SLIPPERY ROCK — Imagine receiving a wonderful new present and not being able to use it for a year.

Slippery Rock University's baseball program has gone through such an ordeal, but finally gets to use its new artificially-turfed field Saturday when it opens the 2021 season against West Virginia State.

Critchfield Park's new playing surface was actually ready for use last spring, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced an end to the college baseball season before The Rock returned home from its spring trip.

Formerly all grass and dirt, the field is now completely artificial turf, including the bullpens.

“It will be a challenge finding any mud to rub up the baseballs,” longtime SRU coach Jeff Messer said.

“The turf has already been a game-changer. I can probably count on one hand the number of full (preseason) practices we got in over the past five years. We've already had a couple of intra-squad games played here this year.

“When it rains, we wait until it stops, go back out there and there's no problem,” Messer added.

SRU hopes to have a few game-changers on the field this spring as well. The Rock got off to a 7-3 start before last season was shut down.

At the head of that game-changing list may be Slippery Rock High School graduate sophomore right-hander Ricky Mineo and junior catcher Connor Hamilton.

“Those are two guys who could be considered prospects to play at the next level,” Messer said.

Mineo worked 4.1 innings out of the bullpen last year, striking out eight and not allowing a run. He is a starting pitcher this season and will start one of the three games against West Virginia State this weekend.

“Ricky is a 6-foot-5 guy who throws downhill in the low to mid 90's,” Messer said. “He's harnessed his control and we're looking for big things out of him.

“Sometimes it takes a few years for a pitcher his size to grasp control of his pitches. He's arrived in that regard.”

Hamilton, a transfer from West Virginia University, hit .378 with three homers and nine RBI for SRU during its 10-game 2020 season.

“Connor is our best all-around player,” Messer said. “He can hit for power and average and he's great at handling our pitchers. We're excited to have him back for the next two years.”

Other key players for SRU are third baseman Abraham Mow (.333) who will bat in the lead-off position, and second baseman Jon Kozaerian (.400), in his third year with the team.

Seneca Valley graduate Anthony Cinicola (.167, 4 RBI) split time at shortstop last season, but will back up freshman Koby Bubash to begin this year.

“Anthony is more of a defensive player right now, but he'll see some time,” Messer said.

Slippery Rock High graduate and freshman left-hander Ian Balquist will be a relief specialist. Butler graduate and freshman left-hander Colby Anderson is also on the pitching staff.

Plate umpires will have to bring paperwork showing they've passed COVID-19 testing to work behind the plate. Without the proper documentation, they will have to call balls and strikes from behind the mound, per PSAC rules.

A limited number of fans will be allowed into Rock home games. Some PSAC schools are allowing no spectators. All players in the dugout must wear masks and coaches must wear masks at all times.

Critchfield Park was to host the PSAC Tournament this year, but that event will not be held at one site this season. The top four teams from the East and West divisions will make the tournament.

The top seeds in the two divisions host the No. 4 seeds in their own division, while No. 2 hosts No. 3 in single-elimination games. The West survivors then meet each other in a best-of-three, as do the East surviviors.

The division champions then clash in a best-of-three to determine the state champion.

“The single-elimination start makes everybody nervous,” Messer admitted. “You can run into a stud pitching performance and be done.

“The West is so balanced. We could finish anywhere from first to eighth. It's just a matter of who gets it done on the field.”