By Andrew Snyder, Staff Writer
“Our goal every year is to win the conference, and this year is no different,” said Susquehanna pitcher Tyson Thrush when asked about the 2019 Susquehanna baseball season.
Picked to finish third in the Landmark Conference preseason poll, Susquehanna baseball will be looking to capture another Landmark title this year after a competitive but frustrating 2018, when they finished fifth in the conference with a 17-23 overall record and 9-9 in conference play.
Susquehanna lost only two starters for 2019: infielders Cole Luzins and Tom Giamo.
Luzins was a two-time All-Conference player during his tenure with the River Hawks, leading the team in hits, home runs, and RBIs while Giamo was a solid presence in the middle infield while hitting .293 his senior year.
Returners to the lineup this year include seniors Ben Burman and Nick Berger.
Burman hit a team-high .342 last year and will look to continue his exceptional hitting this season. Berger showcased his arm in the outfield, where he recorded a team high seven assists en route to an All-Conference selection.
Susquehanna will retain all contributors from the 2018 pitching staff, including all-conference selections Bobby Grigas and Will Carey.
“The staff has been working hard all offseason in preparation for the upcoming season,” Thrush said. “Despite having a young and unexperienced team last year, many of the pitchers have returned in hopes of leading the team to a conference championship.”
Already a two-time all-conference selection, junior Bobby Grigas will try to build on an impressive career. After winning conference rookie of the year, Grigas finished last season with 3.10 ERA and led Susquehanna in strikeouts with 52. Carey was a first-team all-conference selection coming out of the bullpen, and recorded a 2.10 ERA with 19 strikeouts.
The River Hawks have a tough road ahead of them in conference play. Picked ahead of the River Hawks in the preseason poll was Catholic and Elizabethtown. Susquehanna also has a tough non-conference schedule, including matchups against three ranked opponents.
Susquehanna’s first matchup will take place on March 1 in Union, N.J. where they will take on Haverford College.