After Siena the Hatters travel to Athens to take on the University of Georgia Bulldogs (2/26-28). This year's Bright House Invitational (3/5-7) will feature Kansas State, Harvard, and Notre Dame here at Melching Field. Other non-conference schools making the trip to DeLand include James Madison (3/9), Central Michigan (3/10), Old Dominion (3/12-14), UCF (3/17), Northwestern (3/25-28), USF (3/30 & 4/20), Bethune-Cookman (4/7 & 4/27), and Florida State (5/12). The A-Sun schools playing the Hatters on Melching Field are FGCU (3/19-20), Campbell (4/1-2), Lipscomb (4/23-25), USC Upstate (5/7-8) and Jacksonville (5/20-21). In the conference preseason poll Stetson was picked to finish 3rd behind FGCU and Jacksonville.

Here is a position-by-position look at the 2010 Hatter baseball team...

PITCHERS

The loss of would-be senior ace Robby Donovan and his strike outs will be a blow for the team, yet a tremendous opportunity for Robby. At the end of last season he was drafted in the 23rd round by the Houston Astros.

This season's pitching staff has tremendous potential combined with a few question marks. Two out of three projected starting pitchers have not been on the mound since the 2008 season. Junior Justin Dechert and sophomore Will Dorsey were forced to sit out 2009 with injuries. Dechert is rejoining the staff after Tommy John Surgery and Dorsey has fully recovered from a knee injury. Although he is throwing stronger than ever and with no fear, Dechert remains a question mark until he takes the mound in 2010. As a freshman he was 6-3 with a 4.65 ERA, three saves and 45 strike outs. Dechert has velocity and a great slider, he just has to shake off the rust. Dorsey's bread and butter are his breaking ball and off-speed stuff. He had a 2-1 record and a 3.72 ERA in 11 appearances as a freshman. 

The remaining projected weekend starter is sophomore Lindsay Caughel (4-3, 6.30 ERA, 41K) who proved last season that he can compete at the division one level and will back down to no one. He appeared in 17 games last season and was third on the team in starts with 11. He matured significantly as the season progressed, as well as in the off-season and now stands ready to challenge for his spot at the top of the rotation.

Another potential starter in 2010 is Stetson's all-around go-to-guy, senior David Burns (2-4, 6.43 ERA, 26K). He has had success in every spot he has been asked to fill. Last year he had 24 appearances, seven starting nods, and earned three saves closing the door. Joining Burns as a potential midweek starter is freshman Kurt Schluter out of Jupiter High School in Jupiter, Florida. A two-way player, he is also slated as Stetson's starting first baseman. Never intimidated on a ball field, Schluter has big time poise for a freshman. He throws hard and has command of three pitches.

"Kurt is a confident, hard-nosed, mentally tough kid", said Dunn.

Available to Coach Dunn out of the bullpen will be a solid group of returners led by senior Ian Thompson (1-1, 4.13 ERA, 29K). Last year Stetson's workhorse tossed 28.1 innings and led the A-Sun in appearances with 35. For his efforts he was named the team's "Most Outstanding Pitcher". Along with Thompson, Robbie Powell (2-5, 4.53 ERA, 32K) will be one of the first pitchers called on in important situations. Last season as a freshman he finished second on the team and tied for 4th in the A-Sun in appearances with 28. He is expected to give the team a lot of quality innings in 2010.

Junior Nick Bohne (3-2, 7.66 ERA, 22K), as well as sophomores Jake Boyd (0-0, 5.40 ERA, 1K) and Tucker Donahue (0-1, 7.71, 4K) will be counted on to step up this season if the staff as a whole is to live up to its true potential. All three have the ability to fill in where needed in important situations. At times last season Bohne had some difficulties locating his pitches. However, he is a pitcher with major league-caliber stuff. With a return to form this season he will likely have the chance to move on to the next level in 2011.

Rounding out the staff will be senior Kyle Maulbetsch, sophomore Joe Dye, and freshmen Justin Pickens (Seminole HS, Sanford, Fla.) and EJ Leonard (Torrington HS, Torrington, Ct.). Maulbetch pitched at UCF and Central Florida C.C. before transferring to Stetson. He played first base for the Hatters last season while his shoulder healed from a previous injury. Dye, a walk-on righty spent last season adjusting to the college game. He possesses a nifty knuckleball that may see its debut in 2010. Pickens is a local product with a lot of upside. Coach Dunn is hoping to get him some innings out of the pen. Leonard is another newcomer with a lot of potential. When he establishes himself at this level and gets his breaking ball over consistently he could become a valuable asset to the staff.

CATCHERS

Heading into the 2010 season Stetson is blessed with a very solid catching corps. Leading the way is one of the top catchers in the A-Sun, and one day one of the best in the nation. Sophomore Nick Rickles (.296, 5 HR, 40 RBI) earned Freshman All-America honors and was named to the conference All-Freshman Team last season. He was one of three Hatters to play in all 57 games and finished second in the league in runners thrown out stealing with 19. He is a powerful hitter and a true quarterback behind the dish with an above-average throwing arm.

Backing up Rickles will be sophomore Ethan Maskolunas along with freshmen Brad Carlton (Charlotte HS, Arcadia, Fla.) and Kyle Campbell (Santa Fe Catholic, Lakeland, Fla.). Maskolunas is a hard-working player who is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win. Last year he played in 20 games with one start. He answered the call to pinch hit and pinch run on numerous occasions and performed well. Carlton will likely be the first to spell Rickles behind the plate. He is a good hitter who spent the fall season adjusting to Division I level baseball defensively. Campbell is an unselfish,  all-around ball player who can play around the infield as well as catch.

