"We are excited for another season to start up," Head Coach Zach Foster said. "Our guys have been very motivated and have bought into what we are trying to do this year. We are going to focus on controlling what we can control and being a hard-nosed, gritty team. The league has some great teams and I expect every game to be a dogfight. I trust the guys we have and my coaching staff to make sure we are prepared mentally and physically for each series. It's going to be fun to watch our seniors -- who have bled and fought for this program the last four years -- see where they can take us."

 

La Roche was selected to defend its conference title while Penn State-Behrend was picked second. Penn State-Altoona is expected to finish third.

 

Mount Aloysius infielder Matthew McCourt was voted the Preseason Player of the Year while Penn State-Behrend's senior Jack Herzing was voted Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

 

Pitt-Bradford finished 8-8 in AMCC games last season and grabbed the fifth spot in the conference playoffs, in which the Panthers knocked off Penn State-Altoona and Mount Aloysius before falling in the conference semifinal to Penn State-Behrend.

 

The Panthers return nearly all starters from last season, including 2017 All-Conference players Dalton Renn, Jay Clinger and Tyler Hoops.

 

Renn, Clinger and Ryan Boyer were also listed as Collegiate Baseball Magazine's Player to Watch prior to this season.

 

Pitt-Bradford is set to begin its season Feb. 24 in New Market, Va., taking on Chatham. The Panthers will play a doubleheader against Bethany the following day.