LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University baseball team is ready to hit the field for its 2012 campaign, one that hopes to be a promising one.

The Bald Eagles open up their season on Thursday, February 23, in Newport News, Va. with the Builder Invitational Tournament hosted by the Apprentice School.  LHU won the Builder Invitational last year for the first time in school history.

Lock Haven enters the 2012 season hoping to put the 2011 season behind them, a season that saw the Bald Eagles finish with a 19-20 overall record, two games out of a playoff spot.

LHU is looking to advance to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) playoffs for first time since the 2009 season.

Head coach Smokey Stover is entering his 23rd season at the helm for the Bald Eagles and picked up his 400th career win last season.

Having lost eight seniors last season, the Bald Eagles are a young group, but have talent all over the diamond.

“We have a young, but talented team this year that I think can make a run at the playoffs.  We play in one of the toughest conferences in the country and anything can happen in it,” said Stover.

Stover is very excited about the athletic ability of his team and thinks they will be one of the better defensive teams he has ever had.

“We are going to be very athletic, with great speed.  Our athleticism is going to make us a very sound defensive team,” Stover said.  “Offensively we are going to make some noise.  We have the ability to take a pitcher's mistake and turn it into runs.”

One major thing that has been different this year from years past is the weather.  With the warm winter, the team has been able to practice outside a lot more than previous years, which allows them to prepare even more for those first outdoor games.

“The weather has been huge for us, especially for the pitchers.  The more live situations they see the more calm they will be when they are in a real game,” Stover said


PITCHING

The pitching rotation has an entirely different look to it this year, as the staff lost five seniors from a year ago.

“Our pitchers are young, but if they stay mentally tough they will put us in a position to win all season,” said Stover.  “We will go as our pitching goes.”

Returning to lead the rotation is sophomore Brandon Renoll (Hanover, Pa./Hanover). The hard-throwing right-hander will be looking to build on a solid freshman campaign and will be a full-time starter this season.

Renoll threw 37 innings last year and struck out 12.

Sophomore Alec Jacob (Newton, Pa./Pennsbury) also returns from last year's staff and is expected to compete for a starting spot.

Jacob picked up two wins in 10 appearances last season in his rookie campaign. 

Senior Corey Hepfer (Springfield, Pa./Penn State Brandywine), Junior Nick Cummings (Akron, N.Y./Akron) and sophomores Kyle Schubert (Facotryville, Pa./Lackawanna) and Matt Hendrixson are all expected to be in the hunt for starting jobs.

Coach Stover is very excited about his two redshirt freshman pitchers, Ryan Boyer (Tremont, Pa./Pine Grove) and Collin Mills (Union Bridge, Md./Francis). 

“Boyer and Mills are throwing as well as anyone right now.  I expect them to be big for us this season,” said Stover.

Zach Rote (Swissdale, Pa./Central Mountain) will be the middle reliever this year.  He has appeared in 18 games over the past two seasons and coach Stover expects him to throw a lot of innings this season.

Senior David Masteller (Hazelton, Pa./Hazelton) is expected to be the closer for the team.  Masteller is a hard-throwing right-hander who has the ability to shut the door on opposing teams.

INFIELD

Freshman Austin Botts (Seven Valleys, Pa./Wingate) will be at catcher for the Bald Eagles.  Botts is a key newcomer to the team, as he brings a solid defensive game to go along with a powerful bat.

“Botts is a just an all-around ball player.  He'll be one of our top guys in our lineup this season,” said Stover.

Freshmen Eric Regel (Bellefonte, Pa./Bellefonte) and Jeff Ross (Danville, Pa./Danville) will also see time behind the plate.

Seniors Robert Guild (Ogdensburg, N.J./Sussex County Community College) and Kevin Cressman (Huntingdon, Pa./Mansfield) will split time as the first baseman and designated hitter.  Guild started in 30 games last season and will look to have a strong senior season this year.  Cressman was a PSAC West second team selection and All-Region selection as a designated hitter last season.  Both seniors will provide a major source of power to the lineup this year. 

Leading the way at second base is sophomore Ryan Watkins (Beech Creek, Pa./Central Mountain) who played well last year while splitting playing time.  He hit .283 in 23 games last year and is expected to build on that this year as a full-time starter.

At shortstop is junior Jose Diaz (Oak Ridge, N.J./Gloucester County College), who will be playing his first season at LHU.  Diaz is talented both offensively and defensively and has made big improvements to sharpen his game in both areas.

Third base will be occupied by one of two sophomores, Josh Jones (Neelyton, Pa./Southern Huntingdon) or Casey Hamilton (Roaring Spring, Pa./Central Martinsburg).  Both players have worked hard all season and both will likely see playing time.

Coach Stover expects freshman Ryan Henritzy (Newton, Pa./Council Rock North) to be a key utility player in the infield. 

“He can play any position in the infield for us.  Defensively, he's as good as they come,” said Stover.

OUTFIELD

Returning sophomore Scott Zuback (Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain) will start in left field for LHU.  Zuback started all 39 games last season and hit for a .308 average.

Senior Jay Hartman (Lewistown, Pa./Indian Valley) will get the nod in center field in his first season of action.  Hartman, who played football for LHU prior to baseball, is incredibly quick and is expected to make a big impact both offensively and defensively.

Senior Cory Dorman (Mifflinburg, Pa./Alleghany College of Maryland) will patrol right field.  Dorman was second on the team in batting a year ago with a .324 average.

Sophomores Brian Zysset (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock) and Dakota Roof (Towanda, Pa./Towanda) will also see time in the outfield.

Following this weekend's tournament, the Bald Eagles will travel to West Virginia to compete in the Shepherd Tournament (March 2-4).

LHU is slated to play six games during their annual spring break trip to Florida on March 10 through March 14.  The Bald Eagles will also play two PSAC West doubleheaders in South Carolina against Clarion (March 16-17).

Lock Haven's first PSAC West games in Pennsylvania are scheduled for Friday, March 23 at home vs. Slippery Rock.