The Mercyhurst baseball team begins its season with a doubleheader against West Virginia State on Saturday, Feb. 18 at Glenville St. The Lakers will then play a single game against Glenville St. on Sunday, Feb. 19.
 
Mercyhurst is coming off a 2016 season where they complied a school-record 43 wins against just 13 losses. The Lakers also won their second-straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West Division title and qualified for their third-straight Atlantic Regional Tournament. Two Lakers from last season's squad, pitcher Colin McKee and infielder Hank Morrison, were selected in the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft.
 
Head coach Joe Spano begins his 18^th season at the helm for the Lakers. His coaching staff includes his brother, assistant coach Charlie Spano, as well as former Lakers' catcher Jake Marinelli and former pitcher Jordan Bray.
 
The Lakers have complied multiple national and regional rankings this preseason, all of which are listed with links to press releases below:
 
#7 national rank: Baseball America Preseason Division II Poll
#9 national rank: Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II Preseason Coaches' Poll
#12 national rank: National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason Division II Poll
#16 national rank: Perfect Game Division II Preseason Poll
#2 Atlantic Region rank: NCBWA Preseason Atlantic Regional Poll
#1 PSAC West Division rank: PSAC West Division Preseason Coaches' Poll
 
Here is a breakdown of the 2017 Mercyhurst Baseball Team:
 
Starters Lost: Position Players – 3, Pitchers – 3
Returning Starters: Positions Players – 7, Pitchers – 3
Total Newcomers: 16
 
Pitching Staff
After the departure of McKee, Cam Knott, and Joe Gnacinski, the Lakers look to reload on the mound in 2017.  
 
Junior Matthew Minnick leads the 2017 rotation and enters with big expectations. The left-hander was named the National Preseason Pitcher of the Year by Baseball America and was also named to the NCBWA Preseason Atlantic Region First-Team. He went 7-1 in 15 games (10 starts) with a 3.48 earned-run average and 61 strikeouts in 54.1 innings pitched.
 
Joining Minnick in the starting rotation is Lake Erie College transfer Russell Lamovec. He had a 4-2 record and 36 strikeouts in 48 innings last season. Sophomore Chris Vallimont will get his shot in the rotation after pitching in ten games with three starts in 2016. He had a 3-1 record with a 2.42 ERA and 33 strikeouts.
 
Other players competing for spots in the starting rotation include senior Matthew Keating (0.00 ERA, 14.1 IP), Mercyhurst North East-transfer Nolan Freeman, and freshman Vincenzo Lucente. Senior Jim Solano (19 IP, 3.32 ERA) and junior Connor Ryan (2016 redshirt) could also see some starts in 2017.
 
Senior Jamie Lauria maintains his bullpen role as a relief specialist after allowing an opposing batting average of just .176 in 21 innings in 2016.
 
Additional players expected to make relief appearances include senior Jake Collins, (8 app. 3.38 ERA), redshirt-freshman Andrew Ciolli, and freshmen Josh Greggs and Nick Kiener. The Lakers also have left-hander Drew Borowski available as a specialist out of the pen who can also play outfield.
 
Infield
The Lakers return an experienced group in the infield despite the loss of Morrison, Austin Alonge, and Brendan Cox. In fact, several position players for the Lakers are able to play both infield and outfield, allowing Coach Spano some lineup flexibility. The infield is projected to have starters who have all contributed with significant playing time in past seasons.
 
Senior Cameron Balego remains a steady force at shortstop for the Lakers. He hit .357 in 57 starts with 12 doubles and 35 RBI to earn All-PSAC West Division Second Team. Taking over first base will be junior Daniel Elliott. Elliott was also a Preseason NCBWA Atlantic Region Second-Teamer who hit .324 with eight home runs and 56 RBI as the team's primary designated hitter.
 
Second base could likely see a platoon between seniors Chris Gonzalez and Marc DiLeo. Gonzalez, who was the primary center fielder last season, hit .313 with team-highs in doubles (20) and stolen bases (16) in 2016.  If he returns to the outfield, DiLeo will step in at the position and provide a left-handed bat in the lineuip. He hit .333 in 16 games last season.
 
Matthew Schnieder is expected to start the season at third base after seeing playing time in eight games in 2016. He also gives the Lakers lineup flexibility with the ability to catch and play first base as well.
 
Sabatino Dinardo III will provide some pop at the plate and do the catching this season. He led the Lakers with ten homers in 2016. The Lakers have plenty of depth behind the plate with Drew Delsignore capable of catching innings along with Zachary Hayes, Ben Monti, and Tyler Reyes.
 
The Lakers have two utility infielders in junior Jimmy Standohar and sophomore Dominic Cecere. Both can play second, third, and short in addition to providing speed on the base pads. Michael Montalbano is another Mercyhurst North East transfer who will provide a power-bat option as a potential first baseman and designated hitter.
 
Rounding out the infielders are senior Max Schrantz and freshmen Matthew Silay and Vincent Chiarenza.
 
Outfield
The Lakers outfield showcases a unique blend of speed and power through multiple versatile players.
 
Senior Jimmy Latona is a preseason NCBWA Atlantic Region Second-Team selection. He hit .333 with 11 doubles and 33 runs batted in in 2016 and is expected to start the season in left field.
 
Mercyhurst Northeast transfer Drew Delsignore will get his shot in right field. He set all-time school records in hits, home runs, and RBI. He was the National Junior College Athletic Association All-Region Player of the Year in 2016. He will serve as a reserve catcher as well.
 
Junior Collin Fantaskey saw the bulk of playing time in right field in 2016 but can play any outfield spot. He will get starts at potentially all outfield positions in 2017. He hit .283 in 29 starts last season with 33 runs scored.
 
The Lakers also welcome back Dan Popio to the lineup, who missed significant time in 2015-16 due to injury. He was a 2014 Atlantic Region Second-Team selection by several outlets after hitting .403 with 41 RBI in 45 starts. He also hit .342 in 30 games in 2015 before his injury. Popio will likely serve as the team's designated hitter but could see time in the outfield as well.
 
Other new faces in the outfield include four freshmen. Jared Kapturasky and Levi Wright are corner outfielders looking to crack the lineup. Wright could also see time pitching as a left-handed specialist.
 
Zach Mitchell and Nathan Kibbie are two additional center field options for the Lakers, while Russ Mistretta provides another left-handed hitting choice as a corner outfielder.
 
Schedule
Mercyhurst's schedule features previous NCAA Regional qualifiers in addition to its tough PSAC West Division schedule.
 
West Virginia State out of the Mountain East Conference (MEC) has had its battles with the Lakers in recent Atlantic Regional tournaments and should provide a good test to begin the season.  The Lakers will also play Glenville State College and Urbana from the MEC along with 2016 Midwest Regional-qualifier Alderson Broaddus from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.
 
Additional out-of-conference foes include three teams from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) in Ohio Dominican, Notre Dame College, and Lake Erie College. Rounding out the non-conference schedule are Post University and and Goldey-Beacom College out of the Central Athletic Collegiate Conference.
 
The Lakers begin their PSAC schedule when they take on Indiana (Pa.) March 24th. View the Lakers' complete schedule here: 2017 BASEBALL SCHEDULE.