MOUNT VERNON – A new season comes with a lot of opportunities for Cornell's youthful baseball team in coach Robbie Dombrowski's fourth year at the helm.
 
The Rams will roll out essentially a brand new lineup on opening day, looking to replace nine starting position players and 77 percent of their innings pitched.
 
"This is a fresh start," said Dombrowski, who guided the Rams to 20-win seasons in 2023 and 2024. "This season presents new opportunities for our new guys and others who haven't played as much. I'm excited for them. These guys are here for the right reasons and want to be Rams."
 
Cornell is scheduled to open the season with an early four-game homestand against Lakeland Feb. 28-March 1 at Ash Park Field. The Rams then head to Florida for nine varsity games over Spring Break March 6-13.
 
The 21-game Midwest Conference slate gets underway March 28-29 with a three-game home series against defending MWC regular season champion Lawrence.
 
Senior outfielder Jackson Hill and senior pitcher/infielder Garrett Roehl will be counted on as leaders on the young team, which features 19 freshmen and sophomores.
 
"Jackson and Garrett have been patient waiting for their turn," Dombrowski said. "They've both worked their tails off and have an opportunity to have huge years. They've done a great job leading this group."
 
Pitcher Nate Pacetti and pitcher/infielder Thomas Hunt are the team's lone other seniors. Hunt started 17 games last season, including six on the mound where he posted 29 strikeouts and a 5.30 earned run average in 37.1 innings pitched. Hunt batted .325 with a .450 slugging percentage.
 
The pitching staff returns sophomore right-hander Logan Gannon and key reliever Lucas Brutsche, a junior. Gannon led the Rams with 40 strikeouts over 39.2 innings while starting eight games. Brutsche has made 27 appearances and logged 76.0 innings over his first two seasons.
 
Gone from last year's 14-25 squad are five all-conference players, including the program's all-time hits leader in Kale Rose.
 
"The toughness of this team will be the determining factor for our season," Dombrowski said. "We're going to be better defensively and on the mound, and we're going to manufacture runs. We just need to play as a team for 40 games, which is really important in baseball."
 
The Rams are projected seventh in the MWC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Defending MWC Tournament champion Beloit is picked to win the league with 48 points and six first-place votes. Grinnell is second, Monmouth third and Illinois College and Lawrence tied for fourth.