As it prepares to enter the 2025 season, the Penn State Altoona baseball team is banking on experience being a key asset as it navigates what promises to be a highly competitive Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference field.

The Lions' 36-player roster is highlighted by 25 returners from last year's squad that went 17-20 overall and 8-8 in the AMCC, with 21 of those returners being upperclassmen. Ninth-year head coach RJ Barnard believes that his team's experience will play a factor in its success this spring.

"We have a veteran team consisting of a lot of players who have been two- and three-year starters, and guys who have been relied on in high leverage situations," Barnard said. "No game or situation should be too big for us."

That veteran presence will be important for Penn State Altoona this season, as the Lions' competitors across the AMCC showcase rosters rife with experience and talent.

"I'm expecting this to be the deepest the conference has been since I've been here," said Barnard. "The majority of teams are made up of mostly upperclassmen, and many teams have bolstered their rosters via either the transfer portal or JUCO ranks. In order for us to contend for a championship, consistency and staying healthy are going to be two things that need to go in our favor to have a chance to take home the AMCC title."

Offensively, the Lions' lineup will be full of returning starters, including several players who were All-AMCC selections last season. Senior utility player Jake Hillard (State College, PA/State College) was a first-team all-conference pick, junior designated hitter Zach Ingold (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin) earned second-team status, and junior first baseman Jonathan Rauch (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin) and senior outfielder Tyreke Green (Altoona, PA/Altoona) were both selected to the third team.

Last spring, Hillard ranked 18th in the AMCC in home runs (3), 20th in runs scored (29), and 21st in hits (43), and Ingold was fifth in on-base percentage (.472), 17th in walks (19), and 18th in batting average (.337). Rauch ranked sixth in the conference last year in home runs (4) and eighth in slugging percentage (.523), and Green led the AMCC in sacrifice hits (14) while also ranking 14th in triples (2) and 19th in stolen bases (9). Hillard and Green were both picked as Players to Watch in the 2025 AMCC Preseason Poll, which had the Lions voted fifth place.

In addition to those four, senior infielder Corey Chamberlain (Claysburg, PA/Claysburg-Kimmel), junior outfielder Brian Chelli (West Hartford, CT/Hall), junior catcher Aidan Donovan (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's), senior middle infielders Alex Hlivia (Pennsylvania Furnace, PA/State College) and Harrison Knaupe (Smyrna, DE/Smyrna), and senior infielder Jimmy Mento (Gates County, NC/Gates County) are significant upperclassmen returners for Penn State Altoona this season.

"The 2025 lineup will be very similar to last season. Jake and Reke will be at the top of the order looking to get on base, while Jon Rauch, Corey Chamberlain, and Zach Ingold will once again look to be the run producers," said Barnard. "Alex Hlivia, Jimmy Mento, and Harry Knaupe all return in the middle infield, with Aidan Donovan, who saw the most innings behind the plate last year, also returning. Brian Chelli is back healthy and is anticipated to see an increased role. We will have multiple other upperclassmen to provide us with depth, and they will push guys for playing time and be asked to contribute in different roles."

On the pitching rubber, Penn State Altoona's group of returners includes three All-AMCC picks last year: junior right-handed reliever Sean Wing (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's), who was a second-team selection, and junior right-handed starter Eric Seick (Mount Laurel, NJ/Camden Catholic) and senior right-handed reliever Chamberlain, who were both voted to the third team. Wing was 2-1 out of the bullpen last season with a 2.87 ERA, Seick was 4-2 while being fourth in the AMCC in complete games (4) and ninth in ERA (3.83), and Chamberlain led the conference in saves (8) while serving as the Lions' closer.

Two other returners, senior left-hander Sam Homan (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle) and senior right-hander Eli Wiles (Kittanning, PA/Armstrong), will again be fixtures in the Lions' starting rotation, while junior righty Michael Labisi (Mountainside, NJ/Governor Livingston) will see more innings in relief. Mento will also be part of the pitching staff, after not throwing last spring.

"Eric Seick and Eli Wiles will return to the rotation, as will Sam Homan after missing the majority of last season's conference schedule. Homan has led our starting pitchers in ERA (3.81 in 2024) each of the last two seasons," said Barnard. "Jimmy Mento will also toe the rubber again after missing a year of pitching due to an arm injury. Sean Wing, Mike Labisi, and closer Corey Chamberlain will see high leverage innings out of the bullpen. A few young arms will be asked to step up and contribute in the bullpen."

While Barnard knows that his team has veteran presence and talent, he also knows that the team must achieve better consistency across its schedule to succeed this year.

"The 2025 season must be much more consistent than it was in 2024. While we showed signs of being strong offensively last year, and at times we looked really good on the mound, we have to get both those things clicking at the same time," he stated. "We also must improve on the little things and find ways to win those one- and two-run games. During the '23 season when we won the championship, we always seemed to be on the winning end of the close games, and last year we seemed to be the team who couldn't come up with the clutch hit, pitch, or defensive play. If we play to our potential, 2025 should be a strong season for us."

Penn State Altoona baseball starts its 2025 schedule on the road Sunday, February 23, traveling to face Mary Baldwin University in a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. The Lions' full schedule can be seen on the team's schedule page online.