The 2014 baseball season is right around the corner and the UNA Lions are ready to hit it full swing.

The Lions hope to improve on their 28-21-1 regular season record, 16-10 in the Gulf South Conference, from last season and make it back to the conference tournament.

UNA lost both corner infielders Josh Cyr and Andrew Almon to graduation and other players due to injury. The Lions have had to replace three starters in the infield. Brett Guzay, a transfer from Calhoun Community College, is expected to take over at shortstop. Dylan Boston will man one of the two open corner infield spots.

Defense and pitching are the two areas that the Lions will have to excel in this season to compete with the rest of the league.

“The GSC is so deep in baseball and it will all come down to how well we pitch and play defense,” said head coach Mike Keehn. “If we can stay consistent in those two phases and have some solid offensive numbers, we should be able to compete.”

The Lions will have plenty of competition for roles on the pitching staff. All-GSC pitcher Cade Medley will be expected to take over the No. 1 spot on the mound, but the remaining roles have yet to be determined.

“We have several returning pitchers that had good summers and good falls and will all be competing for positions this spring,” Keehn said. “Juniors Brantley Claunch, Ben Seabrook and Jacob Westerhouse, along with sophomore Riley Sanderson, have all pitched in our program and should bring quality depth to our staff.”

Newcomers Kyle Stephenson, Austin Carpenter and Bradley Bailey will get looked at in possible starting or relief pitching roles as well.

More than just a few fresh faces will get the chance to compete for playing time and make an immediate impact. Kyle Conkle, a transfer from Barton College in Georgia, will get the chance to fill in on the mound and be the designated hitter. Transfer Jake Smith will get a shot in the outfield while transfer Brett Moore and freshman Payton Thomas will get a chance at catcher.

When the season starts the goal is to have every player performing at his highest level, but there are three players in particular that need to play consistently well for the Lions to be successful this season.

“We will need Jake Ward, Dylan Boston and Josh Carpenter to have solid, consistent performances,” Keehn said. “All three were all-conference and we will need to see them make the necessary adjustments throughout the season.”

Keehn and the Lions know that the year will not be easy, especially in a tough conference like the GSC. Despite that, the expectations are high for the 2014 season.

“Like all teams in the GSC, our expectations are high,” Keehn said. “We know we will have to stay healthy and continue to make progress throughout the season, as well as get some breaks, but we hope to compete for the GSC, regional and a national Championship. It is a long season and a lot will depend on how well we execute in close games.”