Baseball set to open season in Winter Haven on Friday

The MCLA Baseball team is gearing up for their 2013 season opener with hopes of improving off of a 14 win season a year ago.  The Trailblazers will open the campaign on Friday when they challenge Eastern Mennonite University in the RussMatt Invitational in Winter Haven, Fl.

Led by 11^th year head coach Jeff Puleri, the Trailblazers are hoping to return to the MASCAC postseason.  MCLA will return a host of starters, however are still classified as a young team.  The Trailblazers will go into the season with 13 underclassmen on the active roster.  MCLA does not return any All MASCAC performers from last season having graduated their lone representative in left handed pitcher Daniel Gaines.

"I'm excited to see the continued growth of a strong crew of underclassmen this season" Puleri stated when asked about his troops.  "We will be tested right out of the gates with a challenging Florida swing, one that will tell us a lot about our future," Puleri said, referring to their 10 game slate in the sunshine state.  MCLA will need to be more productive in all phases of the game to become a threat in the conference.  The Trailblazers ranked near the bottom of the league in batting average and earned run average.

MCLA returns lone senior Joe Duncan to the lineup.  Duncan was a catalyst on offense a year ago batting .277 and leading the Trailblazers with 29 runs scored and a school record 23 stolen bases.  He should see ample time at the top of the lineup.  While Duncan will patrol right field, the other outfield spots will fall in the hands of junior Cody Weaver and sophomore Mike Mancivalano.  Weaver batted a team best .356 a year ago with 18 RBI, both team highs.  Mancivalano was saw significant action last season, but will need to be more productive on the offensive side of the ledger.  Others competing for time in the outfield will include junior Jared Gersch and freshman Nate Alibozek.

The Trailblazers should return a solid infield in 2013.  MCLA returns a pair of starters in Rory Slattery and Chase Preite, but will also welcome back Mike Sullivan who missed the majority of 2012 with a knee injury.  All three are sophomores and will be counted on to be the heart of the offense.  Slattery will move from shortstop over to third base, while Sullivan and Preite will start at shortstop and second base respectively.  First base will be open to sophomore transfer Tyler Benoit and junior utility player Derek Lescarbeau.  MCLA added some depth this spring by adding transfer JT Ferraro to the mix.  The sure handed shortstop will be pushing for opportunities in the infield as he combines great speed and defensive range to the infield.

Behind the plate, MCLA returns Alon Willing to manage the staff.  The sophomore saw significant action a year ago and is the only catcher with any starting experience.  Newcomers Slayter Aubin and Ryan Shook will look to challenge for playing time and spell Willing.

The pitching staff returns five pitchers who logged many innings last season, however will need to be more effective to insure the Trailblazers success.  Starting pitcher Ross Miner will anchor the staff after leading the team in ERA a year ago.  Miner has great command and is a fierce competitor on the mound.  Following Miner in the rotation will be a host of arms looking to break thru.  Benoit and fellow transfer Robert Jutras will both see action, while juniors Joe Vaverka, DJ Clark, Weaver, and Gersch will all compete for starting roles.  Preite, Slattery, and Mancivalano will add depth out of the bullpen.

MCLA will play the ten game slate in Winter Haven before returning north to face Clark on March 19^th.  They will open MASCAC play on March 29^th hosting Fitchburg State.