TOWSON, Md.- The Juniata baseball team was selected seventh is this year's preseason poll.
Susquehanna takes the top spot in the preseason poll as they are seated first with 54 points, behind them is Catholic (49), Drew (37), Elizabethtown (32), Moravian (26), Scranton (20), and then Juniata with 13 points.
Led by new head coach Tom Gibboney, the team hopes to improve upon last season's results. The Eagles are led by five seniors and four junior upperclassmen. The team has a young core of players with nine sophomores and 11 freshmen.
Senior Chris Schreder (Lititz, Pa. / Lancaster Catholic) was named Landmark second team all-conference last season. The senior outfielder recorded career bests in hits (50), doubles (14), runs scored (22), stolen bases (14) and batting average (.360) and also logged the 100th hit of his career. Other seniors expected to contribute are Jesse Beeler (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle Antrim), Josh Keszczyk (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown Area), and J.D. Weyant (New Paris, Pa./Chestnut Ridge). Beeler struck out 13 batters the previous season while Weyant returns to the mound after finishing thrid on the team in strikeouts. Catcher Keszczyk returns after appearing in 20 games last season.
Another staple of the offense last season, Devyn Carper (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona Area), hit .326 with five doubles, three triples and 19 RBI. Fellow junior outfielder Cameron Livingston (Blairsville, Pa. / Blairsville) hit .302, with eight doubles and 17 RBI. Junior pitcher/shortstop Isaac Kline (Evertt, Pa./Bedford) returns after finishing sixth on the team in doubles the previous year.
Baseball (First Place Votes)
1. Susquehanna- 54 (4)
2. Catholic- 49 (3)
3. Drew- 37
4. Elizabethtown- 32
5. Moravian- 26
6. Scranton- 20
7. Juniata- 13
The Eagles open their season this Saturday, February 17th as they travel to Eastern Mennonite for a double header at 12:00 PM and 2:30PM.
