Lock Haven, Pa. - The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference released their preseason poll for baseball with Mercyhurst sitting near the top. After another successful season for Head Coach Joe Spano and company in 2022, the Lakers check in at second in the PSAC West entering the new campaign.
The Lakers found themselves in similar territory a season ago as they entered 2022 second in the West and finished 31-18 overall and 16-12 in conference play while advancing to the quarterfinals of the PSAC Championships. Despite losing some of their top talent from a season ago, Mercyhurst looks to compete near the top of the conference once again.
Coach Spano has a pair of Erie natives as two of his top returners in the field for the 2023 season in Luke Jackson and Chris Juchno. Jackson had a breakout season in his sophomore campaign in 2022 hitting for an OPS of .920, the fifth highest among qualifying Lakers while being tied for second on the team in doubles with a dozen. His fellow former Trojan, Juchno, displayed serious power in his freshman season as he held a .607 SLG with 12 home runs on his way to earning a PSAC West Second Team nod.
The team returns most of their top pitching from a season ago with Daniel Thomas and Jarrett Heilman headlining the Laker's arms. The two combined for 129.1 innings while both had WHIPs under 1.15 and a combined ERA of 2.64 with 154 strikeouts to their names. The bullpen also features a pair of solid arms in Corbin Foy who had a team-best 14.8 K/9 in 18.1 innings and Aiden Kelly who had an ERA of 2.81 in 32 innings of work. He proved to be nearly impossible to hit with a batting average allowed of .200, the third lowest on the team among pitchers to throw 20 or more innings, making for a deadly one-two combination in the back of the pen.
The Lakers still have some time on their hands before they get back on the diamond as they begin the new season on the road, competing in the Glenville State Tournament beginning February 24th through the 26th.
EAST (# of First-Place Votes)
- Millersville (3)
- West Chester (3)
- East Stroudsburg (3)
- Shippensburg
- Bloomsburg
- Shepherd
- Mansfield
- Lock Haven
- Kutztown
WEST
- Seton Hill (4)
- Mercyhurst
- Gannon (3)
- Slippery Rock (1)
- IUP
- California (Pa.)
- Pitt-Johnstown
- Clarion
The entire PSAC release can be found HERE.
