Former Wallenpaupack Area baseball standout Derrick Vosburg excels at Misericordia

Misericordia University is enjoying a stellar season on the NCAA Division III baseball scene this spring.

Heading into the weekend, the Cougars boast an overall record of 32-10. They’re also 18-6 in the MAC Freedom Conference and poised to battle top-seeded Arcadia in the championship series.

To the surprise of no one, former Wallenpaupack Area standout Derrick Vosburg is playing a key role in Misericordia’s storybook run.

“Derrick is a three-year starter at first base and hits in the middle of our order,” said Head Coach Peter Egbert. “He’s been an integral part of our offensive success these last three years.”

Vosburg was a multi-sport star in high school who could conceivably have taken any number of collegiate paths. However, he chose a local school with a reputation for competitive athletics and solid academics.

“Being a part of the Misericordia baseball program has made me into the player and person I am today,” Derrick said. “This school has been a great fit for me.”

Setting the stage

Derrick is the son of Neal and Kim Vosburg, Lakeville. He attended Wallenpaupack Area schools and graduated in 2019.

Vosburg began playing organized baseball at the age of seven in Little League, progressing from Minors to Majors. He then advanced to American Legion action as a member of Paupack’s Post 311 team.

In addition, Vosburg was recruited to play travel team for Baseball U-PA. He made the roster in eighth grade and continued to compete right through high school graduation.

Vosburg enjoyed an outstanding athletic career during his varsity tenure at Paupack. He earned a total of 11 letters while starring in baseball, basketball and soccer. Vosburg won several individual awards on the hardwood and the pitch, but it was on the diamond that he truly excelled.

He was a three-time Lackawanna League All-Star for the Buckhorns, playing a Gold Glove first base and swinging a potent bat.

Longtime head coach Todd Schmalzle believes that Vosburg was one of the main reasons behind Paupack’s storybook run at the 2017 PIAA state tournament.

“Derrick always worked hard,” the veteran skipper said. “He’s very competitive, an excellent leader and the other players respect him. “Derrick is a solid fielder, but his bat is his strength. He has a beautiful swing that generates a lot of power. He’s just an outstanding hitter.

“While Derrick is a very good baseball player, he’s a an even better person. He is very polite, caring, kind, and hard-working.”

Vosburg truly enjoyed his high school years at Paupack and looks back fondly on his time playing baseball on the shores of The Big Lake.

“I definitely think it built a good foundation for me,” Derrick said. “One of my biggest highlights was sophomore year when we went to the Final Four of the state playoffs. That was the farthest any Paupack team has gone before or since.”

NCAA diamond

Vosburg arrived on the scene at Misericordia in 2020 and appeared in five games his freshman year.

As a sophomore, Vosburg carved out a spot for himself in the starting line-up and never looked back. The slugging southpaw batted a sizzling .369, third on the team, with one homer, 12 doubles, 25 runs and 32 RBIs.

As good as those numbers are, Vosburg was even more impressive as a junior. He raised his batting average to an eye-popping .400 with six homers, 45 runs scored and 48 RBIs.

This spring, Vosburg has continued both his torrid hitting and Gold Glove defense. He’s started all 42 games at first base and is currently batting .333 with three homers, 39 runs and 50 RBIs.

“Derrick is always a force at the plate,” said Coach Egbert. “And when he’s hot he’s just an incredibly tough out.”

Vosburg is most deadly with runners on base. He currently leads Misericordia in RBIs and is second in the conference. He’s also Top 10 among MAC Freedom players in runs, hits and doubles.

In characteristic fashion, though, Vosburg downplays his accomplishments and remains focused on the team.

“For me personally, this season hasn’t been going as well as the past few years,” Derrick said. “But, the team has been doing very well. We’re looking forward to the conference championship coming up and hopefully moving on to regionals.”

Heartfelt gratitude

Vosburg’s successful college baseball career will soon be over and a new chapter of his life will begin.

He is set to graduate in a few short weeks with a degree in Business Administration. And while he’s not yet decided what career path he’ll take, Derrick is genuinely grateful for all the support he’s received.

“I’ve had a lot of great coaches and teammates over the years,” he said. “But, I really want to thank my Mom and Dad, my brother and my grandparents. They’ve been there for me every step of the way.”

Misericordia is scheduled for a best-of three series versus Arcadia for the MAC Freedom championship. The title will be decided with a single nine inning game Friday afternoon, followed by a Saturday twinbill.

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Misericordia baseball star Vosburg is a Wallenpaupack Area alum