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WATERBURY, Conn. – The Post University baseball team opens up its season this weekend with a three-game set in Virginia. The Eagles begin on Saturday, Feb. 22 with a doubleheader against 2012 NCAA Division II National Champion, West Chester, and Mercyhurst beginning at noon in Colonial Heights, Va. On Sunday, Post will take on Mansfield at 3 p.m. in Sutherland, Va.
 
The Eagles are looking to get back into the playoffs for the first time since losing in the semi-finals of the 2011 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) tournament and they may just have enough talent to do so, but only if they can avoid the injury bug that plagued them in 2013. "The key for us is staying healthy; we haven't been able to consistently put our best players on the field," said head coach AJ McNamara. The Eagles were without two of their top frontline arms as well as several key hitters for different lengths of time last year. "Every team goes through bumps and bruises throughout the season but we really had a string of unfortunate setbacks that stunted our potential to win more ballgames. It's all behind us now though; the guys have been working hard and we're all hungry and eager to right the ship."
 
PITCHING STAFF
Post seems to have the makings of a solid rotation as seniors Jackson Geary (Wakefield, R.I.) and Matt Cambria (Toronto, Ontario) along with junior Donnie Crook (Meriden, Conn.) and sophomore Mick Terzi (Wallingford, Conn.) appear to be the front-runners for the four slotted conference starting spots. Freshman Evan Devico (Waterbury, Conn.) may also slide into a starting role as well. Cambria proved his worth last year going 6-2 with a 3.41 ERA in 66 innings of work. "Matt is one of toughest pitchers we've had here; he works fast, has a game-plan and executes his pitches very effectively." Terzi had a promising start to his career finishing 2-3 in 31.1 innings of work. "Mick is a confident young man who commands multiple pitches on both sides of the plate; he really has the ability to make a big splash onto the scene this year."
 
The key for the Eagles is the health of both Geary and Crook. Geary has missed the last two seasons with injuries and Crook missed all of last year after having surgery. "Jackson is one of the most complete pitchers I have seen; when he's on his stuff is as good as anyone in the region. Donnie is a bulldog and a fierce competitor - always wants the ball in pressure situations; I love his approach to the game." Devico joins the staff from nearby Sacred Heart HS after being widely considered as one of the top arms in the state. "Evan is as confident a rookie as we have had here. He exudes a ton of confidence which is always a good thing for pitchers to have - once he starts learning how to sequence up hitters, the sky is the limit with him."
 
Post has some promising new faces on the staff looking to get their careers off to encouraging starts. Newcomers Josh Smith (Miami, Fla.), Troy Terzi (Wallingford, Conn.), Laurence Marsach (Bronx, N.Y.), Alex Johnson (Bethel, Conn.) and Joe Enderle (Hicksville, N.Y.) all look to fill roles in various spots. "The young guys definitely give us some good depth but they're also some quality, seasoned returners who we are looking to give us quality innings," add McNamara.
 
INFIELD
Around the diamond will be some familiar faces as most of the infielders are returning players from years past. Anchoring the infield will be senior first baseman Julien Casaubon (Jiolette, Quebec) who hit .300 with eight doubles, a triple and a home run last season. "Big Jules is a staple offensively and defensively for us, outstanding glove, good feel around the bag and one of our better, more polished hitters. He missed some games last year with a nagging injury but he's ready and capable of taking his place as one of the better players in the CACC."
 
The infield also returns the middle tandem of seniors Zach Brecht (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Mike Shada (Holtsville, N.Y.). "Zach is our anchor defensively; he's an outstanding shortstop who makes a ton of plays for us and has a big impact on the game defensively." Shada returns after earning Second Team All-CACC compiling a .311 average with 11 doubles and 18 RBI. "Shada is a hardworking young man who can be one of the most complete players in the league."
 
Joining that trio will be Dylan Pastor (Hewlett, N.Y.), Jesus Nunez (Bronx, N.Y.), Drew Deangelis (Robbinsville, N.J.) and Ian Ratchford (Danbury, Conn.) all of whom who will look to fill roles bothoffensively and defensively. "We're looking for all these guys to contribute somewhere - we'll need them."
 
Anchoring behind the plate will be seniors Alex Beland (Trois-Riviere, Quebec) and Jeff St. Pierre (Milford, Conn.). "Those two are our rocks back there. We can count on both of them to do a great job of calling a the game and controlling the bases." Beland returns after missing all of last year due to injury. In 2012, he hit .256 with eight doubles and 18 runs scored and was named Honorable Mention All-CACC. He also threw out 21 runners. St. Pierre looks to have a big impact offensively after hitting .394 with two doubles. "We'll look for both of them to drive in runs and cash in on some scoring opportunities."
 
OUTFIELD
The outfield spots looked to be manned by any combination of seniors Kevin Fearon (Williston Park, N.Y.) and Marcel Chavez (Los Angeles, Calif.), as well as sophomores Julio Velazquez (Bronx, N.Y.), Brian McKenna (New York, N.Y.) and Eduardo Familia (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic). Chavez is the lone returning starter after hitting .268 with 18 RBI in 40 starts. At one point during the season, Chavez had a fifteen game hitting streak and also had eleven multi-hit games. "We have some flexibility out there; we have some guys with good speed, solid instincts and strong arms - it's a good mix."
 
SCHEDULE
The schedule has shifted a bit as weather has forced the cancellation of the first two southern trips as well as interfering with the third. Instead of opening up in Southwest Virginia, the Eagles will now open up with a three game set in Richmond, Va. beginning with a stint against national power and 2012 Division II National Champion West Chester. The two last met in 2010 with the Golden Rams claiming a 4-0 victory. Post will also play regionally-ranked Mercyhurst as well as Mansfield. The Eagles also have the pleasure of playing two games at the original Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla. Upon returning from their spring trip, they square off with traditional CACC powers Wilmington and Dominican as well as some tough non-conference foes in Pace, Southern Connecticut, Dowling, Bridgeport and LIU-Post.
 
"We have to get back to what was always a staple for us - strong pitching with solid defense. The offense should be able to score runs but we need to be more consistent on the mound and equally steady in the field for us to have a successful year. We'll take it one game at a time and see where it takes us," concluded McNamara.