HUNTINGDON, PA- After two delays to begin their season, the Juniata baseball team will finally hit the field this Saturday when they play Cairn in Auburndale, FL. It is the first of a seven-game road trip in the Sunshine State to start 2015.
"We've had a great preseason", says fourth-year head coach Jesse Leonard. "The guys have been working hard and continue to get better every day. That's always our goal and we're meeting that goal. Like I've told the guys, this season is a bit of an open book as far as what role everyone has on the team. It's our story to write. Right now it's a blank page. With that blank slate thought process, we're going to write those goals as we go. For us right now, it's making sure we're getting better day-to-day. If we can take care of the things that we control, we can control our own destiny. Our goals are nothing more than to get better, to play hard, and be competitive"
The Eagles were picked last in the Landmark Conference preseason poll but that doesn't faze Leonard. "Whatever you want to read into that, I think that stuff is more than fuel to the fire for us," he stated. "We've got a great group of young men that are anxious to prove people wrong. Some people don't like that and some people like being the underdog and I think that's our mentality."
Pitching
The pitching staff is young with a total of eight players either freshmen or sophomores. One of those sophomores is Eric Grace (Hopewell, PA/Northern Bradford) who started seven games a year ago. His 43 innings pitched were the second-most on the Eagles and he posted an earned run average of 4.60 with 20 strikeouts. "He's really stepped it up," said Leonard. "He's pitched well in conference games last year as a freshman and we're looking for more of the same from him as a sophomore." The lone senior is Chris Fulton (West Chester, PA/Unionville) who started all eight games he played in and accumulated over 47 innings pitched.
Catcher
At backstop, junior Anthony Lombardo (Altoona, PA/Altoona Area) will switch from the outfield. Lombardo batted .320 in 2014 and had 31 hits. "His bat is critical to our lineup," emphasized Leonard. "He brings a lot to the table with that experience and having those collegiate at-bats."
Infield
Grace is also the team's first baseman and will man the position once again. In 55 at-bats, he hit .327 and only struck out six times. Sophomore Brady Cotler (Chadds Ford, PA/Salesianum) will also factor in. Chris Sinisi (Altoona, PA/Altoona Area) has played different positions and provides plenty of game experience. He hit .306 last season in 63 at-bats and only punched out five times. Third base will primarily be occupied by junior Kyle Pannebaker (Thompsontown, PA/East Juniata) with freshman Zach Tobash (Macungie, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) also seeing some time.
Outfield
Returning to the outfield is senior Cody Krepps (Tyrone, PA/Bellwood-Antis). Krepps, a Second Team All-Landmark selection in 2014, led the Eagles with a .415 batting average and a .444 on base percentage. The career-high batting average, with more than 30 at bats, was second overall in the Landmark and only behind three-time all-league selection Warren Hartman from U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The center fielder was third on the team in total runs scored (17), second in total hits (49) and doubles (10), and led the team in runs batted in (28).
"He is going to anchor our outfield and provide us with some speed and some power at the top of the lineup," remarked Leonard. "He's been a guy who has played pretty consistent the past three years and we're looking forward to seeing him finish out his career, in his senior season, picking things up from where he left off last year."
Schedule
Juniata will dive into their conference schedule with a three-game series against Merchant Marine in Fort Myers March 13 and 14. The team's first home games will be March 28 and 29 versus Drew.
"I'm excited about the Landmark season," remarked Leonard. "We've always been competitive in the conference, though our record may not always show it. I think as a whole, the conference has gotten better, we've gotten better, and they are just exciting games to play in. Everyone has a big dog in the fight and it's a fun thing to watch. You've got to take it a series at a time and try to win them all to give yourself a shot. The goal is to take two of three or three of three, and to make sure that we are competitive in those games. If you take care of business in those conference games, you set yourself up for where you need to be at the end of the season."
