MARSHFIELD, Mass. – Southern Vermont College is looking to get back to the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) baseball playoffs for the first time since 2016 this year as the 2019 squad is only eighth short days away from beginning regular season action.

The league announced the results of its preseason poll on Friday with coaches from around the Conference voting the Mountaineers to finish the year in eighth place.

In 2018, SVC posted an overall record of 9-20 which included a 6-12 mark against the NECC. The Mountaineers were on the verge of making the postseason but couldn't pick up the necessary wins during the last weekend of Conference play.

Southern Vermont second-year head coach Adam Skonieczki is optimistic about his team's chances heading into Opening Day.

"We are really excited for this upcoming season," Skonieczki said. "We have a plethora of new faces as well as a solid group of returners. Our main goal as a coaching staff was to identify and bring in talented transfers and freshmen who are quality student-athletes. We think that we will have the ability to compete daily with the ultimate goal of winning an NECC championship."

The Mountaineers will be comprised of a balance between returning players and new faces in the program. 11 players will once again don the SVC uniform while another nine are fresh to the crew.

"I think this team is really close and that the guys are becoming great friends outside of practice," Skonieczki said of his group. "When you bring in transfers from all over the country, you love to see the camaraderie as a coach. We currently have been lucky enough to bring in a great group of guys—as well as retaining some really good student-athletes from last year. Many of the returners have made a jump in the offseason that will contribute to our success this season."

Among the returners are seven seniors and a pair of juniors.

Three-year starters Dan Mason (Bloomingdale, N.J.) and Zack Stacey (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) are back for their final year of eligibility which gives Skonieczki a "sense of comfort" in the lineup. Additional seniors include Joe Braim (Schuylerville, N.Y.) and Ryan Richards (Beaumont, Calif.).

"We think that Joe has steadily improved on the mound," Skonieczki noted about his seasoned righty. "We are also excited for Ryan to make a return to the SVC baseball program and help us on the hill."

The newcomers include a senior, three juniors, three sophomores, and two freshmen. Skonieczki made note of senior Ryan Serrato (Whittier, Calif.), juniors Brandon Lara-Mack (San Gabriel, Calif.), Ryan Richardson (Pasadena, Calif.), and Kyle Liddy (Oriskany, N.Y.), and sophomore Nick Guajardo (Mansfield, Texas).

"We are really excited for the new guys to step in and play a big role both on the mound and offensively," Skonieczki commented. "Ryan Serrato, coming from Georgetown College, has a chance to be an impact player in our league. Brandon, from Pasadena Community College in California, will also have a chance to make an immediate impact in the lineup. Ryan Richardson, from Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland, has really shown promise as a left-handed starter, and Kyle, a transfer from Mowhak Valley Community College, is another two-way guy who will help us in both aspects. Nick is another guy who we have been really impressed with in his first year on campus; he comes from a highly-touted community college in Texas: Vernon Junior College. Nick will play the infield for us—as well as get some time on the mound."

Skonieczki heads into the regular season with a stable of arms as 13 of his 20 players are listed with a pitching position.

"I think that we will need to pitch much more efficiently for us to be consistent on a daily basis," he said. "I believe that we have brought in some talented arms that will be able help us win some baseball games."

On the other side, SVC has 15 hitters who will allow Skonieczki to be flexible with his batting order.

"I think we have a chance to really be offensive this year," the head coach said. "We have a nice combination of athleticism and strength that—I believe—will help us be a dynamic team offensively."

Skonieczki added, "I think just the overall mindset and the expectations of this year's club are different. There is a different attitude at practice daily, and the way they attack things head-on each day makes me really excited for the season. Coach [Tyler] Arthur and Coach [Niko] D'Agnese have done a great job of teaching these guys and preparing them for the upcoming year."

SVC is slated to start play on Saturday, February 23 with a doubleheader at SUNY Maritime College. The Mountaineers have another nine games on the schedule after that date before they embark on their Spring Break trip to Fort Myers, Fla. March 18-21. Southern Vermont begins the NECC schedule on March 30 at Newbury College, and the team's home opener then follows on Sunday, March 31 with a twin bill against Lesley University.

The defending NECC champion in Mitchell College sits atop the preseason poll with eight of the nine first-place votes while New England College—new to the league for the '19 campaign—grabbed the final top selection.

With the addition of NEC and Eastern Nazarene College, Conference teams will play two-game series against one another this year instead of the three-game series that they had participated in during previous seasons.

NECC 2019 Baseball Preseason Poll

1. Mitchell College – 80 (8)
2. New England College – 71 (1)
3. Lesley University – 57
4. Elms College – 47
T5. Dean College – 37
T5. Eastern Nazarene College – 37
7. Becker College – 35
8. Southern Vermont College – 30
9. Newbury College – 11

(Parentheses denote first-place votes)

– #LetsGoSVC –