HARTSVILLE, S.C.- Behind preseason All-Conference selection Jack Leech, Coker baseball is ready to start its 2016 campaign. 

Leech, a senior catcher from Miami, Fla., was named to the All-SAC preseason second team, after having a successful individual campaign in 2015. Leech had a breakout season appearing in 33 games and posting a .321 batting average. He knocked in a team-high 32 RBIs to go along with 36 hits, 20 runs scored, 11 doubles and two home runs. 

"I'm so happy for him, because he is the ultimate example of not giving up and not giving in. He's one of the better catchers that I've had here because of his dedication," said Schmotzer. 

Coker, the No. 11 pick in the South Atlantic Conference preseason poll, won 15 games last season, and finished sixth in the conference in team batting average hitting .304.

Schmotzer noted that some areas could be improved from last year to this upcoming season. 

"We have to improve on ground ball defense, team ERA and fly ball defense," said Schmotzer.

The month of March will be a competitive stretch for Dave Schmotzer's club, with conference series' at Anderson (Mar. 4-5), at home against Tusculum (Mar. 18-19) and at Carson-Newman (Mar. 25-26). March also features a non-conference midweek contest at UNC Pembroke (Mar. 9) and a non-conference series with Seton Hill (Mar. 12-13). 

  "There's no weekend bigger than another, we open up Saturday and that's just as big to me as a weekend in April," said Schmotzer.

Coker also welcomes first year assistant coaches Matt Rein and Cameron Jergens. Rein comes to Coker after a two-year stint at NCAA Division I Longwood University.  Jergens came to Coker after serving as the head coach in the Lewis and Clark Baseball League in the summer of 2015. He also was an assistant baseball coach at Daytona State College during the 2014-15 season. 

 "They've both been good additions to us trying to get back into the championship hunt," said Schmotzer.

The team opens up its campaign Saturday (Jan. 30) when they travel to Paine for an afternoon doubleheader. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m.