SLIPPERY ROCK— The goals never change for the Slippery Rock University baseball team.

This year, not many names have changed, either.

The Rock opens the 2008 season Feb. 22 against Tiffin University in Chillicothe, Ohio.

"Our big losses are shortstop Phil Butch and pitcher Derek Blyzwick,"Messer said. "Those guys were four-year starters for us.

"Besides them, we're pretty much bringing back the same team."

SRUfinished 35-17 last year, losing to Kutztown during the North Atlantic Regional semifinals. Messer started six freshmen or sophomores during that game.

His first win this year will be the 700th of Messer's 22-year career at The Rock. He is Pennsylvania's leader in wins among active Division IIcoaches and trails only Temple's James Wilson (1,034 wins in 46 seasons) overall.

Messer is 699-393-4 with SRU, including 15 PSACWest championships, four Division IIWorld Series appearances and two PSACtitles. The Rock's last trip to the World Series was in 2003.

"That's always our long-term goal," the coach said. "But we need to get to the state championship before we can have those other dreams."

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association ranks SRUsecond in the North Atlantic Region behind West Chester. SRUis ranked 22nd in the preseason national poll.

"A lot of people are looking at next year as being our breakthrough season, but I think it could happen this year," Messer said. "Even losing Blyzwick, pitching should be the strength of our team."

Mark Tanner (4-1, 5.48 earned run average) is the top starting pitcher. Joining him in the projected six-man rotation are sophomore Rich Hocanson (6-0, 1.96 ERA), transfer Justin Dickert, senior Chris Squeglia (2-7, 4.44), sophomore Vince Lloyd (1-0, 6.11) and sophomore Sean Holliday (4-2, 2.36).

"Dickert was my No. 1 recruit last year, but was academically ineligible,"Messer said. "Now we have him back. Tanner was coming off Tommy John surgery and was only about 75 percent all last year. He couldn't throw a breaking ball.

"Both of these guys should make a big difference this spring."

Slippery Rock High graduate Mike DeCola (4-0, 1.27) and senior Craig Misiewicz (4-3, 3.10) normally would anchor the bullpen, but both are coming off shoulder problems.

Don Pugliese, a transfer from Marietta (Ohio) College, and freshman Brett Vescovi will fill those roles until DeCola and Misiewicz get healthy.

"Pugliese was Marietta's second-best hitter last year, but he's impressive as a pitcher, too,"Messer said. "We can use him in the outfield if we need to."

Around the diamond, Messer has sophomore Matt Adams (.421, 5 HR, 40 RBI)returning at catcher, senior Dan Hudeck (.312, 5, 37) at first base, Slippery Rock grad and SRUsophomore Billy Messer (.282, 1, 23) at second base and Grove City graduate and Rock junior Billy Herman (.300, 2, 20) at third.

Rich Michalek, a junior who hit .315 as a center fielder last year, moves to shortstop to replace Butch, a .328 hitter with 21 steals last spring who will be playing for the Frontier League's Washington Wild Things this year.

"Phil was our offensive catalyst and we're going to miss that,"Messer admitted.

Matt Messer, the coach's eldest son, returns to the active roster this year and will play left field. M.J. Parsons (.379, 4, 44) will play center and junior Scott Bender (.362, 2, 29) will be in right.

Jacob Oswalt, a sophomore who hit .377 last year, will see time in the outfield as well. Scott Hugney, a first baseman who hit .286 before having his season cut short by an injury last spring, will see time at DH.

"The (PSAC)West should come down to Shippensburg, California (Pa.) and us,"Messer said. "Mansfield, Kutztown and West Chester should top the East.

"Nothing is a given in this conference. We have to perform like we're capable of performing."

Steve Urda returns as pitching coach. Thomas Seay, former assistant coach at Old Dominion and Louisburg (N.C.) College, replaces Rich Pasquale as Messer's assistant coach.

Pasquale accepted the head coaching position at Youngstown State during the offseason.

Following an eight-game swing in Florida, SRU's home opener is March 19 against Wheeling Jesuit.