LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University baseball team is set to hit the diamond for the 2013 season.

The Bald Eagles open up their season on Thursday, February 21, in Newport News, Va. with the Builder Invitational Tournament hosted by the Apprentice School.

Lock Haven enters the 2013 season hoping to build on a successful 2012 campaign which saw the Bald Eagles fall just three wins 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 24th season at the helm for the Bald Eagles, posting an all-time record of 419-540-7.

Returning to coach Stover's staff is assistant coach Heath Stover, who enters his 16th season with the program.  Former Bald Eagle Matt McCamley enters his second season as a volunteer assistant coach.

Coach Stover's take:

Despite just missing out on the playoffs the past few seasons, coach Stover is excited for this year's squad and believes they have the ability to surprise a lot of people around the conference.

“We have a good group of guys coming back that gained valuable experience last season.  That experience coupled with some new guys that we've added to the mix is going to give us a chance to take this club to the next level,” said Stover.

As is the case during most preseasons in central Pennsylvania, weather has kept the Bald Eagles inside for the most part since practices began.  Even with the tough winter weather, coach Stover likes what he has seen so far.

“We haven't been able to do much in live situations, which is always something we would like to do before that first weekend,” said Stover.  “From what I've seen so far, this team is ready to go.  I expect us to be very strong defensively and I don't see any weak spots in our lineup.”

Setting the stage:

The Bald Eagles finished the 2012 season with a record of 16-29-1 and finished in sixth place in the PSAC West.

LHU returns 11 starters (seven hitters, four pitchers) from last year's squad and the Bald Eagles are looking to earn a PSAC Tournament berth for the first time since 2009.

This season marks the final season that the Bald Eagles will compete in the PSAC Western Division.  Next year, LHU will move into the PSAC East.

Pitching:

As most coaches will tell you, baseball games are won and lost on the mound.  The Bald Eagles have a reason to be excited this season, as LHU has a number of young, talented arms that have the ability to keep The Haven in every ball game.

Leading the way on the mound will be redshirt-sophomore Collin Mills (Union Bridge, Md./Francis).  Mills had a breakout campaign in 2012 as a freshman and will look to build off of his success this season.

Last season, Mills led the team in starts (10), innings pitched (62.0), strikeouts (45), ERA (4.79) and shutouts (2).  He posted a 4-2 record a year ago and threw five complete games.

Joining Mills at the top of the rotation will be senior Nick Cummings (Akron, N.Y./Akron).  Cummings appeared in nine games last season, starting in seven.  He threw 51.1 innings and picked up two wins on the year.

Coach Stover has really liked what he has seen from his lone senior pitcher in the preseason.

“Cummings is looking as good as ever.  He's really starting to get consistent and that will be huge for us this season,” said Stover.

Kyle Schubert (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna) and Alec Jacob (Newton, Pa./Pennsbury) both are veterans to The Haven staff who will look to provide big-time game experience this season.

Schubert appeared in nine games and threw 29.0 innings last season, while Jacob is returning from an injury that cost him most of last season.

Schubert could be a valuable middle reliever for the staff this season and Jacob could fill the role of closer upon return.

Coach Stover is very excited about four new arms that will join the Bald Eagle staff this season.

Sophomore Madison Neddo (Earleville, Md./Coppin State Univ.) could have a huge role in the rotation this season.  Stover is very pleased with Neddo's progress thus far and expects him to see a ton of innings right from the get-go.

Lock Haven's lone southpaw this season is Joe Nestor (Drexel Hill, Pa./Monsignor Bonner).  Expect Nestor to see a lot of innings in middle relief.

True freshmen Parker Watson (Philipsburg, Pa./Philipsburg-Osceola) and Garrett Shnyder (Montgomery, Pa./Montgomery) join the Bald Eagles this season and both have looked really good this preseason.  Coach Stover says that both players have really good stuff and will be in the mix to see valuable innings all year.

