The SF State baseball team entered last season with numerous injuries at key positions, including three on the pitching staff alone.

But entering their season-opener against the visiting Cal State Hayward Pioneers on this past Tuesday, all 25 players were healthy and anxiously awaiting the start of the season. With the teams' 4-3 10-inning victory, the Gators will lean on their pitching staff, all-conference returners and new recruits for a place in the playoffs.

“We always have the same goals every year; we want to have a winning season, win CCAA, get a regional berth and win a World Series,” said head coach Matt Markovich, entering his fifth season. “This is the best group of guys since I’ve been here.”

The Gators said they hope this season sparks better results after a “close-but-no-cigar” season last year. The team finished 30-26 overall, 21-19 against other California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) teams, and capped off the season just one win short of making the playoffs.

Unfortunately, the team lost a number of key players from last year’s squad to graduation, including closer Keith Albright and first team all-conference member Rich Daly. Albright had a 5-3 record and tallied all six of the team’s saves. Daly led the team in 12 batting categories including batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, home runs and RBIs.

Markovich said Daly was also injured part of last season, and he recently signed a professional contract with an independent league team after not being drafted in the Major League Baseball amateur draft.

“The team improved a lot more than last year,” said senior and starting center fielder Carlos Medina, who led the team in hits, stolen bases and games started. “I think this team has a lot more cohesiveness than last year’s team. We have enough talent to dominate the league and make it deep into the playoffs.”

Despite the loss of Daly, the Gators will return three of their four all-conference players. Medina and pitcher Roberto Torres were named second team all-conference, and infielder A.J. Biama also returns with hopes to improve on his first team all-conference effort last year.

“We’ve got a real good team,” Biama said. “I think we’re a lot better on defense. We have a lot of talent on the field.”

The pitching staff is unquestionably one of the team’s strengths. The Gators’ entire starting rotation, made up of Torres, Nick DeCampli, Jon Bierly and Chris Brown, all return with sophomore Alex Swartz handling the staff as the new starting catcher. The starters had four of the team’s five lowest ERAs. Brown led the team in wins with eight, and DeCampli led the team in innings pitched with 86 2/3 innings.

“Last season, we were heavy pitching-wise,” Markovich said. “Two years ago, we were heavy hitting-wise. This season we’re well-balanced in all areas.”

With the lost of Daly and other seniors, this year’s terrific recruiting class softens the blow. First baseman Chris Watters, third baseman Jason Carlson and utility player Casey Garrison are expected to compete for playing time. Other new key players include third baseman Andreas Madsen and pitchers Aaron Gamboa and Nick Taminich.

“Everyone’s healthy,” Bierly said. “We’re definitely deeper and a lot of role-players could be starters at other schools.”

So far, the new players are adapting well with the rest of the team, Markovich said, adding that many players hang out together and some are roommates. With any luck, that kind of team chemistry could even translate to a few more wins.

“This has been a good team atmosphere,” Bierly said. “We put in a lot of time together, and it’s easy to build relationships.”

This season won’t be a cakewalk, with a seven-game road trip in the end of February stretching into the beginning of March, and four of their last five games away from Maloney Field. As for now, the Gators open the season with two home games and play Sonoma State on Friday at 2 p.m.