The playing surface at Melching Field is in immaculate shape, the weather forecast is perfect and the Hatters are ready to get the 2019 baseball season under way. Stetson will open the new season on Friday night against Virginia Tech in the second game of the season-opening RyCass Classic.
 
Sam Houston State and Manhattan will get the season started at 1 p.m. when they square off in the first game of the tournament.
 
The Hatters return nine position players with extensive playing experience and look to build on the success of a 2018 campaign that set a high-water mark in program history. Stetson posted a 48-13 mark last spring, a record that included a 32-3 record at home.
 
In addition to the tournament games throughout the weekend, there will be a special event on Saturday prior to the Stetson game against Sam Houston State. The Hatters will participate in a "Dream Ride" to the park for some area Miracle League players and Special Olympians. The ride will start on East Indiana Avenue in downtown DeLand and will include more than 30 classic cars, hot rods, expensive sports cars, police and fire vehicles, as well as a Ferrari 18-wheel car hauler.
 
The Dream Ride will proceed down Woodland Boulevard before circling Melching Field. The Dream Riders will be joined on the ride by members of the 2018 and 2019 Stetson baseball team as well as NASCAR legend Donnie Allison. They will arrive on the third base side of Melching Field and will be welcomed into the park along a green carpet for a pregame reception.
 
The group will take part in pregame activities on the field leading up to Stetson Alum Michael Bozzuto, who founded the Dream Ride concept in 2001 to benefit the Special Olympics and the Hometown Foundation, throwing out the first pitch.
 
Here are five things you need to know about the 2019 Hatters as they open their 102^nd season of collegiate baseball, plus a little bit of information on the other three squad that will be competing this weekend.

1. Stetson returns players who accounted for 65% of the teams' total at bats and runs scored in 2018. The Hatters also return 63% of their total bases and RBI from last spring, as well as 78% of the teams' stolen bases. Returning players who saw action at least 25 games last year include: seniors Jacob Koos (CF), Jonathan Meola (3B), Bruce Martin (2B), Baylen Sparks (1B/OF); juniors Jorge Arenas (SS), Andrew MacNeil (RF), Austin Bogart (LF) and sophomores Eric Foggo (1B) and Kyle Ball (2B).
2. While there is plenty of offensive production back for 2019, the Hatters will have a relatively unproven pitching staff this spring. Stetson returns pitchers who accounted for just 28% of the total innings pitched and 26.6% of the NCAA best and program record 635 strikeouts from last season. Of that total, junior Mitchell Senger accounts for 61% of the innings and 67% of the returning strikeouts. While the Hatters are thin on returning pitchers, the team has a total of 17 hurlers on the staff, including nine new pitchers, for 2019.
3. Stetson's expected starting rotation for the weekend will include Senger on Friday, sophomore Robbie Peto on Saturday and junior Ryan Stark on Sunday. Senger, a preseason All-American and member of the Golden Spikes Award watch list, posted a 9-2 record with a 2.51 ERA last year while making 13 starts. He had 114 strikeouts against just 28 walks in 93.1 innings of work. Peto, a right-hander, originally signed with North Carolina out of Monroe Township HS in New Jersey. After redshirting in 2017, he played last spring at the State College of Florida in Manatee, posting a 3-2 record with a 5.23 ERA in 41.1 innings. Stark, a right-hander, didn't see much action for the Hatters last year after making 20 appearances as a freshman with five starts. He added 30 pounds of muscle in the off-season and is expected to be a key member of the staff this spring.
4. The Hatters have three team captains for 2019: Koos, Arenas and Senger. The 2019 Stetson roster includes 25 players from the state of Florida. The rest of the roster includes three players from New Jersey, two from New York and one each from Georgia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Texas.
5. Stetson comes into the 2019 season with a 51-49-1 record all-time in season-openers. The Hatters snapped a five-year losing streak in openers last year with a 6-5 victory over Manhattan.

