2009 Panthers -- First row (left to right): James Ashley, Josh Mesler, Phil Solley, Justin Bifano, Andy Lipps, Ben McCracken, Tanner Bechtel and Chris Tewksbury. Second row: Geoff Brabham, Bart McGary, Ryan Smith, D.J. Rose, Gary Schmelzer, Jeremy Grove and Luke Streich.Third row: David Gerke, Geoff Flowers, David Kunkle, Nick Foster, John Bizzak, Jordan Wilhite and Brandyn Austin. Fourth row: Derek Smith, Ryan Evans, Cory Hochschild, Dean Mosesso, Justin Smith, Matt Durkin, Ross Revella and team manager Lewis Keller.
A week in sunny Arizona will be a welcome change of venue for the Pitt-Bradford baseball team when the Panthers open their 2009 season on Saturday.
Pitt-Bradford will play six games in the Phoenix area before returning to the frigid east coast to complete its 40-game schedule.
"This is our seventh year in Arizona," said Bret Butler, Pitt-Bradford's 11th-year (221-164-1) head coach. "We're sick of winter and practicing for four weeks in the gym. It's time to get outside and we're ready to play."
Last year the Panthers were 23-21 overall, 10-8 in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference and came within a line drive down the right field line of capturing the AMCC title.
Read complete 2009 season preview