NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- After 352 days of quarantines, practices, scrimmages, and unrelenting uncertainty, Christopher Newport student-athletes will compete in their first official game since March 10, 2020 when the baseball team puts an end to the athletic department's hiatus with a trip to Roanoke College for a 2:00 p.m. showdown played on Haley Toyota Field at Salem Memorial Stadium

Nearly 12 months after intercollegiate sports were paused as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Captains are looking to pick up where they left off last year. The baseball team will be the first Christopher Newport squad to compete in an NCAA-sanctioned game since baseball, golf, and women's lacrosse saw their 2020 campaigns abruptly end on March 10. Since then, the remainder of the spring and fall seasons were effectively cancelled by the NCAA, while the school's basketball programs opted to forgo games and complete a modified schedule of unofficial scrimmages during the winter. 

The Roanoke College Department of Athletics will provide live stats and a live video webcast of the action starting at 2:00 p.m. Links can be found on the baseball schedule at CNUsports.com or by clicking here:  LIVE VIDEO  ||  LIVE STATS -- the Maroons outdoor spectator policy prohibits fans from opposing teams to attend games in person. For more details, click here for the complete policy. 

Prior to the global pause of intercollegiate competition, the Captains had run off six straight wins and were 10-4 with a strong nucleus of young arms paired with a talented offense averaging 15.8 runs per game during the win streak. The bulk of the 2020 team that was off to a strong start returns in 2021 and the Captains have been recognized by various publications as a pre-season nationally-ranked team. In their 2021 Division III College Preview, Perfect Game listed Christopher Newport as the 25th-ranked team in the nation; Collegiate Baseball had CNU tabbed No. 33 in their preseason top-40 released in December.

Opening day is set for Thursday on the road as the Captains take on the 1-1 Maroons, who split their season-opening doubleheader against William Peace University. Headlining the returning group for Christopher Newport is senior outfielder Conner Clark, who hit .483 in 14 games at the leadoff spot last season. Clark is among the nation's elite base stealers with 75 bags swiped in his first 106 career games, or just over two seasons. He ranks second in Division III and in the top-ten across all three divisions of active players in career stolen bases. 

The Captains suffered the loss of preseason All-American Trey Hicks to graduation after the outfielder hit .453 in his 14-game final campaign last year. CNU also will have to replace Evan Baer, who was hitting .364 at first base, but the remainder of the 2020 offense is in tact. Slugging outfielders Michael Martorano and Alec Reilly with four home runs and 22 RBI combined are back, along with veteran backstop Eric O'Brien, who delivered a .300 average and started all 14 games a year ago. On the infield, a number of options return for Harvell with experience up the middle from Jonathan Fisher (.314, 16 RBI), Brayden Hodges (.400), and Ethan Weaver (.267). At the corners, the Captains will need to find fillers for Baer and Andrew Suppa, who each started all 14 games last season. Sophomore Cameron Wallace smacked a pair of home runs in relief of Baer last season and could be poised to make an impact again in his second season. 

On the mound, Christopher Newport returns a staff that started 10 of the 14 games from a year ago. Rookies Connor Pennell (1-0, 3.27 ERA, 22.0 IP), Dylan Weber (1-0, 3.48 ERA, 20.2 IP), and Jack Rosenberg (1-0, 1.35 ERA, 6.2 IP) impressed in their first chance last season and will be back for year two under the direction of pitching coach Ron Frazier. Senior Josh Husby made just one start last season before being shut down to injury and looks to return in full form in 2021. During the 2019 season, Husby was a horse for the Captains staff starting 13 games and pitching 74.2 innings with 78 strikeouts. 

Head coach John Harvell returns for his 21st season at the helm carrying an overall record of 541-264-3 for a winning percentage of .671. CNU has reached the last two NCAA Championship events and made nine postseason appearances throughout his tenure. The season opens Thursday after a schedule change bumped up the start of the campaign; CNU will then host three straight at Captains Park from March 6-9. The Captains will welcome Virginia Wesleyan on March 6-7 for a pair and will host Hampden-Sydney on March 9 to wrap up the early season homestand. 

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this schedule is subject to change. As Christopher Newport continues to provide a safe environment for intercollegiate athletic competition, the decision has been made to conduct sporting events without spectators throughout the 2020-21 seasons. This protocol is imperative for the overall health and safety of the fans, student-athletes, coaches, support staff, and connected Captains community. Home events will be limited to only essential game management personnel and broadcast media.