INFIELD

If the Hatters are going to follow Coach Dunn's edict for the season and win with defense, it will start with this group. Both returning veterans and incoming rookies will have the opportunity to stand up and be counted around the Stetson infield.

At first base the Hatters will be relying on a pair of very talented freshmen to anchor the infield. When he is not on the mound, Schluter is slated to be the starter. He has excellent defensive skills and can hit the ball well. Above and beyond his baseball skills, Schluter's strongest asset is his character. Backing up will be Chase Curran out of Lake Mary High School in Lake Mary, Florida. Defensively he will spend much of the season adjusting to the speed of playing at this level. Offensively he already shows the potential of being one of the top hitters on the team. He is physically very strong and can hit for power. Curran may also see some time as a designated hitter.

Sophomore Robert Crews returns to the lineup this year at second base. The 2008 Freshman All-American sat out most of last season due to injury. His freshman season he hit .361 with seven home runs and 37 RBI. He is an offensive force and a much improved defensive presence. His partner up the middle at shortstop will be junior Jacob deGrom (.258, 4 doubles, 15 RBI). Last season deGrom proved to be a very solid defender with a strong arm. This Fall he showed the coaching staff that he has taken great strides offensively. deGrom has the ability to spray the ball to all fields and is adept at laying down the bunt when needed. deGrom is also a front runner to take the mound as the team's closer.

After playing second base for most of last season Mark Jones (.363, 7 HR, 44 RBI) is making the move to the Hot Corner in 2010. Jones represents the third Freshman All-American in the starting lineup for the Hatters. He is a very strong hitter who tore up the league last year from the get-go. Jones had base hits in eight of his first nine games and then never slowed down. Backing up Jones at third base will be Crews. Backing up Crews at second will be Jones. Backing up deGrom at short, as well as second and third bases will be freshman Ryan Lashley (Park Vista HS, Lake Worth, Fla.). Lashley is a solid  infielder who can swing the bat. He may even see some time as a right handed DH when called upon.

"Ryan is a good shortstop", said Dunn. "He is not polished yet, but he can make a huge impact on our ball club now and in the future."

Freshman Nathan Cox (Naples HS, Naples, Fla.) will also help back up the infield positions in 2010. He is a good player and hitter who played on a high school state champion team last year at Naples. He is a young talent who will spend some time developing and adjusting to college ball. It is expected that he will get his chance to help the team in the near future.

OUTFIELD

Stetson's greatest loss this season is the exit of right fielder and A-Sun Player of the year Jeremy Cruz. An amazing first baseman, Cruz took his cannon-like arm to the outfield as a senior and showed the pro scouts why he would be a valuable asset at the next level. He was selected in the 13th round by the Angels.

This season junior infielder Sean Emory (.350, 6 doubles, 29 RBI) will help the team by making the move to right field in order to keep his bat in the lineup. Emory was the team's third leading hitter last year. It was his second consecutive season batting .330 or higher. Emory's history on this team involves playing wherever he is needed. He has played third base and second base, as well as outfield. Moving from center field to left field this season will be junior Jeff Simpson (.282, 3 doubles, 15 RBI). He is a solid outfielder and a dependable hitter who can spray the ball to all fields. Simpson is a hard-nosed, hustling ball player who is in-it-to-win-it at all times. Sophomore Spencer Theisen is expected to be the starting center fielder on opening day. As a freshman he started in the outfield at Florida Southern, a perennial Division II national championship contender in Lakeland, Fla. Last year he attended Seminole C.C. yet did not play due to a shoulder injury. He is a confident player and a very good outfielder who gets a good jump and can run balls down.

Three more Hatters will compete for time in the outfield. Freshman James Rasmussen (Lawton Chiles HS, Tallahassee, Fla.) is a big kid with a strong arm and plenty of pop in his bat. He will certainly see his share of time and may step in when a right handed bat is needed. Senior Kevin Mierzwinski has returned to DeLand for his second stint with the Hatters. In 2008 he transferred to West Florida where he played in 34 games. Last year he returned  and redshirted at Stetson. Sophomore Tyler Erickson (.333, 5 runs) played in 20 games last season and picked up a pair of hits in six at bats He is a hard worker who can back up positions in the infield as well as the outfield. Freshman Miles Rubinski (Ida S. Baker HS, Cape Coral, Fla.) has above average speed, yet will redshirt in 2010 due to an overload of outfielders.

DESIGNATED HITTER

Last season designated hitter Aaron Crittenden (.339, 13 HR, 66 RBI) proved that he could handle right and left handed pitching, and thus played in all 57 games for the Hatters. When the season ended he was second in the A-Sun in RBI, 8th in home runs, and was voted second team All-Conference. This season he was voted to the Preseason All-Conference team as the DH. Crit sees the ball very well and has tremendous power from the left-center alley to the right field line. If it becomes

necessary for any reason, or if he sees time at first base, he could be backed up in the DH slot by Curran, Rasmussen, or Lashley.

A new era is beginning for the Hatters. In addition to getting back to the basics, Stetson enters the season experiencing a youth movement. Of the 32 players on the roster there are 10 freshmen and one sophomore transfer. It is a solid mix of old and new. The Hatters have added several newcomers that should be impact players in 2010 and beyond. Combined with a very strong recruiting class scheduled to come in for the 2011 season, Stetson fans have much to look forward to in the near future.