The men's varsity basball team opens up its season on Saturday against Rutgers-Newark at the Homewood Baseball Field.
One of the most underlooked sports teams in the school, the team finished last season with a school record for wins, 42, while only suffering eight losses. The team has been picked to finish first in the Centennial Conference Preseason Poll.
Last year the team won the Centennial Conference title against Haverford and moved onto the College World Series, where they advanced from the regional competition to the Division III College World Series in Appleton, Wis. The Jays knocked off several of the top teams before facing undefeated Trinity College in the finals.
Needing to win two consecutive games against Trinity without suffering a loss. The Jays managed to knock off then unbeaten Trinity, forcing a one-game, winner-take-all match against the small liberal arts school from Connecticut. The Jays had a one-run lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning, but walked in the game winning run on a full count to finish in second place, just one day after the Jay lacrosse team lost in the championship game itself.
The team lost 17 senior from last seasons team, but returns several key players. Graduate student third baseman Todd Emr, who redshirted his junior season with an injury, will help lead the Jays offensive attack. Emr hit .487 last season to lead the conference and finished with a school record 94 hits.
The team will also return outfielder Brian Youchak, who was named a preseason All-American. Youchak hit .467 with 86 hits.
The pitching staff will be led by Senior Chez Angeloni, the Most Outstanding Player of last year's Collge World Series.
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