Crack!

The sound of a perfectly squared-up pitch is one of the most beautiful sounds in all of sports. With baseball season just around the corner, it is time to dust off the cleats and warm up the bats in preparation for the upcoming season.

Shippensburg University baseball is prepared to have a strong season, as the team was ranked third in the PSAC Eastern Division in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll on Feb. 2. The Raiders trail only Millersville University and East Stroudsburg University in the Eastern Division of the poll.

Millersville University was picked as the favorite to win the 2016 PSAC Eastern Division and is coming off a strong 2015 campaign where the Marauders came away with the PSAC Eastern Division Title. Millersville University also won the 2015 PSAC Tournament. Millersville returns seven starters and three starting pitchers in 2016. The most notable starter returning is first baseman Dan Stoltzfus, who hit .396, with 15 home runs and 81 RBIs last season. The Marauders have won the last three PSAC Eastern Division titles. Millersville University received six first-place votes in the poll.

East Stroudsburg University was picked as the second-place team in the PSAC Eastern Division in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll. East Stroudsburg University has all nine offensive starters and three of its top four starting pitchers returning in 2016. Ian Allen, a right fielder and starting pitcher, is one of the key players returning for the Warriors. Allen threw a no-hitter on March 8, 2015 against Virginia State University, in which he struck out 12 batters. Allen also hit .357, with eight home runs and 47 RBIs.

For Shippensburg University, the Raiders will return 20 players from last year’s squad, including seven position players who hit .300 or better last season. Catcher Jake Kennedy led the Raiders last season, hitting for a .352 average, with 19 home runs. Kennedy also drove in 66 runs last season.

Gabe Mosser, who finished with a 6-2 record despite a 5.21 ERA, led the Raiders on the mound last season. Mosser posted an impressive 54-22 strikeout-to-walk ratio and led the team in wins. Mosser had a career day against Kutztown on March 4, 2015 with 13 strikeouts in a 4-3 victory.

SU finished last season with a with 25-25 record and will look to build on their 17-11 conference record that was good enough for a third place finish in the PSAC Eastern Division.

SU named senior shortstop Mike Marcinko, junior starting pitcher Mark Curtis and junior infielder Ryan McMillen as team captains for the 2016 season.

The Raiders will begin their season with a Feb. 12 double-header at Belmont Abbey University in North Carolina. The Raiders will first meet with PSAC Eastern Division favorite Millersville University on April 22 at Fairchild Field.

2016 PSAC Preseason Baseball Polls

Eastern Division

1. Millersville University (6)

2. East Stroudsburg University (2)

3. Shippensburg University

4. West Chester University

5. Lock Haven University

T6. Kutztown University

T6. Bloomsburg University

8. Mansfield University

Western Division

1. Mercyhurst University (6)

2. Seton Hill University (2)

3. Slippery Rock University

4. California University

5. Indiana University of Pennsylvania

6. University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown

7. Gannon University

8. Clarion University

*(6)= first place votes 

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