Senior Profile: Roniel Morel
By Khalil Dukes
Knightly News Reporter
Roniel Morel, a senior first baseman and outfielder for the Central Penn College Knights baseball team, didn’t just find baseball, he grew up in it.
Hailing from Harrisburg, Morel said the game has always been part of his identity, rooted in his Hispanic and Dominican background, where baseball is a way of life passed down through generations.
Like many young athletes, Morel explored multiple sports early on, wrestling in middle school and playing basketball during high school. However, after suffering an injury, his focus changed, and baseball quickly became the clear path forward.
That path nearly took a different direction.
Morel originally planned to attend Temple University to study health science, stepping away from baseball at the competitive level. But one phone call from former Central Penn head coach Robert Stern changed everything and ultimately altered the course of his college career.
“My mom always wanted me to play baseball. She was always in my ear about it,” Morel said. “And my grandfather played in Puerto Rico, so that just made me want to follow in those footsteps.”
Since arriving at Central Penn, winning has become a defining part of Morel’s experience. Three straight ESAC titles speak to the consistency, discipline and team-first mentality that the program has built over time.
Through it all, Morel has also navigated a coaching transition, adjusting from a traditional approach to a more modern system under current head coach Chaz Stevens.
“Coach Stern was more old school, which is what I grew up around,” Morel said. “But with Coach Stevens, it’s more about analytics and understanding the numbers, stuff a lot of people don’t really see.”
Morel said that shift has helped him better understand the game from a different perspective, allowing him to grow not only as a player, but as a student of baseball.
As his senior season winds down, Morel is not focused on statistics or personal recognition. Instead, his attention is on how he will be remembered by teammates and those around the program.
“I just want to be remembered as a great teammate,” he said. “Someone people can call anytime if they need help.”
While this chapter of his playing career may be coming to an end, his connection to the game will not. Morel hopes to remain involved through coaching or training, continuing to give back to the sport that has shaped his life both on and off the field.
