LOCK HAVEN, Pa. -- The Kutztown university baseball team was voted ninth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) preseason coaches poll, as released by the conference Thursday afternoon.

The Golden Bears finished the 2022 campaign with an 11-35 record, including a 4-20 mark in PSAC play. KU's in-conference wins last season came against Lock Haven, Mansfield, and Shepherd.

KU enters 2023 with an experienced roster that includes 16 upperclassmen, mixed with some youthful contributors. The Golden Bears' key returners include Gavin Moretski (Harleysville, Pa./La Salle College H.S.), Dominic Proietto (Norristown, Pa./Norristown), Mitchell Peers (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown), Zach Male (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford), Ethan Martini (Trevose, Pa./Father Judge), and other essential pieces from last year's team.

Millersville, West Chester, and East Stroudsburg all earned three first-place votes in the PSAC East, while Seton Hill was ranked the first team out of the PSAC West. 

The first pitch of the 2023 season is only 23 days away. KU will open the campaign with a road trip to Virginia and North Carolina. Game one will be against the College of Saint Rose in Sutherland, Va. on Saturday, Feb. 18. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m.

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2023 PSAC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll Results
 
EAST (# of First-Place Votes)
1. Millersville (3)
2. West Chester (3)
3. East Stroudsburg (3)
4. Shippensburg
5. Bloomsburg
6. Shepherd
7. Mansfield
8. Lock Haven
9. Kutztown
 
WEST
1. Seton Hill (4)
2. Mercyhurst
3. Gannon (3)
4. Slippery Rock (1)
5. IUP
6. California (Pa.)
7. Pitt-Johnstown
8. Clarion