After a strong season a year ago, the Penn State Behrend baseball team has been picked to repeat as AMCC champions by D3baseball.com.  The Behrend Lions won their first AMCC crown since 2003 last season and look to do it again with the numerous players returning.  The blue and white return the entire pitching staff and five of the eight starting fielders.

"It's an honor to be recognized by an outstanding site like D3baseball.com," said head coach Paul Benim.  "We have several experienced players returning and they know what it takes to be successful.  Our expectations are to compete at a high level in the very competitive AMCC."  The Behrend Lions know that the competition will be strong in the AMCC and will have to go out and perform each day.

The team is led by 2008 AMCC Pitcher of the year and MVP David Koerbel (Pittsburgh/Central Catholic).  Koerbel was 8-2 last season with a 2.82 ERA and 73 K's.  Fellow first team All-AMCC pitcher Andrew Chrobak (New Castle/Laurel) also returns for the blue and white.  Chrobak returns a 7-4 record with a 2.90 ERA.  Several all conference performers return including infielders Dustin Dubensky (Punxsutawney/Punxsutawney) and Josh Fyffe (Fredonia/Sharpsville) as well as outfielders Jonathan Gray (State College/State College) and Geoff Lang (Pittsburgh/North Allegheny).  Dubensky had a monster year with a .365 batting average and a Behrend record 23 doubles.  Fyffe put up a solid season batting .333 to go along with 25 RBI.  Gray and Lang hit .350 and .349 respectively and will be strong defensively in the outfield.   

The Behrend Lions finished the season with a record of 34-12 and won the 2008 AMCC crown.  They also made it to the NCAA Regionals for the first time in school history.  The blue and white begin their season in Roanoke, Virginia on February 28.