LANCASTER, Pa. – The Ursinus College baseball team was selected eighth in the Centennial Conference preseason poll, it was announced Wednesday by the league office.

Johns Hopkins, last year's runner-up, edged out defending champion Haverford for the top spot; the Blue Jays earned five first-place votes and 77 points to the Fords' four first-place votes and 74 points. Gettysburg was third with 52 points, followed by Franklin & Marshall (50), Muhlenberg (49, 1 first-place vote), Washington College (47), Dickinson (36), Ursinus (30), McDaniel (18), and Swarthmore (17).

Behind an experienced returning cast and a promising haul of newcomers, the Bears are eager to bounce back from a difficult season in which they lost their final 12 games to finish 16-23 overall and just 2-16 in conference play.

Head coach Stan Exeter goes into the 2017 campaign with 18 seniors at his disposal, many of whom have logged plenty of playing time over the last few years. Senior Alex Campbell will man the hot corner after a standout season in which he hit .313 with six doubles, a home run, and 16 RBI. Classmates C.J. Diana (.279, 2 HR, 14 RBI) and Kieran Geyer (.262, 1 HR, 23 RBI) will play all over the infield, and Jay Farrell (.314, 20 RBI) and Austin Kurey (.221, 1 HR, 9 RBI) are vying for time at first base. Sophomore Carter Usowski resumes his starting shortstop role after an injury cut short his rookie season; Usowski hit .333 with 16 runs scored and seven RBI in just 48 at-bats.

Seniors Greg Petorak, who had two home runs and a pair of doubles in only 22 at-bats a year ago, gives the Bears some pop off the bench.

The Bears hope to benefit from an injection of young talent in the outfield, where freshmen Dom Fiorentino and Alex Mumme have impressed enough to nail down starting spots. Both were accomplished high-school stars in New Jersey – Mumme was the All-Prep Player of the Year, and Fiorentino is one of only three players in Ocean City High School history to lead the team in hitting three straight years.

Junior Travis Kozak, who hit .241 with 18 runs scored and five stolen bases, will also factor in the Bears' outfield plans.

Ursinus also returns a balanced starting pitching staff anchored by senior Seth Regensburg. The southpaw struck out 70 batters in just 50 innings a year ago, leading the conference at 12.60 strikeouts per nine innings and ranking fifth in total punch-outs. Regensburg, who was 3-4 with a 4.14 ERA, also posted two saves and a complete game.

Junior Pierce Greenleaf is set to step into an expanded role in the rotation after a strong season in a long relief spot. Over 11 appearances (two starts), the right-hander compiled a 2.97 ERA and struck out 26 while walking just three. Junior Matt Radwanski struck out 14 to just two walks and had a 4.31 ERA in 31.1 innings. Sophomore lefty David Drea (seven starts) and senior Lou Aikins (nine) earned valuable starting experience last season.

The Bears open the season – and their spring trip to Florida – on March 5 with a double-header against Eastern Mennonite. 

2017 Centennial Conference Baseball Preseason Poll