Piedmont baseball set for first pitch this weekend

DEMOREST -- Head baseball coach Jim Peeples has high expectations for his 2015 squad which will be depending on a plethora of experience from returners. The Lions bring eight every-day starters from the 2014 lineup into the new year meaning upperclassmen leadership will be crucial for the Lions.<br /> <br /> Picked to finish third in the USA South this season, the Lions will look to capitalize on every opportunity. Thirty of the 40 games this season will be against conference opponents, but the non-conference schedule features matchups with Emory, ranked preseason No. 3 and lost in the Division III National Championship a year ago, and Birmingham Southern, ranked preseason No. 18.<br /> <br /> Facing 12 straight USA South competitions to open the year, Peeples demands a high intensity from his players. He knows the value of each contest after coming close to the conference title in 2014.<br /> <br /> "We played bad for two days [in 2014] that cost us four losses, which ultimately was the deciding factor in us being regular season champions," Peeples said.<br /> <br /> On the offensive side of the ball, returners Will Skidmore and Evan Gresham provided 91 combined hits, 49 combined runs, and 44 RBIs last season. The junior combo led the team in batting average with Gresham batting .336 and Skidmore finishing at .328. The duo provides leadership in both the outfield and infield by pushing their teammates every day in practice to work hard for a postseason opportunity.<br /> <br /> On the mound, the Lions return four big contributors from the 2014 season in Allen Tokarz (1.65 era and 33 strikeouts), Matt Stephens (1.84 era and 18 strikeouts), Chris Goershel (2.42 era and 48 strikeouts) and Josh Thomas (2.82 era 19 strikeouts). The four man wrecking crew brings back a combined 1.88 era and 118 combined strikeouts in 155 combined innings.<br /> <br /> Tokarz finished first team All-Conference a season ago and will lead the way out of the bullpen for long-relief situations, but Peeples has the confidence that Tokarz can compete in any situation, as his numbers from a year ago prove.<br /> <br /> The Lions' offense in 2014 scored 241 runs, while the pitching staff held their opponents to 182. The offensive production of the returners will guide the Lions into a high-powered offense, with a lethal bullpen to back them up.<br /> <br /> The Lions will start the 2015 season this weekend as they travel to Maryville, Tenn., for a three-game series with the Scots of Maryville College. The game times are 3 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.