SLIPPERY ROCK — When Jeff Messer says something about feeling as good about any team he’s had entering a season, it’s worth hearing.

Messer is entering his 37th season as Slippery Rock University baseball coach. His 1,039 career wins are the most all-time in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and is fifth-most among active Division II baseball coaches.

“This is as strong a pitching staff as we’ve had, certainly the deepest,” Messer said. “We’ve got a lot of guys back, some in their fourth or fifth year. We’re definitrely an older team. It’s easier trying to win with 22-year-olds than it is with 18 or 19-year-olds.”

And The Rock plans on doing a lot of winning, starting with this Saturday’s season-opening doubleheader against Davis & Elkins at Critchfield Park. SRU hosts D&E for 1 p.m. twinbills Saturday and Sunday.

SRU is coming off a 23-14 season in 2021 that ended when a doubleheader against Clarion was rained out on the final available playing date of the regular season,. A Rock sweep of that twinbill would have landed SRU in the PSAC Tournament.

“Our guys are still bitter,” Messer said. “I think (PSAC Commissioner) Steve Murray is still getting some emails from around here. This team is hungry.”

SRU is picked to finish second, behind Seton Hill, in the PSAC West preseason coaches poll. The Rock will begin the campaign with a starting rotation of left-hander Devin Dunn (transfer from Virginia Commonweath), Luke Trueman (4-3, 3.60 ERA), Slippery Rock graduate Ricky Mineo (4-0, 3.29) and probably Andy McClymonds (5-1, 4 saves, 3.38 ERA). Christian Seelhorst (4-2, 4.29 ERA) and freshman Seneca Valley graduate Ethan Edkins are contending for starting roles on the mound.

“Ethan is one of three freshmen pitchers who will help us right away,” Messer said. “We’ve got seven or eight guys who could start for us pitching-wise. We play 12 games before we get into conference, so we’ll sort it out.”

Mineo struck out 47 and walked only eight in 27.1 innings last season before shutting down early with tendinitis.

“Ricky’s healthy now and he was hitting 95 miles per hour in the fall,” Messer said. “He’s the real deal. People are looking at him. It’s just a matter of him putting everything together.”

SRU has 25 players returning from last season. Butler graduate and left-handed sophomore pitcher Colby Anderson will help out of the bullpen. Travis Holman (4 saves) and JT Wolke will be the closers.

Offensively, The Rock returns third baseman Abraham Mow (.313, 7 homers-24 RBI), who has started 131 games at SRU. Jon Kozarian (.421, 6-28, PSAC batting champion) is moving from second base to shortstop. Seneca Valley graduate Anthony Cinicola will be the starting second baseman early in the season while Colin Cain (.302) and Joel Spishock will split time at first base and designated hitter.

Connor Hamilton (.311, 4-28, 11 2Bs) returns as the starting catcher.

“I’ve always considered the catcher to be my best player,” Messer said. “It’s not just Connor’s offense. Our pitchers love pitching to him. He blocks up everything and they trust him. He’ll get after them, too, if they’re not performing like he thinks they should.”

Joe Ehland, “the fastest guy on the team,” Messer says, is in center field. Alex Robenolt (.380, 17 2Bs) is moving to left field and Trueman (.333, 3-14) will be in right.

“This is a complete team,” Messer said. “We should be competitive with any team we play. You win with pitching and as long as ours stays healthy, we can go a long way.”