Plum’s Jake Dombkowski signs to play baseball at Division I newcomer Mercyhurst

By: Michael Love
Saturday, February 1, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Mercyhurst athletics made the move from NCAA Division II to Division I last April, and its teams began play at the highest level during the fall season.

The Lakers baseball team will hope to make its mark this spring against the likes of St. Francis (Pa.), Long Island, Central Connecticut State and Wagner.

Jake Dombkowski is excited to be a part of the new venture when he arrives on the Mercyhurst campus this summer.

The Plum senior, a standout middle infielder for the Mustangs, has committed to the Erie school. He was celebrated last Wednesday in a ceremony with teammates, coaches and family at Plum High School.

“I think it is the goal for every high school athlete to be able to do the things you have to do to make it to a Division I college program,” Dombkowski said.

“Even before they went Division I, I looked into Mercyhurst. My dad (Joel) played there and coached there. I really love the campus and the school. It just happened to fall where they went Division I this year.”

Dombkowski said his father was supportive with whatever decision he made. Other schools in contention included IUP and Cal (Pa.).

“My dad always said it was important that I choose the school and the program that was right for me,” he said.

“I just really liked it when I went up there. It all worked out.”

Dombkowski became connected with the Mercyhurst program in the summer and into the fall when the Lakers coaches took notice of him at showcase events in Youngstown and at Slippery Rock.

“They reached out to me, and we talked,” he said. “It just grew from there.”

Dombkowski said he can feel the positive vibes around the Mercyhurst baseball program as it gets set to play its first game at the Division I level Feb. 14 at Massachusetts Lowell.

“They’ve always had a background of being a great program with a strong reputation,” he said.

“(Head) coach (Jimmy) Latona, coach (Kyle) Nicholson, and coach (Jake) Marinelli are great guys. They are basically coming in as underdogs this season, but they are set up to do very well. I am looking forward to seeing how they do.”

Dombkowski hopes to set himself up at Mercyhurst with a couple of classes this summer.

“That is important where I won’t be as bombarded with work and I will be prepared for the fall semester,” he said.

Dombkowski also plans to play in a competitive summer league in Youngstown to sharpen his skills further for the transition to the college game.

“This past fall, Mercyhurst came down to play Pitt, but mostly it is workouts and intra-squad games here and there,” he said. “That will be good for me to get comfortable and also show what I can bring to the team.”

Mercyhurst is coming off a 2024 season in which it went 21-20 overall and 18-10 in its final season in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.

The Lakers’ postseason hopes were dashed suddenly with a tough 8-7 loss to West Chester in the first round of the PSAC tournament.

“Mercyhurst will help present many great opportunities for Jake,” Plum coach Carl Vollmer said. “They’ve always had a really strong Division II program. Now, it seems like its the natural progression.

“I am just so proud of Jake. He is a worker, a good baseball player and a smart kid. It is a very good fit for him and what he wants to accomplish in college. Where he is going is confirmation of his talent level.

“For him, it is one less stress that he has to focus on. A great season for him this spring will, in turn, help us as a team. That is the goal. He’s a guy that we will be counting on a lot.

Dombkowski will help lead a youthful Plum team — there are just four seniors on the roster — hoping to make its mark in Section 1-5A against the likes of Kiski Area, Franklin Regional and Penn-Trafford.

The Mustangs said goodbye last year to 10 seniors from a team which went 13-8 overall, finished in a four-way tie for the Section 1-5A title, and suffered a 6-4 loss to Trinity in the WPIAL first round.

In 20 games as a junior, Dombkowski batted .263 (15 for 57) with a .358 on-base percentage. He collected three doubles and eight runs batted in while scoring 12 runs.

He also drew nine walks and stole eight bases.

Fellow seniors Michael Tedrick and Anthony Jump finalized their decisions in November to play baseball in college at Penn State Altoona and Westmoreland County Community College, respectively.

“There is a lot of excitement around the team as we get ready for the season,” Dombkowski said.

“There are a lot of spots to fill with losing 10 seniors. I can see a lot of guys stepping up. We have the guys who are going to mature and fit right in to what we want to do.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

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