LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Lock Haven University baseball team is set to open the 2017 season this weekend.
 
The Bald Eagles will open their spring campaign with a four-game set at Chowan. The Bald Eagles and Hawks will play two on Saturday, February 25, starting at 1 p.m. and the two teams will do it again Sunday (Feb. 26) with a 12 p.m. doubleheader.
 
Countdown to first pitch:
278: Last season, LHU plated 278 runs and outscored its opponents 278-266 on the way to 21 wins.
74: MLB draft prospect Jacob Belinda (Sr., RHP) recorded a team-high 74 strikeouts last season.
55: Nick Stotler (R-So., OF) recorded a team-high 55 hits last season. He was 55 of 155 with a team-high .355 batting average.
50: 50 is the number of runs LHU scored in the second inning last season, the most of any inning.
33: Last season Hunter Szaflarski (Sr., INF) recorded a team-best 33 RBIs.
24: Last season, LHU only grounded into 24 double plays.
23: In 2016, the Bald Eagles went deep often, recording 23 total home runs. Eight different players had multiple-home run seasons.
21: 21 players from LHU's roster are Pennsylvania natives (New York: 2, New Jersey: 1, Idaho: 1, Arizona: 1 & Canada: 1).
13: Last season, 13 different players registered a total 111 multiple-hit games.
9: 9 different LHU players (non-pitchers) return who started more than 28 games last season.
8: Last season, LHU's longest win streak was eight games.
7: When the Bald Eagles scored 10 or more runs last season, they were a perfect 7-0.
5: Sr. RHP Mike Anthony returns after winning a team-best five games last season.
4: Four different pitchers return who started over six games last season.
0: Returning All-PSAC selection Matt Lahn (Sr., 1B/P) committed zero errors last season, while logging the majority of his innings at first base.
 
Building off last season:
Third-year head coach Jim Chester and the Bald Eagles will look to build off a solid 2016 season that saw LHU win 21 games, the most in a season since 2009. LHU closed the season with a thrilling sweep of rival Mansfield, the same team LHU will open conference play against this season.
 
Starters return:
In all, Lock Haven returns nine different position players that started 28 or more games last season. That returning experience should be huge for the Bald Eagles who won 10 games at home last year and nine games in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East action.
 
Strong pitching is key:
LHU returns the nucleus of last year's rotation and four guys who started over six games last season including Jacob Belinda, who the Bald Eagles will look to be the team's ace.
 
Belinda, a senior and draft prospect, was named the No. 9 prospect in the Prospect League in September ('16) after he enjoyed a stellar summer with the West Virginia Miners. Belinda started the Prospect League All-Star game and finished the summer with a team-high 69 strikeouts. He made 10 appearances, nine starts, and finished with five wins and a 2.06 ERA. Belinda recorded 74 strikeouts for Lock Haven in 2016.
 
Mike Anthony is another big-time arm for LHU. Last year he went 5-2 with 54 strikeouts. Veteran arms Tom Cockill, Nick Hornbaker, Brett Morrison, Zach Manuppelli and Matt Lahn all add major depth in the starting pitching rotation, and out of the bullpen. Transfer Breton LaRose will also be an immediate contributor from the mound.
 
Offensive production & loaded lineup:
With the return of the entire lineup, the Bald Eagles offensive production returns as well and looks to be an even bigger threat in 2017. Last season, Nick Stotler led LHU with a .355 average and a team-high 55 hits. Hunter Szaflarski returns as well after driving in 33 runs in 2016. Lock Haven also returns 18 of 23 home runs from last season as there is certainly a number of power-hitters in Chester's lineup. Once on the base paths, there are a number of players who have the ability to steal bases including the speedy-outfielder Jimmy Webb, who swiped four bases last season.
 
Picked fifth in PSAC East:
In early February, LHU was picked fifth in the 2017 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Preseason Coaches' Poll. Millersville received six of eight first-place votes and was picked as the favorite in the Eastern Division. The Marauders were followed by West Chester, who received two first-place votes, and No. 3 East Stroudsburg.
 
Lahn returns as All-PSAC pick:
Last season, Matt Lahn was an All-Conference selection, earning PSAC Eastern Division Second Team honors at utility. Out of LHU's 50 games last season, Lahn started 44 (46 GP), playing first base, while also seeing significant time as a relief pitcher and designated hitter. He finished the season with a .321 average, which was third-best on the team. Lahn had 50 hits, 29 RBIs, 11 doubles and two home runs. He finished with a .382 on-base percentage and a .429 slugging-percentage. Lahn was credited with 199 putouts, eight assists and had a perfect fielding-percentage. He also picked up two saves and struck out 11 as a pitcher, working primarily as a closer.
 
Preseason honors:
Senior pitcher Jacob Belinda and junior-transfer Cayden Stover have earned 2017 Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Atlantic Region Preseason honors.
 
Belinda, a returning starting pitcher, has been named a 2017 Player to Watch and Stover, a former standout at nearby Central Mountain High School, has been tabbed as a Newcomer to Watch. Stover, who will be a junior infielder, transferred from Chesapeake Community College. In 48 games last season with the Skipjacks, Stover hit .368 with 28 RBIs.
 
All-Star starters:
In July (2016), LHU pitchers Mike Anthony and Jacob Belinda were named to the Prospect League's Eastern Division All-Star Team. Anthony spent the summer with the Kokomo Jackrabbits and for the second straight summer, Belinda played with the West Virginia Miners. Both players enjoyed successful summer seasons for their respective clubs.
 
Looking to make draft history:
If Jacob Belinda is selected in Major League Baseball's draft, he would be just the second player in school history to get drafted. Recently, Belinda was named the No. 26 prospect in all Division II by Baseball America. Although, LHU has had a number of players enjoy success in the majors, only one other LHU player has been drafted (Tom Sepela, 1986 MLB Draft; Pitcher, Red Sox (21^st Round, 537^th overall pick)).
 
The road ahead:
Following Lock Haven's weekend in Murfreesboro, North Carolina and the four games at Chowan, LHU will open March with non-conference games at Fairmont State and Pitt-Johnstown. From there, Lock Haven will travel to Wilson, North Carolina for a number of games during Spring Break. The Bald Eagles open PSAC East action at home on Friday, March 24 (1 p.m.) vs. local-rival Mansfield. Last season, LHU went 3-0-1 vs. Mansfield in PSAC East action.