Commonwealth Conference Season Preview Video
ANNVILLE, Pa. – Though Lebanon Valley reached the Commonwealth Conference Championship tournament last season, the team lost 11 players to graduation and was voted sixth in the conference preseason coaches poll released Wednesday.
“We have a great bunch of guys that are working super hard,” head coach
Keith Evans said. We've got a lot of competition all over the field. It's a lot of fun to come to practice every day.”
With 10 new players, the Dutchmen (24-18, 10-8 CC in 2012) are retooled and out to prove naysayers wrong. The team opens in Fort Pierce, Fla., on its annual spring break trip from March 4 to 9.
“I anticipate using several different lineups,” Evans said. “I told the kids, 'Every night, I go home and I have three different starting outfielders in my head. Tonight, I'll go home and probably have three different starters in my head.'”
The conference expands this season with the addition of Stevenson University from the Capital Athletic Conference.
Perennial power Alvernia was voted into the top spot after playing itself into the finals last season. The Crusaders had five players named to the NCAA Division III 'Players to Watch' list, chosen by DIII coaches and compiled by Collegiate Baseball. Defending Commonwealth champions Messiah are ranked fourth with 18 new players joining the team. They were able to defeat Alvernia twice in the postseason a year ago, but – like LVC – the Falcons will take on a fresh look this season.
The Dutchmen open at home on March 13 against DeSales and debut in conference play at Widener on March 15. The Dutchmen will play weekend home-and-home series with each of the other seven teams in the Commonwealth with nonconference games set in between each conference series.
“The conference is always very tough,” Evans said. “You have to play the likes of Alvernia, Messiah, Widener, E-town, and all the others. There's never an easy day, and then you add Stevenson to the mix, and it just got a little bit tougher.”
2013 Preseason Commonwealth Coaches Poll
1. Alvernia, 44 pts. (6)
2. Elizabethtown, 38 pts. (2)
3. Stevenson, 35 pts.
4. Messiah, 31 pts.
5. Arcadia, 24 pts.
6. Lebanon Valley, 21 pts.
7. Widener, 17 pts.
8. Albright, 14 pts.
