LEWISTOWN - When talking about spring, everyone wants to see that first robin or the first colorful flower bloom. For a baseball fan, it's when pitchers and catchers report to spring training for the major leagues.
But for the real baseball fanatic, it's the start of the college baseball season. Those boys of spring start in late February, and many athletes from the area will be among their ranks.
Barger, who is an outfielder, helped Cecil to a junior college World Series berth as a freshman in 2011.
St. Vincent is a member of the Presidents Athletic Conference. Last spring, St. Vincent had a 24-19 record. It opens the 2013 season in Winter Haven, Fla. against Wittenberg University, Ohio on March 3.
During the summer months, he competed in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League and was also a bullpen catcher for the minor league AA All-Star game in Reading.
Bloomsburg opens its 2013 schedule in Newport News, Va. on Thursday in the Apprentice School Tournament.
Juniata opens its 2013 season on Saturday with a road trip to Mount St. Vincent and a doubleheader on Sunday against Bridgewater, Va.
And the Lock Haven program was happy to have the former end/defensive back play baseball.
All Hartman did last year was lead the Bald Eagles in three categories, including hitting at .357, runs scored with 40 and hits with 56. He also had four doubles and knocked in eight runs. As an outfielder, he only committed five errors in 135 chances.
The centerfielder finished in the top five in 14 offensive categories for Lock Haven. He also was the only Lock Haven player named to the All-PSAC team (second team, outfielder).
Hartman and Lock Haven open the season in Newport News, Va. at the Apprentice School Tournament in Newport News, Va.
Bloomsburg plays in the Apprentice School Tournament in Newport News, Va. on Thursday.
Last year, the former Mount Union star was a first team selection on the All-Region team and he is a pre-season pick for the 2013 season.
Pitt-Johnstown had its first game postponed due to cold weather. It plays Bluefield State College at home on March 6.
Pearson had an ERA of 1.76 and just missed being in the NCAA top 20 as he did not qualify due to not enough innings pitched (He needed 1 and 2/3). He had a 6-1 record, walked 25 and struck out 41.
Searer had a memorable freshman season making the All-Big Ten freshman team and also had a 17-game hitting streak.
Penn State opened its season against East Tennessee State on the road as it dropped two of three games. In the first two games, Searer was 0-3 and scored a run.
Indiana opens its season on Saturday against Concord in Athens, W.Va.
The season opens for Lock Haven on Thursday in Newport News, Va. at the Apprentice School Tournament?
Juniata opens its 2013 season against Mount St. Vincent on Saturday and plays a doubleheader against Bridgewater (Va.) on Sunday.
LaRoche opens its season On Feb. 25 at Waynesburg.
