SELINSGROVE, PA - The Susquehanna University baseball team is anxious to build upon the momentum from a solid 2006 season as it prepares to open its 2007 campaign with eight games at Fort Pierce, Florida during the week of March 4.

After five consecutive last-place finishes from 2001 to 2005, the Crusaders compiled a 10-11 record in the Commonwealth Conference and missed its first trip to the postseason since 2000 by one game.

Second-year head coach Denny Bowers was named conference Coach of the Year after leading his alma mater to a 12-21-1 overall record in his rookie season, and he will rely on 17 letterwinners, seven members of the starting lineup and the top three starting pitchers from last year's squad in a push toward the postseason this year.

Offensively, the Crusaders will be paced by junior Brian Ahearn (Avon, NJ/Red Bank Catholic), who was a second-team All-Conference selection after hitting.402 with 12 doubles and 21 runs batted in last season.

Setting the table at the top of the order will be sophomore outfielder Matt Ruane (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West), who hit.279 and led the team with 19 walks, 11 stolen bases and 26 runs scored as a freshman, while senior outfielder John Spatz (Camp Hill, PA/Camp Hill) added a.240 mark with 12 walks and 17 runs scored out of the second spot last season.

Junior shortstop Jason Gaccione (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills West) batted.346 with a team-high 37 hits, 17 walks, 17 runs batted in and 26 runs scored last season, and sophomore second baseman Kurt Yannelli (Phoenixville, PA/Bishop Shanahan) will look to add to last year's solid.282 average while maintaining his strong glove play after making just two errors in 87 chances as a freshman.

Behind the plate, sophomore Zak Hill (Gilboa, NY/Gilboa) made 20 starts and hit.230 while throwing out eight would-be base stealers and picking off four runners.

Sophomore outfielder Kyle Wertman (Havertown, PA/Haverford) and sophomore third baseman Nick Vasilenko (Spring Lake Heights, NJ/Manasquan) will also see playing time after making 15 and 14 starts, respectively, last season.

Also competing for starting spots are a quartet of freshmen - utility player Zack Brigman (Yardville, NJ/Hamilton West), outfielder Don Kirkland (Kennett Square, PA/Unionville), infielder Ben Leonard (Johnstown, PA/Shade) and catcher Chris Price (Coral Springs, FL/Coral Glades).

The pitching staff is anchored by senior righthanders Eric Damm and Jon Martin along with sophomore righty John Lunardi.

Damm (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks East) compiled a 4-2 record in eight starts with a 4.39 earned run average last season in his role as the team's Friday starter. He tossed a pair of nine-inning complete games and led the team with 55 1/3 innings pitched.

Martin (Port Trevorton, PA/Selinsgrove) finished with a 2-3 record and a 4.42 earned run average in eight games (six starts), striking out 15 in 38 2/3 innings of work.

Lunardi (West Chester, PA/Henderson) had a standout freshman season as he went 4-3 with a team-best 3.64 ERA in eight games (seven starts), including five complete games. He led the team with 42 strikeouts in 47 innings and allowed opponents to bat just.239 against him. Lunardi also doubled as the team's centerfielder when not on the hill and hit.242 with 12 runs batted in while quickly emerging as one of the top defensive outfielders in the conference.

In addition to Damm, Martin and Lunardi, junior Brian Diebold (Bloomfield, NJ/Newark Academy) will look to return to the form of his freshman season when he went 2-1 with a 3.86 earned run average. Ahearn and Kirkland are also expected to see innings on the mound for the Crusaders.