ROCHESTER, Mich. - The Oakland baseball team opens the 2019 season with a series at Western Carolina on Friday, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.
 
For the second consecutive season, the team was picked to finish fifth in the 2019 Horizon League Baseball Preseason Poll announced by the league office on Feb. 6.
 
Last season, Oakland went 15-32 overall and 12-14 in league play to earn a fourth seed in the HL Tournament where the Golden Grizzlies fell to fifth seed Youngstown State.
 
All-Freshman Team selection Mario Camilletti returns after leading the team in hits (55), ranking second in average (.299) and third in RBI (22) while starting all 47 games. Oakland also returns a wealth of experience with seniors Myles Zilinsky, Ryan Fitzgerald and Jordan Jackson who were All-Academic Team selections. Seniors Ronnie Krsolovic and Mike McGee along with juniors Tyler Trovinger and Drew Demumbrum also return. Zilinsky is coming off a solid junior campaign where he led the team in hitting (.313), which ranked 17th in the league, doubles (9) and slugging percentage (.450). Senior Matt DiLeo also returns after missing last season due to injury. During the 2017 season, DiLeo ranked fourth on the team in hitting (.264) with 53 RBI 11 doubles, three triples and six home runs.
 
On the mound, seniors Nick Parr, Austin Sherry and Max Lebrato will look to lead a young staff of seven underclassmen.
 
#WEARtheBEAR