Oberlin, Ohio - The Oberlin College baseball team enters its 2011 campaign coming off of a record-breaking season in 2010. In 2010, the team set numerous records including wins in a season (18), team batting average (.314), and hits (339). The team heads into the 2011 season with a battle-tested group of seniors, many of whom have started for the Yeomen since they were freshmen. Led by 2010 Third Team All-Region selections third baseman Ben Puterbaugh and relief pitcher Phil Brua, the Yeomen look to have what it takes to make the school's first appearance in the NCAC playoffs.

With longtime assistant coach Adrian Abrahamowicz taking over the helm, he expects the Yeomen to be ready to compete with the conference's elite. “This is the first time in my time here as a coach that we have had a large group of talented and experienced seniors who can lead this team both on and off the field.”

Abrahamowicz has also added a deep freshman class to help compliment the 13 returners. “Our freshman are a well-rounded group that can add depth in the field and to our lineup, as well as provide some much needed help on the mound,” Abrahamowicz stated.

The Yeomen will look to have another strong offensive year, while also improving their defense. In 2010, the Yeomen defense hampered their chances for a NCAC playoff berth. In 2011, the Yeomen will look to improve their team fielding percentage to take some of the pressure off their pitching staff. “Last year we did not do a very good job of being consistent on defense and it cost us some games,” Abrahamowicz said. “This year, we are looking for consistency in the field. We do not need the overly spectacular play made, we just need the routine plays to be routine.”

Around the infield, senior tri-captain and catcher Brandon Cantrill, who led the team in 2010 with four home runs and finished second on team with a batting average of .328, will be the main backstop. Freshmen Steve DiNanno and Danny Lee will serve as backups to Cantrill and go behind the dish when he takes the mound.

At first base, the Yeomen will once again turn to sophomore Eric Knight, who, as a freshman, finished second on the team with 12 doubles and a .342 average in conference play. Freshman Evan Levy will look to backup Knight at first base providing even more depth to the infield.

In the middle of the infield, things will be shaken out over the first few weeks of the season. Senior Ryan Mouch, sophomore Matt Fish, and freshman Sean Cohen are all vying for time at second base, while the freshmen trio of Mike McDonald, Kevin Verne, and Mattie DeDoes are all looking to lock down the starting shortstop position. Fish would appear to be the frontrunner at second as he started 33 games and hit .297 during his rookie season.

At the hot corner, Puterbaugh will look to build off his record-breaking 2010 season. Last year, he led the Yeomen in virtually every offensive category including batting average (.459), slugging percentage (.602), and on-base percentage (.497). He broke the Oberlin school record for hits in a season in just 20 games. Cohen, DeDoes, and Mouch will look to back-up Puterbaugh if necessary.

In the outfield, two seniors coming off of careers years are left fielder Ben Kauder and right fielder Max Phinney. Kauder finished second team in RBIs (27) and was third in runs scored (23), His 10 steals last year also led the team. While Phinney's three home runs were good for second best on the team. In center field, the Yeomen return sophomore Zach Jaspers. The Cincinnati native should be a fixture in the top of the everyday line-up. Sophomores Robin Witjes and Laurence Ducker, as well as freshmen Drew Karlin, Ethan Blumenthal, and Zach Kisley, will also look to add significant contributions to the Yeomen in the outfield.

On the mound, the Yeomen hope senior co-captains Grady Campion and Phil Brua for their leadership. Campion will look to step into the lead role for the Yeomen on the bump as he finished 2010 with the team's second lowest ERA (5.56). Brua, a Third Team All-Region Selection and National Gold Glove Winner, will look to shorten game for the Yeomen, building off of a strong 2010 campaign that saw him set school records in appearances (22), relief appearances (20), and saves (6), while also tying the school record for wins with six. He finished with a team high 55 innings pitched, 50 strikeouts, and a team low 2.78 ERA.

The Yeomen will look to Knight, Cantrill and junior Jason James for added contributions in the starting pitching department, as well as rookies DeDoes and Karlin, along with junior transfer Kevin Swanson. Out of the bullpen, Mouch will once again be one of the top options for Abrahamowicz while sophomore Jake Streich-Kest, and newcomer Sam Sharpe and classmate McDonald will also look to eat up innings for the Yeomen.

The Yeomen will open their 2011 season on the road with a double-header at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, on March 5. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.