SLIPPERY ROCK — Jeff Messer is hoping win No. 6 comes early this year — or down south, at least.

The Slippery Rock University baseball coach begins his 34th year at the helm Friday when The Rock travels to Dinwiddie, VA., to face The College of Saint Rose.

Messer, 60, needs six wins to become the 18th coach in NCAA Division II history to attain 1,000 in a career. His ledger includes a 994-633-5 record, .611 winning percentage, 31 winning seasons and 15 PSAC West championships.

“The sooner it comes, the better, so we can get past it and move on with the season,” Messer said. “I really haven't thought about it much.

“I've been around for a while and we've had a lot of good players come in and out of here. You can't win without good players and I've had them.”

Messer has won more games than any baseball coach in PSAC history. Both of his sons, Slippery Rock High graduates Matt and Billy, have played for him.

Billy Messer enters his fifth year as an assistant coach on his father's staff.

“I was around for his 500th win, his 750th, and I'll be there for 1,000,” Billy Messer said. “I'm sure there will be a whole bunch after that.”

While the younger Messer admits that “every assistant coach has aspirations of being a head coach someday,” he's not sure he will be the man to succeed his father at The Rock.

“That may take a while,” he said, laughing. “Dad can't retire until Mom says so and right now, Mom is saying no.

“He's still got the passion for it and he continues to be successful. There's no reason he should give it up.”

SRU plays 14 games down south before opening PSAC West play March 22 at Gannon. Its first game at Critchfield Park is March 23 against the Golden Knights.

“I want to get those six wins down south, hopefully a few more,” Jeff Messer said. “We've got a young team and pitching is our strength.

“We lost a lot of power from last season. We will be playing for more one-run innings this year instead of five-run innings. I can see us bunting And running a lot more.”

SRU finished 30-19 last season, 19-9 in PSAC West play. The team graduated its top two hitters — Tyler Walters and Christian Porterfield — who hit .403 and .355, respectively, while combining for 29 home ruins and 103 RBI.

“We can't replace numbers like those,” Messer admitted.

Still, SRU is picked to finish third in the PSAC West in the preseason coaches poll, behind Seton Hill and Mercyhurst.

Senior right-hander Chris Anastas, 5-1 a year ago with 50 strikeouts in 51 innings, is The Rock's No. 1 starter. Tanner Stanz and Ryan Tapp follow him in the rotation with Slippery Rock High graduate Ricky Mineo, a hard-throwing right-hander, is in the mix for the No. 4 spot.

“Ricky had a great fall for us,” Messer said. “He has a live arm and is hitting 90 on the (radar) gun.”

Two other local pitchers will see action. Moniteau graduate Derek Boben is slated for middle relief and Butler grad Wyatt Daugherty returns as the closer. Daugherty was 3-5 with a 3.14 earned run average, 26 strikeouts in 28.2 innings last season.

“He relishes that closer's role and he's very good at it,” Messer said. “If we need three, four, maybe even six outs to finish a win, Wyatt's getting the ball.”

Offensively, SRU will be anchored by shortstop Joe Campagna (.342, 7 HR, 43 RBI), center fielder Frankie Jezioro (.337, 5-30, 15 stolen bases), third baseman and PSAC Freshman of the Year Abraham Mow (.319, 10-41) and left fielder Ray Scala (.344, 4-28).

Billy Messer said his biggest concern has nothing to do with The Rock. It's the PSAC West as a whole.

“Mercyhurst, Seton Hill, Gannon ... These schools are fielding the best teams they've had in a long time,” he said. “This is a balanced league and we're going to have to play up to that competition.”

His father agreed.

The top four teams from the PSAC's Western and Eastern Divisions will comprise the league's eight-team, double-elimination tournament in May at Johnstown's Point Stadium.

“Seton Hill and Mercyhurst will be two of those teams from the West,” Jeff Messer said. “Anybody else, from three through eight, could be the other two.

“We have a lot of work to do.”