MARIETTA, Ohio — The Etta Express enters 2010 hoping that the return of postseason baseball to Marietta College will equal its return to the pinnacle of NCAA Division III for the fifth time in school history.

Marietta, who has won a record four NCAA Division III titles—1981, 1983, 1986, 2006—and finished national runner-up on seven other occasions, will be one of eight hosts for the 2010 NCAA Division III Regional baseball tournament. The winners of each regional will advance to the NCAA Division III World Series May 26-June 1 in Grand Chute, Wis. The Etta Express has captured seven of the 11 Mideast Regional titles decided in Marietta and 20 overall.

Seventh-year Head Coach Brian Brewer's squad is filled with talent and hungry to win the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) and make its return to the NCAA Tournament after a 2009 campaign, which left the Pioneers one win shy of their 21st World Series appearance. The Etta Express expects to return 11 of 16 lettermen, seven everyday starters and a solid corps of pitchers. A group of hard-working underclassmen and freshmen will battle to fill the few holes left by graduation.

2009 All-Region and All-OAC designated hitter/catcher Chris Beatty (Seven Fields, Pa., Hampton), 2008 All-OAC catcher Dan Jones (Lima, Shawnee), 2007 All-Region and All-OAC pitcher Nate Eschbaugh (Marietta, Marietta) and outfielder Matt DeSico (Euclid, Euclid) will be asked to anchor the program this spring and provide the senior leadership that is a staple of any Marietta baseball program.

Junior All-OAC first baseman Casey Levens (Dayton, Centerville), outfield classmates John Snyder (Altoona, Pa., Altoona) and Jordan Thompson (Quaker City, Buckeye Trail) and sophomore shortstop Tim Saunders (Alliance, Alliance) also return to the everyday lineup in 2010. Sophomore All-OAC selection Brian Gasser (New Philadelphia, Indian Valley) and junior Mark Williams (Fayetteville, Perry) will join Eschbaugh in leading the pitching staff this spring.

Marietta will open its season during spring break with a doubleheader against host Rhodes on March 6 in Memphis, Tenn. The Etta Express will then make its way to Abilene, Texas, and play five games in three days from March 8-10 before returning to Memphis for two more games, this time against Rhodes and Illinois Wesleyan. It will be a busy opening weekend when the Pioneers return to Don Schaly Stadium as a March 20 doubleheader with Rose-Hulman is sandwiched with single games against Dubuque (Iowa) on March 19 and 21. Marietta opens OAC play at home with Mount Union on March 27. Spring Weekend is scheduled for May 8 when the Pioneers play host to Wilmington.

Marietta's team goals remain the same for 2010 as they have been since 1964: win the Ohio Athletic Conference, the Mideast Regional and the NCAA Division III World Series.

Here is how the 2010 Pioneers look position-by-position:

Pitchers: While Marietta does not enter the season with a clear anchor to its staff, sophomore All-OAC right-hander Brian Gasser (New Philadelphia, Indian Valley) and junior right-hander Mark Williams (Fayetteville, Perry) are strong candidates to lead the rotation in 2010. Gasser emerged as Marietta's second starter in 2009. In 16 appearances and 11 starts, he finished 5-3 with 52 strikeouts and a 5.27 ERA in 66 2/3 innings of work. Williams was used primarily out of the bullpen last season and went 5-2 with a save in 16 outings. The hard thrower fanned a team-best 56 and posted a 5.80 ERA in 49 2/3 innings. Sophomore Austin Blaski (Pandora, Gilboa) has shown glimpses of what he can do and with continued improvement should be a valuable contributor to the rotation this spring. Sophomore transfer Mike Mahaffey (Worthington, Bishop Watterson) is a welcome addition to the staff and will be vying for a lot of innings this season. Sophomore Kyle Lindquist (Columbus, Worthington Kilbourne) proved his ability to work both as a spot starter and out of the bullpen, roles he will continue to get opportunities at in 2010. Junior Casey Levens (Dayton, Centerville) and sophomore Logan Lewis (Nashport, Tri Valley) should both provide additional help on the mound when needed. Senior Nate Eschbaugh (Marietta, Marietta) was one of Marietta's most active arms off the bench and finished 2-0 with 18 strikeouts and a 4.81 ERA in 24 1/3 innings in 2009. He is coming off shoulder surgery in the fall and, if healthy, could be the team's wild card this spring. The upperclassmen, coupled with a wealth of freshmen arms, make expectations high for the pitching staff in 2010.

