NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Setting course for the 2024 with a busy opening weekend, the nationally-ranked Christopher Newport baseball team will host four games at Captains Park this weekend starting with the season opener against William Peace University on Friday at 2:00 p.m. The No. 20 Captains will also host Southern Virginia University in a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 11:00 a.m.before welcoming in Eastern Mennonite University for a 2:00 p.m. matchup on Sunday. 

Live stats and a live video webcast for all four games will be available online through CNUsports.com. Links can be found on the baseball schedule page or by navigating to the composite calendar at the bottom of the front page of the website. 

Ahead of the opener, the Captains were also ranked No. 14 in the Perfect Game Division III Preseason National Rankings. Under the direction of head coach John Harvell in his 24th season, the Captains return six from the starting lineup along with a host of pitching options from one of the program's finest seasons a year ago. 

Christopher Newport will be facing off against William Peace (1-1) for the first time in program history after the Pacers opened the season with a doubleheader split against Virginia Wesleyan. WPU is picked fourth in the USA South Preseason Coaches Poll. On Saturday, CNU will take on the Knights from Southern Virginia (0-0) for a twinbill. The Captains are 23-1 all-time against the Knights with 13 wins in a row and a 12-1 record at Captains Park. Wrapping up the weekend, Christopher Newport faces Eastern Mennonite (0-0) and looks to improve on a 15-3-2 all-time advantage against the Royals.

This season, the Captains return three All-Region performers from last season including first team pick Zach Dzarnowski and second team starting pitcher Dylan Weber. Dzarnowski ranked second in Division III in walks per game (1.13); Weber was 12th in Division III in strikeouts with 103 and racked up eight wins with a 3.45 ERA.

William Peace is led by All-Region second baseman Jake Dacunto after reaching the USA South championship series last year. A record-breaking season saw the Pacers finish with 25 wins in 2023. Southern Virginia won 13 games last season and head coach Jerry Schlegelmich returns standouts Nick Daynes, the team MVP, and Ty Martinez, the USA South Rookie of the Year. On Sunday, CNU will take on an Eastern Mennonite squad led by head coach Adam Posey after accumulating 10 wins a season ago. The Royals bring back five of their top six hitters to lead the way in 2024. 

Following the busy opening weekend, the Captains will play one more home game on Tuesday, February 20 against Bridgewater College before heading to Greensboro for the D3 Showcase against Denison, Marietta, and Cortland next weekend.