No. 15 Hancock Baseball Opens 2016 Season at Bakersfield Saturday

The Hancock baseball team opens the 2016 season on Saturday, January 30 at Bakersfield College. First pitch will be at 1 p.m. Hancock will play its home opener on Tuesday, February 2 against West Hills-Coalinga at 2 p.m.

Head coach Chris Stevens returns armed with six sophomores who earned All-Western State Conference honors last season. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 15 in the Southern California Preseason Poll issued by the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association.

Outfielder Colby Barrick (Santa Ynez HS) returns for his sophomore season. The Preseason All-American hit .317 with 23 runs, .433 on-base percentage, 18 walks and four triples.  Third baseman Zach Lampreia, an All-Conference Second Team pick, is back after he hit .320 and led the Bulldogs with 41 hits and 19 RBI last season.  Outfielders Colton Studebaker, who hit .279 in 2015, and Hunter Christensen also return for the Bulldogs. Tim Mahoney (St. Joseph HS) who received the conference's Gold Glove at first base also returns. He hit .271 last season.

Jacob Tonascia, who hit .286 with 24 RBI and two home runs for Mission College, provides a new bat in the lineup for Hancock.

Righetti High School graduates and sophomore pitchers Skylar Bischoff and Chance Miranda return for the Bulldogs. Last year, Bischoff went 3-2 with a 4.43 ERA, while Miranda posted a 3.40 ERA and a 2-3 record.