Catcher: Catcher should be a great battle and one of the team's strengths heading into 2010. Senior Dan Jones (Lima, Shawnee) is a three-year starter behind the plate, while senior Chris Beatty (Seven Fields, Pa., Hampton) has provided much-needed assistance during that same period. Jones has proven to be the stronger defensive player, throwing out 49% (17-of-35) would be base stealers in 2009. He also had 29 hits, including nine for extra bases, last year. Beatty, however, brings a potent bat to the lineup. The 2009 All-Region and All-OAC designated hitter led the Etta Express with 12 home runs and 56 RBI while ranking second on the squad with a .373 batting average. Freshmen Tom Fulton (Pittsburgh, Pa., Penn Hills) and Cort Thomas (Strongsville, Strongsville) will add depth to the very physical position this spring.

First Base: Junior Casey Levens (Dayton, Centerville) returns as the starting first baseman in 2010. The All-OAC honorable mention performer finished third on the squad with a .331 batting average and 43 RBI. If Levens can stay healthy, he could have an All-America type year offensively. On the defensive side, he is a converted middle infielder that has made great strides around the bag. Sophomore Austin Blaski (Pandora/Gilboa)'s (Pandora, Gilboa) athleticism and 6-5 frame make him another solid option at first base. Like Levens, Blaski has moved from the middle of the infield and has shown great improvement at the position. Junior Ben Hupp (Parkersburg, W.Va., Parkersburg) has proven to be a middle of the order type bat and, if he continues to improve, could provide some much needed depth.

Middle Infield: Sophomore Tim Saunders (Alliance, Alliance) started all 49 games at shortstop as a freshman and has the tools to be a very special player. The gifted defender led Marietta with 150 assists and helped turn 35 double players while hitting a respectable .289 during his first year in the pinstripes. Sophomores Kirby Becker (South Euclid, St. Ignatius) and Kyle Lindquist (Columbus, Worthington Kilbourne) were both spot starters at second base last year and are expected to do battle for the staring nod this spring. There are a group of freshmen that will be asked to also contribute in the middle of the infield in 2010.

Third Base: Third base is Marietta's most uncertain position heading into 2010 due to the loss of Jack Rafeld OAC Player of the Year Cameron Cimino (Boardman/Boardman), a 2009 All-America pick. Sophomore Kyle Lindquist (Columbus, Worthington Kilbourne) has shown the ability to flash the leather at the hot corner and, if not playing second base, can make the transition to third rather easily. Freshmen Tyler Haskin (Monroe, Monroe), Braden Park (Oxford, Talawanda) and Dylan Wartluft (Atwater, Waterloo) all had good falls and will compete for the starting job at third base this spring.

Outfield: Outfield is expected to be one of the team's strengths all season long in 2010. After being decimated by injuries in 2009, the experience gained by the young outfielders should pay of this year. Senior Matt DeSico (Euclid, Euclid) started the majority of the games in left field and ranked third on the team with 49 hits as a junior. Juniors Jordan Thompson (Quaker City, Buckeye Trail) and John Snyder (Altoona, Pa., Altoona) were also regular starters in the outfield a year ago, while classmate Britt Meador (Columbus, Worthington Kilbourne), who was slowed by injury as a sophomore, held down a starting slot as a freshman. Snyder and Thompson batted .318 and .302, respectively, in 2009, while Meador hit .385 in 2008. In addition, some very talented freshmen are going to push the upperclassmen for opportunities in the outfield this season.