The Laf

Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Athletic Communications

The Lafayette baseball team opened up the 2010 campaign this past weekend with a three-game series at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Va. With Friday's game postponed due to rain, the Leopards were forced to play a double-header Saturday afternoon followed by another match-up on Sunday. VMI proved to be too much for the Leopards, as they dropped the entire series, losing 16-8, 14-2 and 7-6.

Although the Leopards were defeated in their opening weekend, they still hope to repeat their trip to the Patriot League Championship series. Lafayette is entering another campaign with the same goals they have every year says AJ Pisarri '10. "[We want to] make the Patriot League playoffs and ultimately win the Patriot League Championship," he said. "The Patriot league is a very balanced and competitive conference so we will have to play hard and continue to get better as the season progresses in order to reach our goals."

One major setback for the Leopards so far this season has been the inclement weather that has left Kamine Stadium covered in snow and ice. This has left the Lafayette baseball team stuck inside for practice everyday, and the lack of time spent on the field reflects the struggle Lafayette had in their opening weekend. Outfielder Matt Hall '10 said, "I think that we are trying to get the feel of being on a baseball field, which we haven't done since October." This struggle is a common one for most of the baseball teams in the northeast, and luckily for the Leopards, most of the other Patriot League schools are in the same predicament.

One way that Lafayette overcomes the bad weather is by taking long road trips south in order to play under sunnier skies. This upcoming weekend the Leopards will battle the University of Richmond in a three-game series. During spring break the Leopards will also get a break from the cold Pennsylvania weather. They will first play in the Strike Out Cancer tournament hosted by Seton Hall before traveling down to Texas to face Dallas Baptist in a three game series.

These early season match-ups will provide a nice challenge for the young Leopard squad, who after losing many starting players to graduation, are looking to work out the kinks before Patriot League play begins on April 3. However, one area where the Leopards should still be strong is in their starting rotation, as they welcome back three of last season's weekend starters in Jeremy Atkins '10, Zach Fritz '11 and Corey Shea '11.

Continued...

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