SLIPPERY ROCK — No. 900 is around the corner.

Slippery Rock University baseball coach Jeff Messer is six wins away from that career victory mark as he begins his 30th year at the helm. SRU opens its 2015 season today at King (Tenn.) College.

Messer leads all active Pennsylvania collegiate baseball coaches in wins and trails only retired Temple coach James Wilson (1,034) on the state’s all-time list.

But it’s not wins he’s worried about.

“The wins are gonna come,” Messer said. “I’m more concerned with getting us back to the NCAA Regionals and the World Series.

“It’s been a while and I still have the hunger and desire to help make that happen again.”

The Rock hasn’t been to the regional since 2007. It last advanced to the Division II World Series in 2003 and last won the PSAC regular season title in 2005.

This year’s team is picked to finish third in the PSAC West preseason coaches poll.

“That’s fine by me,” Messer said. “As long as we’re somewhere in the top four, let the target be on somebody else.”

SRU finished 25-20 last season, its 20th consecutive non-losing season. The team returns 16 lettermen, including five starting position players, its four weekend starting pitchers and five of its seven arms in the bullpen from last year.

Catcher Alex Bell (.324), shortstop Jake Nogalo (.315) and left fielder Adam Urbania (.331) return to anchor the lineup.

“Those three guys have to be in the lineup every day,” Messer said. “As hitters, they are that good.”

Bell will see some time at designated hitter as well as freshman Tyler Walters, an all-state catcher from Saegertown, is this year’s prize recruit.

Seneca Valley graduate Carson Kessler, who hit .300 in 30 at bats as a freshman last year, will share time at first base with junior Kyle Vozar (.220). Jordan Faretta (.290) is an all-conference second baseman and Nogalo is moving from third to shortstop this year.

Nogalo replaces Will Kengor, a .415 hitter with 17 stolen bases and 30 RBI — all team highs — from last year who is now in the Detroit Tigers system. Preston Falascino (.273) takes over at third base.

Seneca Valley graduate Jack Graham, a transfer from Youngstown State who missed all of last year with a broken hand, is vying for time as a utility infielder.

“He can play all four infield spots and he’s finally healthy,” Messer said. “Hopefully, he’ll work his way into the mix.”

Urbania, Jimmy Divosevic in center and Logan Brown (.400 in 50 at bats last year) in right will comprise the outfield.

“We have a lot of versatility, a bunch of people who can move around,” Messer said. “But it won’t mean anything if we don’t have the arms and don’t stay healthy.”

North Allegheny graduate Ryan Oglesby, a senior, will be the No. 1 starter in The Rock pitching rotation this year after spending his previous collegiate seasons as the team’s closer.

“Ryan is our best arm. He has electric stuff when he’s healthy,” Messer said. “We just have to keep him healthy.”

Vying for the other weekend starting spots are Kyle Schneider (6-3, 3.09 ERA), North Allegheny product Anton Constantino (3-2, 5.15), Grove City High graduate Jon Anderson (2-4, 4.10) and Garret Peterson (3-5, 3.23).

“Anderson was hurt last spring and tried pitching through it,” Messer said. “That didn’t go real well, but he had a solid summer with the BlueSox.

“We play 16 games before we come back north to play Mercyhurst March 14 and get into conference play. We have a lot to sort out between now and then.

“King’s team has been outside for a month and has already played six games. We haven’t been outside at all. We’re going to have some catching up to do, at first,” Messer added.