What allows mid-majors and other smaller schools to be competitive on the Division I level is transfers and, more importantly, seniors.

Eastern’s baseball team finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference last season even though they had a below-.500 overall record. A big part of that team was the consistency of the their seniors. Unfortunately, the Panthers lost many key seniors from last year’s team. Gone are 2002 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year Pete Pirman, infielders Ben Duke, Brian Nickell and Mike Gavin – and, maybe most importantly, the team’s two aces Scott Metz and Pete Martin as well as their steady battery mate Tim Aurrichio.

Who will step up? Well there’s no doubt seniors Bret Pignatiello (who led the Panthers in home runs last season) and Kirk Walters will be keys in the middle of the lineup. But two boppers in the middle does not a quality line-up make. Seniors Danny Jordan and Aaron Shelbourne both had solid seasons last year and will be asked to protect Pignatiello and Walters. Transfers Jeff Cammann and Kyle Haines will be the table-setters at the top of the lineup.

The lineup has leaders, but at this time the pitching staff is more of a question mark. Right-handers Damon White and Micah Gray had good outings against Saint Xavier this weekend, but they were far from overpowering and didn’t control the pace of the game like Metz and Martin last season. Reigning Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Wee, Nathan Stone had a rough outing in game two of the doubleheader Saturday after coming in relief of starter Matt Tyson. Neither right-hander was helped by the eight team errors the defense committed.

Last season Shelbourne saw most of the innings at shortstop with his double-play partner second baseman, junior Chris Uhle. On Saturday, Schmitz played Uhle at third, Haines at short and Shelbourne at second. The middle of the defense, with Walters in center field (who played right this weekend), was one of the strengths the team had coming back. Why mess with it?

Aluminum bats provide power for any team at any position. Bad weather throughout the Midwest provides parity throughout conferences. Unlike football and basketball, the level of play in the Big Ten isn’t that much greater than that of the Ohio Valley Conference or Missouri Valley Conference.

The Panthers will be competitive this season and have already hung with Notre Dame, who reached the College Baseball World Series last season. The middle of the Panthers’ lineup will put up the numbers, but the question is: will the team be able to pitch it and catch it and who from the supporting cast show up consistently?

How many 12-11 games can one team win in college baseball?