inn.)

Lehigh University Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Joe Abeln

Tyler Brong

Mike Burke

Nick Cassell

Colin Gotzon

Joey McNamara

Related Videos