Evan Moyer (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central), a talented young pitcher will redshirt this season for LHU.

Infield:

Sophomore Austin Botts (Seven Valleys, Pa./Wingate) returns as the starter behind the dish for LHU.  Botts had a solid freshman campaign last season.  He started in 44 games last season and hit .260 with two homeruns and 23 RBIs.

Botts is a rock behind the plate defensively and his experience from last season will be key in guiding the pitching staff this season.

Freshman Alexander Clark (Lowville, N.Y./Lowville Academy) will also see time behind the plate for The Haven.

Junior-transfer Tyler Yesensky (Endwell, N.Y./Old Dominion Univ.) joins the Bald Eagles this season and will be at first base.  Coach Stover loves Yesensky's offensive and defensive ability and expects him to be a major impact player this season.

Junior Matt Hendrixson (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley), who made 10 appearances on the mound last season, will convert to first base this season.  Hendrixson has a big bat that could prove useful in key situations this season.

Leading the way at second base is senior Jose Diaz (Oak Ridge, N.J./Gloucester County College).  Diaz hit .297 with nine doubles and 21 RBIs last season for LHU and provides firm defense up the middle.

At shortstop is sophomore Ryan Henritzy (Newton, Pa./Council Rock North).  Henritzy hit .294 last season in 45 games.  Henritzy's speed is a key part of his game on both offense and defense.  Last year, he tied for the team lead with seven stolen bases and his quickness on defense provides a huge compliment to Diaz in the center of the diamond.

Junior Casey Hamilton (Roaring Spring, Pa./Central Martinsburg) will also provide veteran leadership at shortstop and could also see time as the designated hitter.

Third base will be occupied by junior transfer Anthony Kyne (Newtown Square, Pa./Penn State Brandywine).  Kyne is expected to be a big impact player on both offense and defense.  Coach Stover loves his bat and his ability to scoop up any ball hit his way.

Josh Jones (Neelyton, Pa./Southern Huntingdon) and Jeff Ross (Danville, Pa./Danville) will both be valuable utility players.

Jones can play any position in the infield and posted three doubles and 12 RBIs last season.

Ross returns for his sophomore season and is expected to see a lot of time as the designated hitter.

Outfield:

The Bald Eagles have a deep and talented outfield this season, led by senior Jay Hartman (Lewistown, Pa./Indian Valley) and junior Scott Zuback (Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain).

Hartman was the catalyst of the LHU offense last season and patrolled centerfield for the Bald Eagles.  He led The Haven with a .357 average last season and scored 40 runs, which is among the top-10 most in a single season in school history.

Hartman was named to the PSAC West second team last year in his first year on the diamond and coach Stover says that Hartman is the vocal leader of the team.

Unlike Hartman, Zuback likes to lead by example.  The junior leftfielder hit .331 with eight doubles and three homeruns last season.

Zuback became the first Bald Eagle in school history to be named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) National Player of the Week.

Freshman Aaron Lidgett (Morrisdale, Pa./West Branch) is battling for the rightfield position.  Lidgett has really impressed coach Stover so far and the freshman could also see time as a pitcher as the year progresses.

Juniors Brian Zysset (Williamsport, Pa./Loyalsock) and Dakota Roof (Towanda, Pa./Towanda) will also see time in the outfield and either could see time as the designated hitter.

Roof hit .264 in 40 games last season, while Zysset hit .278 in 17 games.

Sophomore Colton Spade (Lewistown, Pa./Lewistown) is a really athletic player who could see time anywhere in the outfield.

Following this weekend's tournament, the Bald Eagles will host Pitt-Greensburg on March 2 and travel to Shepherdstown, W.V. to take on Shpeherd University on March 9.

LHU is slated to play six games during their annual spring break trip to Florida on March 16 through March 20. 

Lock Haven opens PSAC West play on March 23-24 with a weekend series with Slippery Rock.

To follow all of this week's action at the Builder Tournament, click here

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