About Virginia Tech …

The Hokies are coming off a 21-33 record in their first season under coach John Szefc … Tech is set to send sophomore left-hander Ian Seymour (3-3, 4.17 in 2018) to the mound for the opening game against the Hatters … The Hokies have an all-time record of 63-60-2 in season-openers … This is just the second time Virginia Tech has ever opened a season in Florida. The first time came in 2004, in DeLand, against Stetson. The Hatters won that game 15-2 and lead the all-time series against Virginia Tech 8-1 … The Hokies and Hatters also played last year, with Stetson taking a 2-1 victory behind a combined two-hit pitching performance by Logan Gilbert and Brooks Wilson. Jacob Koos had a two-run home run in that game to account for the offense … The 2019 Virginia Tech roster includes five players from the state of Florida. Sunshine State Hokies include: junior OF Kerry Carpenter (Eustis), junior INF Tanner Thomas (Jacksonville), sophomore infielder Michael Fernandez (Miami), junior RHP Jaison Heard from Maitland and freshman INF August Haymaker from Orlando ... In addition to Seymour in the opener, the Hokies are scheduled to send senior right-hander Luke Scherzer (1-4, 5.76) to the mound against Manhattan on Saturday and freshman left-hander Chris Gerard to the hill for his first collegiate start on Sunday against Sam Houston State.

About Sam Houston State …

The Bearkats return 23 players, including 11 seniors, from a 2018 team that posted a 39-20 record in 2018, capturing a Southland Conference title … Those 11 seniors have been a part of 125 wins over the last three seasons under coach Matt Deggs … The Bearkats are one of several teams on the Stetson schedule this year that was picked to win its league title in 2019 … This will be the first meeting between Stetson and Sam Houston State, and the Hatters have played just 15 games all-time against teams from the Southland Conference, with 10 of those against Southeastern Louisiana when the Lions were a member of the ASUN … The Bearkats will open the season on Friday against Manhattan, sending redshirt senior left-hander Seth Ballew (6-1, 3.00 in 2018) to the mound … In Saturday's tilt against Stetson Sam Houston State will start junior right-hander Hayden Wesneski (7-3, 3.50) … Sunday's starter for the game against Virginia Tech has not been announced … The Bearkats' 2019 roster is made up completely of players from the state of Texas.

About Manhattan …

The program that Hatters coach Steve Trimper led from 1998-2005 comes into its fourth season under Mike Cole off a 25-28 mark in 2018. The Jaspers finished 13-11 in MAAC play to tie for sixth in the league … Manhattan opens its season at Melching Field for a second consecutive season after getting swept by the Hatters last year with Stetson taking victories by scores of 6-5, 5-0 and 6-2 … The 2019 Manhattan roster includes 12 freshmen and just four position players who saw extensive playing time last year … On the mound the Jaspers have three of their top pitchers back in reliever T.J. Stuart (6-2, 1.57, 10 saves) and starters Joe DiNozio (1-5, 3.92) and Mark Galvan (4-4, 4.70) … While those hurlers return, Manhattan will send graduate left-hander Joe Jacques (1-2, 2.61) to the mound for their opener against San Houston State and junior right-hander Nick Massa (0-2, 9.00) out to face Stetson. The Jaspers have not yet announced a Sunday starter … The Manhattan program has three players on the roster from the state of Florida: freshman infielder Jonathan Barditch (Miami), junior infielder Alex Cerda (Miami) and freshman infielder Matt Alfonso (Miami).
 
The schedule for the weekend will begin on Friday at 1 p.m. with Sam Houston State taking on Manhattan. Stetson will host Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. Play on Saturday will begin at 1 p.m. with the Hokies squaring off against the Jaspers before the Hatters and Bearkats tangle at 7 p.m. Sunday will have an early start with Virginia Tech and Sam Houston State playing at 11 a.m. followed by Stetson against Manhattan at 3 p.m.

About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.