PSAC Preseason Baseball Coaches’ Poll announced, Bald Eagles to open season March 12
LOCK HAVEN, PA – The Lock Haven University baseball team was picked No. 7 in the 2021 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Eastern Division Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
Millersville took home the top spot in Eastern Division after receiving seven out of nine first-place votes. East Stroudsburg (No. 2) fell right behind Millersville after picking up the remaining two first-place votes. Bloomsburg, Shepherd and West Chester rounded out the top five in the east, while Shippensburg and Lock Haven slid in right behind them at No. 6 and No.7, respectively.
In the Western Division, Mercyhurst and Seton Hill tied for the top spot after each team received four first-place votes. The two teams were followed by California (Pa.) to round out the top three.
In order to reduce travel and maximize the opportunity to play, Lock Haven will play an all PSAC schedule against the conference’s Eastern Division member institutions. The schedule consists of Friday-Saturday home-and-home doubleheaders. The season will conclude with the PSAC tournament, set to begin on May 12, with the winner advancing to the NCAA tournament.
Lock Haven is set to open its season at home on Friday, March 12 and Saturday March 13 with a home-and-home series vs. Kutztown, before taking on perennial PSAC-power Millersville the following Friday and Saturday.
Last season the Bald Eagles finished their COVID-19 shortened season with a 5-7 overall record. LHU went 2-1 during the annual PSAC-MEC crossover with wins over Glenville State and Concord. LHU went to extra innings twice in the just the 12 games coming away with a win both times.
Lock Haven will be led by returning standouts in senior pitcher Scott Leitholf (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) and redshirt senior Issac Porter (Beech Creek, Pa./St. Bonaventure).
Leitholf ended the shortened 2020 season with a 1.59 ERA to go along with a 2-0 record.
The 2018 PSAC East Freshman of the Year will once again be slotted atop the Bald Eagles rotation where he looks to add to his already impressive Bald Eagle career.
The frontline of the Lock Haven rotation is in good hands with Leitholf and featured sophomore pitcher Justin Lichtenwalner (Landisville, Pa./Hempfield), who impressed on the mound a season ago. Lichtenwalner appeared in three games for the Bald Eagles earning two saves and a win.
On the offensive side of the ball, Porter figures to be a main fixture in the Bald Eagle lineup. In Porter’s last full season of play (2019) he hit a four homeruns and knocked in 25 RBIs, both of which were top three on the team.
Sophomore Jake Mastillo (Moscow, Pa./North Pocono) looks to pick up right where he left off a season ago swinging a hot bat. Mastillo hit .308 in 2020 adding a couple extra base hits to go along with 12 RBIs in 10 games.
Santino Nave (Roman Catholic/Philadelphia), Blaise Zeiders (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove), Cameron Kutchey (Smithsburg, Pa./Smithsburg) and Reagan Lawlor (McMurray, Pa./Peters Township) are all returning and bring plenty of experience with them. The quartet has started over 100 games combined for the Bald Eagles and will be leaned on in this unprecedented season.
2021 PSAC Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
EAST (# of first-place votes)
1) Millersville (7)
2) East Stroudsburg (2)
3) Bloomsburg
4) Shepherd
5) West Chester
6) Shippensburg
7) Lock Haven
8) Kutztown
9) Mansfield
WEST
1) Mercyhurst (4)
1) Seton Hill (4)
3) Cal U
4) Gannon
5) Slippery Rock
6) Pitt-Johnstown
7) IUP
8) Clarion
