Baseball – Despite key losses to graduation, the cupboard hardly bare for Hornets heading into upcoming season says head coach. PREVIEW

Coach – Jeremy Haas (5th year)

Assistants – Shawn Betz, Jason Geist, Trey Hinkle ’15, Joel Bartoni ’15, Glenn Kushma ’92, Teddy Tucker ’15

Last year – 22-6 overall. Won second straight EPC title defeated Nazareth 6-5 in 10 inn; Districts: defeated Stroudsburg 5-0, Nazareth 3-1, lost to Liberty 6-1 in finals; PIAA State Tournament: defeated Owen J. Roberts 1-0, lost to Hazleton 12-0

Key players lost to graduation: P Luke Deschenes (12-1, 1.15 ERA, Seton Hill), 3B/P Tyler LePage (.395, Bloomsburg), C Dom Chiego (.398, Centennary), SS Anthony Viola (.343, Northampton CC), 1B/P Colin Foley (.338, 5-1, 2.31 ERA, Delaware Valley), OF Jaden Gallagher (.325, Southern Maryland), P Alex Pion (4-2), 2B Austin Schaffer (.250)

Returnees – Sr. P/INF Ryan Latchford, Sr. INF/OF Zach McEllroy (.388, 17 RBI), Jr. OF/P Noah Hogan, Sr. INF/P Josiah Williams (.333, 27 RBI), Sr. OF Jackson Merk (.278), Sr. P/INF/OF TJ Geist, Jr. INF/OF Colin Wilson (.277), Sr. C Anthony McWhinney, Jr. INF/OF Cohen Schadler, Jr. OF/P Wiley Fleck, Sr. P Ben Yartymyk, Sr. INF/OF Joe Cook (.400)

Newcomers: Jr. C Dayne Schmidt, Jr. INF Chad Kauffman, Jr. P/1B Taylor Davis, Jr. P/OF Shane Ohl, Jr. P Kaden Muller, Jr. INF/OF Daniel Rohlsen, Fr. P/OF/1B Cole Moreau, Jr. C Michael Kernechel

Season-opener: Saturday, March 18 vs Blue Mountain (Noon)

Follow on social media: Twitter (@Emmaussports), Facebook (Emmaus baseball), Broadcasts: Eastern Pa Sports Network (www.easternpasportsnetwork.com)

Coach Haas: “Despite some of the key losses to graduation, there are still a lot of very talented baseball players in our program. The cupboard is not bare. There are a ton of guys that are hungry and determined to have their opportunity and to make the most of it. “

“The overall depth at Emmaus between the varsity and junior varsity is at its deepest than it’s been in my nine years here. It’s going to be a kind of balancing act to get everybody their playing time but eventually towards the end of the year the cream will rise to the top and the guys that are there for the moment and can execute will get the playing time.”