There should be little doubt about whether Liberty’s baseball team can qualify for the postseason this spring, but whether the Hurricanes can win the league or district title will be up to them.

The ’Canes return the deepest roster in the East Penn Conference Steel Division and will hope to use that to their advantage, as they head into the season as favorites to come away with the division crown.

After last year’s 15-8 mark that saw them lose in the EPC semifinals to Stroudsburg and fall in the District 11 4A quarterfinals to Northampton, head coach Andy Pitsilos is back for year 14 at the helm of the program.

“We will be able to fill the gaps with most players back,” said Pitsilos of losses to graduation. “Our biggest strengths are our pitching depth, our speed and our defense. We just have to hit better this year.”

Top players back for the Hurricanes include: Sr. P-IF Ben Hudock; Sr. P-IF Alexis Calderon; Jr. SS-P Elias Gross; Jr. 3B Sam Kraihanzel; Sr. OF-1B Mike Lehman; Jr. P-IF Mike Perreault; Sr. C Kyle Ross; Sr. OF Ryan Wescoe; Jr. C-OF Jared Burcin and Sr. IF-OF Andres Rivera.

Others on the team this year include: Jr. P-IF Gabe Albino; Jr. P Alex Laudenslager; Jr. P-IF-OF Jake Morgan; Jr. C-OF Jake Wagner; Jr. OF-IF Jake Unangst; Jr. 1B Tyler Anthony; Jr. OF Anthony Ballerini; Jr. OF Kyle Hlavaty and Jr. P Jamie Gillen.

With senior pitchers Hudock - who was 2-2 last year with a 2.38 ERA - and Calderon - who sported a 4-1 record and a 2.58 ERA - Liberty should be solid in most matchups on the mound.

The Hurricanes need to score more runs should come with a more veteran-laden group, and Pitsilos expects this team to compete for every trophy, just like every year.

“Our goals are to win our division, then win the league, then win the districts,” he said. “If this team plays disciplined baseball, remains unselfish and sticks together as a team, it can go far.”

The Hurricanes opened the season with a 2-1 win over Wilson West Lawn last week. Liberty gets an early test against Whitehall on Friday in a battle against two of the preseason league favorites.