ATLANTA -- The 2020 Georgia State baseball team took the field for its first official team practice of the spring under new head coach
Brad Stromdahl on Friday as the Panthers prepare for Opening Day three weeks from today.
GSU opens the season by hosting the Atlanta Challenge Feb. 14-16 at the GSU Baseball Complex, opening against Cincinnati on Feb. 14 at 4 p.m., followed by St. John's (Feb. 15, 2 p.m.) and St. Peter's (Feb. 16, 1 p.m.).
Stromdahl takes over the Panther program after seven seasons at Georgia Gwinnett, where he started the program from scratch in 2013 and built an NAIA power, compiling a 328-104 record in seven seasons, including three trips to the Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series. He earned his first head coaching position at Georgia Gwinnett after five seasons (2007-11) as an assistant coach at Georgia State, serving as recruiting coordinator and hitting instructor during the Panthers' most successful run.
"This is something that we've been waiting for, and it's finally here," Stromdahl said. "We've got six months of preparation and individual practice under our belts, and now we actually get to put it into action and get ready for our first game vs. Cincinnati.
"We are really just trying to learn who we are. We have a new culture and a new way of doing things, and we are trying to figure out our identity. I know we want to play with energy and have fun, that goes without saying, and we will put forth the best effort that we can in every single way."
The team returns 18 letterwinners and has added 15 newcomers, including 10 freshmen and five transfers.
Top returnees include senior outfielder
Elian Merejo (7 HR, 35 RBI), junior shortstop
Griffin Cheney (.300, 38 runs), sophomore outfielder
Josh Smith (.273, 21 RBI), senior second baseman
Daino Deas (.266, 25 RBI, 35 runs) and junior first baseman
Ryan Glass (9 career HR). Sophomore right-hander
Ryan Watson is the top returning pitcher after leading the team with six victories as a freshman.
The Panthers' intrasquad scrimmages Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.) at the GSU Baseball Complex are free and open to the public.
