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PSU Altoona swings for another AMCC crown
ALTOONA -- From the crack of the bat to the first pitch of the season, Penn State Altoona is eyeing redemption during the 2024 baseball season.
Last year, the Lions were 20-27 which was capped by a 10-4 loss to St. John Fisher in the NCAA Division III Tournament. But, PSU was the champion of their conference.
PSU, the sixth seed in the AMCC tourney, lost the first game of a best-of-three series to No. 3 Mt. Aloysius, 10-6. Then, the Lions proceeded to win the following two games, 12-11 and 10-4, respectively.
Next, PSU beat No. 2 Penn State Behrend in the AMCC Championship Tournament, 11-9 and No. 5 Hilbert, 12-3. PSU Altoona also beat Hilbert for the AMCC title,14-5, giving them the conference crown.
"As returning AMCC champions, we are hoping to repeat in '24, and find a bit more success in regionals. Last season at regionals, we lost to eventual NCAA runner-up Johns Hopkins, before losing in heartbreak fashion to St. John Fisher," Lions coach RJ Barnard said.
PSU had an eight-game and a seven-game losing streak during the 2023 campaign. However, the Lions did post a six and a five-game winning streak during the year.
"Our expectations this year is to play consistent baseball as opposed to roller coaster ups and downs from last season. We will be one of the more talented teams in the AMCC this year and we hope the taste of success from last season has our guys hungry for what’s to come in 2024," Barnard added.
This season the Lions will count on several upperclassmen to lead the charge.
"We return almost our entire starting lineup from last season. Offensively, players to watch are: junior (utility) Jake Hillard -.324, 12 doubles, four homers, 29 RBI; junior (infielder) Corey Chamberlain-.366, 15 doubles, two homers, 34 RBI; sophomore (first base) Jon Rauch .388, 14 extra-base hits, 44 RBI. And junior (outfielder) all-region player Tyreke Green .400, 13 extra base hits, 13 stolen bases in an injury-shortened season," Barnard highlighted.
"On the mound our top three rotational starters return in Sam Homan, Eli Wiles and Tristin Lockett. Hood transfer Eric Seick should round out the rotation."
Penn State Altoona is expecting a few players to step up in 2024 and add to the team's production.
"Brian Chelli and Zach Ingold are two left-handed hitting freshmen from last season who will be asked to step up offensively this season. Aidan Donovan will assume starting catcher duty as we lost our two senior backstops from last season," Barnard explained.
With PSU set to open its season with a doubleheader at Mary Baldwin on Feb. 25, Barnard says this year's squad brings plenty of youth despite recent success.
"While we return the bulk of our starters from last season, we are still a relatively young team. We will start only one senior in the field this season, and rely mostly on sophomores and juniors. While our goal is to repeat as AMCC champions, we will now be the ones with the targets on our back this season," Barnard noted.
Some of PSU Altoona's notable games include a trip to Huntingdon where they'll face Juniata College on April 11.
The Lions will also host Penn State Behrend for a twin bill on April 20. On April 24, PSU-Altoona visits Mt. Aloysius. The Lions wrap up their regular season at Hilbert on April 27.