If there's two things that Freedom has going for them heading into this season, it's pitching and depth.

The Patriots, coming off a 14-8 season a year ago, should be players for the Steel Division crown and the East Penn Conference playoffs.

Qualifying for the districts playoffs is also on the radar for a team that brings back six starters. Head coach Nick D'Amico is hopeful this will be a successful spring once they get the regular season underway.

"We bring back two of our top three pitchers and six out of nine starters," D'Amico said. "We have a lot of depth due to the talent moving up from our very successful JV team we had last year."

Returning starters for the Pates include JJ Yocum (Jr, 3B/P); Zak Gagnon (Sr, OF/P); Danny Corvino (Sr. SS); Dan Knerr (Sr, C); Pete Frey (Sr, OF) and TJ Czerwinski (Sr, 2B/P).

D'Amico's list of quality newcomers includes the likes of star football players and wrestlers Jake Young (Sr, DH) and Evan Callahan (So, P/1B/3B). Other players figuring to have large roles include Jared Dancecs (Jr, C); DJ Bast (Jr, OF); Alex Thomas (Jr, IF/P); Jose Rivera (Jr, IF); Connor Morro (Jr, P); Frank Olshefski (Jr, P) and Mario McIntyre (Jr, 1B).

Gagnon and Yocum will be two arms that D'Amico will lean on this season, as Gagnon was 1-3 a year ago with a 3.14 ERA, which also included a win over District 11 4A champion Parkland. Yocum was 4-3 with a 3.25 ERA and had a key win over Emmaus last season.

"Their records don't say much," D'Amico said, "but they've pitched in very big games for us last year."

The last part that D'Amico hopes will iron itself out is run production.

"We need to be a better hitting team," he said. "Last year we were streaky and I would like to be more consistent throughout the game."