RELEASE DATE: 3/30/06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES OPEN PSAC EAST SEASON AT MILLERSVILLE ON FRIDAY -- PICKED SECOND IN PSAC EAST PRESEASON COACHES POLL

MANSFIELD – Although they are 16-10 and ranked 7^th in the NCBWA NCAA Division II  North Atlantic Regional Poll, the real season for the Mansfield University baseball team will kick off tomorrow when the Mountaineers travel to Millersville to open the PSAC East season. Millersville will travel to Mansfield’s Joe Shaute Field for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

Saturday’s games at Shaute will be broadcast live on WELM 1410 AM with Bob Michaels. The broadcast will also be carried live on the internet at www.welmradio.com and linked on the Mansfield University sports website at www.gomounties.com.

The games will also be broadcast on Mansfield’s student radio station WNTE 89.5 FM.

Mansfield is picked to finish second in the PSAC East in the preseason coaches poll released by the PSAC office today. Kutztown is picked to finish first with West Chester, East Stroudsburg, Bloomsburg and Millersville third through sixth.

Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and California are the coaches pick for the top three teams in the PSAC West.

The top three teams in each division earn a berth in the PSAC playoffs in State College in early May. Mansfield finished second in the PSAC East in 2005 and first in 2004.

Harry Hillson is in his 20^th season at the helm of the Mountaineer program. He ranks among the most successful coaches in collegiate baseball over that span with a 630-342-1 mark.

2006 PSAC East Preseason Poll                                       
1. Kutztown
2. Mansfield
3. West Chester
4. East Stroudsburg
5. Bloomsburg
6. Millersville

2006 PSAC West Preseason Poll
1. Shippensburg
2. Slippery Rock
3. California
4. IUP
5. Clarion
6. Lock Haven