NORTH BOSTON, N.Y. - La Roche baseball was placed sixth in the AMCC Preseason Poll, released by the conference on Tuesday.
The Redhawks finished 2024 with an overall record of 18-24 and went 7-9 in AMCC play, finishing sixth in the regular season standings.
Once playoffs began, the red and black went on an incredible run, earning a runner-up finish in the AMCC Tournament. Despite the runner-up finish, La Roche is slated back in the sixth spot and looking up.
Defending AMCC Tournament Champion, Penn State Behrend, is the preseason favorite, followed by 2024 regular season champion, Mt. Aloysius.
Alfred State, Hilbert and Penn State Altoona round out the top five placements, all ahead of the Redhawks.
Following the red and black in the poll are Pitt-Greensburg and Pitt-Bradford.
A team returning nearly its entire lineup from 2024, two seniors were named to the Players to Watch list.
Third Team All-AMCC selection, Larry Bielawski, ended the 2024 season with a .311 batting average, .481 slugging percentage, two home runs, 17 RBI, 16 runs scored, four doubles, four triples and 10 stolen bases. Defensively, he boasted a .950 fielding percentage, completing 76-of 80-plays throughout the season in the outfield. Also a pitcher, he made nine starts on the mound and compiled a record of 4-3 with a 4.32 ERA and three complete games.
Dom Brncic was the second to earn Player to Watch status, after catching 37 games for the Redhawks in 2024, posting a .985 fielding percentage.
The Redhawks will be road warriors the majority of 2025, scheduled to play 30 of its 39 games on the road or at a neutral site.
The season is set to begin this Saturday, Feb. 15, with a doubleheader at Chatham at 2 and 5 p.m.
It's the start of nine road games to open the year, followed by Penn State New Kensington (Feb. 19), Waynesburg (Feb. 22 - DH), Grove City (Feb. 25 - DH), Washington & Jefferson (Feb. 27) and Westminster (Mar. 2).
The home opener and first of only three non-conference home games is slated for Mar. 4 against Geneva. The other non-conference home games are Thiel (Mar. 19) and Mount Union (Apr. 23).
The red and black's remaining road non-conference action sees them begin a trip to Auburndale, Fla. with a stop at Pfeiffer (Mar. 9), followed by five games in Florida. Rounding out non-conference action is Penn State Greater Allegheny (Mar. 25 - DH), Penn State Dubois (Mar. 9), St. Vincent (Apr. 22) and Franciscan (Apr. 28).
AMCC play begins on Saturday, Mar. 22 for La Roche, taking a trip to Pitt-Greensburg. All AMCC matchups are doubleheaders.
The remaining road conference schedule pits the Redhawks against Hilbert (Apr. 5), Mt. Aloysius (Apr. 15) and Alfred State (Apr. 26).
The AMCC home opener is tabbed for Mar. 29 against Pitt-Bradford. The other home AMCC contests are against Penn State Altoona (Apr. 1) and Penn State Behrend (Apr. 12)