PHILADELPHIA – The 2013 La Salle baseball team is brimming with youth and optimism as its season is now only hours away. 18 new faces and a mix of weathered veterans compose this year's squad, one which anticipates a rigorous non-conference schedule leading into Atlantic 10 play.

Tournaments at the USA Baseball Complex and North Carolina State mark the season's first two weekends before a trek across the southwest (Texas Tech, New Mexico, New Mexico State) over spring break. A 24-game, eight-series A-10 slate begins in late March, culminating with the possibility of conference tournament play in late May.

Seniors Pat Christensen and Ryan Donohue return from last year's pitching staff, which posted the A-10's fifth-best team ERA (4.00). Christensen was recently named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List for the third consecutive season. The senior enters the year as the program's all-time leader in saves (33) and ERA (2.79). His 81 appearances rank second in school history while his 148 strikeouts are good for seventh. Donohue posted a 2.91 ERA last spring, tallying 62 strikeouts in 65 innings.

Redshirt junior Shawn O'Neill sat out last season after transferring to La Salle from Richmond and will look to solidify a spot in the Explorer's rotation. The Philadelphia native made 38 relief appearances for the Spiders in two seasons and enjoyed an outstanding summer, earing 'Pitcher of the Year' recognition in the Valley Baseball League.

Mike McLeod (3-1, 4.17 ERA), Mark Williams (1-1, 5.59 ERA), Adam Cherry (1-1, 5.82 ERA), and Dominic Sgroi (1-3, 6.51 ERA) round out the list of returning pitchers to throw at last 15 innings for the Blue and Gold a season ago. The quartet of arms will compete for starting opportunities as well as impactful innings out of the bullpen.

Nine freshman pitchers will look to make an impact on the hill in their rookie seasons. Haverford product Joe Ravert and Maryland native Austin Clark compiled outstanding prep careers on the mound and hope to make an immediate splash for the Explorers, either starting games or in relief.

Senior Dan Klem and junior George Smith, Jr. are the only two position players who return as regulars from a season ago. Klem will man third base responsibilities, coming off a season in which he led the squad in batting average (.301), runs (24), and hits (59). Smith Jr. led the club in total bases (74) and doubles (13) a year ago and will patrol center field for the Blue and Gold.

Sophomores Justin Korenblatt (.262 BA), Ryan Welling (.151 BA), and Kevin Baron (.167 BA) saw at-bats last season and will play much more significant roles this season with the departure of the 11-man senior class.

Freshman infielders Collin McGowan and Brandon Day will compete for time at second base while Joey Ravert and JT Crits will do the same for first base. Cody Clarke will provide depth at third base and Dan Callahan will add depth at catcher.
 
La Salle opens its season against Toledo on Friday at 1 PM.