HAYWARD, Calif. -- Opening day of the 2017 baseball season is finally upon us, although all four games of this week's series against Academy of Art will feature "weather permitting" asterisks next to them. If the rain holds off, the Pioneers and Urban Knights are scheduled to open the season Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Laney College in Oakland. They'll play another game at Laney on Friday at 6 p.m. under the lights, then head down to Hayward for a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 11 a.m. on Pioneer Field. 

In the program's eighth year since joining NCAA Division II and the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), the Pioneers carry perhaps their highest expectations yet into the season. 2016 was a magical ride in many ways. That squad set the program record with 33 victories, captured a share of the CCAA North Division crown, and qualified for the CCAA Tournament for the first time ever. After reaching the championship game and falling to Chico State, the Pioneers earned their first berth in the NCAA West Regionals since 1977. That squad topped the CCAA with a .315 team batting average, ranked among the toughest teams in the nation to strike out, and was led by All-American third baseman and CCAA Most Valuable Player Rudy Navarro.

This year, the Pioneers have been picked to finish in third place in the CCAA North Division and make a return appearance in the postseason, according to the preseason poll of the conference's 12 head coaches. They were ranked No. 8 in the West Region according to the first D2SIDA media poll. 

Interim head coach Mike Cummins takes over the program after Bob Ralston resigned over the summer. Cummins brings over 35 years of coaching experience in the Bay Area, including stints as head coach at Santa Clara University and San Francisco State. Assistant coach Andrew Ayers is also new to the staff -- the former Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year joins CSUEB after serving as an assistant last year at his alma mater, Sacramento State. 

Navarro has now graduated, along with standout 2016 seniors Chris Porter and Myles Babitt. But the Pioneers nonetheless return a talented core from what was a remarkable offensive club. At the catcher position, Saddleback College transfer Dallas Dey will compete for playing time with sophomore Matt Cantelme and senior Zack Perugi. After batting .329 as a junior, Perugi may see time at designated hitter as well. 

In the infield, Dakota Conners is back for his junior season after an outstanding sophomore campaign as the starting second baseman. He batted .313 with nine stolen bases, 31 runs scored, and just 13 strikeouts in 198 at bats. Senior Troy Resch has a solid hold on the first base position after hitting .314 with a .408 on-base percentage in 2015. The Arcadia native led the team with five home runs, 42 RBI, 29 walks, and 19 extra base hits. Senior Michael Thomas (.290 avg, .379 obp, 12 SB) and sophomore Joey Dice (.268 avg) will likely compete for playing time on the left side of the infield with newcomers Pablo Artero (Fremont, Calif.), Colt Parshall (Oakdale, Calif.), and Jackson Foss (Long Beach, Calif.). Foss will likely slot in at DH as well.

In the outfield, junior college transfers Evan Steele (Clovis, Calif.) and Ray Peterson (San Diego, Calif.) add depth to a group that features seniors Marcus Wise (.286 avg, .358 obp, 18 SB), Raymond Jones (.362 avg, .453 obp, 34 R, 10 SB), Kris Bartlett (.265 avg, .333 obp), and Daniel Goodrich (.281 avg, 4-for-4 SB, 1.000 FLD%).

The 2016 pitching staff posted an unremarkable 4.67 ERA, but it was plenty good enough to support an offense that averaged 6.4 runs per game and broke the program record with 586 total hits for the season. CSUEB's three best hurlers from last season are back, led by junior All-CCAA southpaw Alex Vesia (7-5, 3.30 ERA, 95.1 IP). Junior Jacob Call (4-1, 3.39 ERA, 77.0 IP) was excellent last spring as the No. 2 starter, and junior Andrew Fernandez (5-3, 3.27 ERA, 2 SV, 52.1 IP) impressed in a sort of fireman role. Junior Nick Risucci and New Mexico Highlands transfer Joel Lamont look to fill out the rotation to start the season. Seniors Derek Oetken (3-1, 5.59 ERA, 7 SV), Nick Sergi (4-1, 4.14 ERA, 41.1 IP), and Joshua Kubiske (4-5, 6.07 ERA, 43.0 IP) headline the group of returners in the bullpen. The Pioneer staff also features several talented newcomers, including Feather River College product Bradley Galisatus and freshmen Joey Portugal, Matt Sartwell, and Joe Blair.

OUTLOOK ON THE URBAN KNIGHTS
Academy of Art finished 15-34 last season, the team's second under head coach Dan McDermott. The Pioneers swept them in three games to open the season, allowing just three total runs in the series. They batted .251 and posted a 5.99 team ERA. The Urban Knights graduated their top two offensive players, but return junior Jacoby Barragan, who batted .333 in 21 games last season. They have a pair of solid starting pitchers returning in left-hander Alexander Kuisel (3-8, 4.78 ERA, 86.2 IP) and right-hander Brett Bovee (4-6, 4.83 ERA, 87.2 IP).