JOHNSTOWN – The umpire's call of "Play Ball!" and the crack of the a bat against a baseball are two of the sweet sounds of springtime. But for serious ballplayers – and that certainly includes the 29 members of the FM Nine – there are at least three college baseball seasons:  fall, winter, and spring.

The baseball Raiders completed a good and instructive "Fall Ball" season of practice and exhibition play. The team then began their winter conditioning program that ran through the first week of December. Now the squad will break for final exams and a winter respite before resuming preseason practice at the beginning of February.

Photo:  Baseball Raiders working out in the Fitness Center

The 2014 team appears to have the strongest roster that FM has had in years. Over 40 players tried out for the team. The coaches trimmed the squad to 29, and the roster may  stay at that number. The team appears to have good depth on the mound and in the field.

Photo:  Head Coach Dave Hennessy and player Tyler Becker discuss his workout

Favorable weather allowed the team to get in a lot of outdoor practice and play this past autumn. Then the Raiders began their winter conditioning. The squad met three times a week, including early Saturday morning sessions, for strength, flexibility, and conditioning workouts, all with exercises designed specifically for baseball.

Players will continue to work out on their own, and will begin team practices in early February. A few short weeks later, the team will travel to Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina for early games. Their northern season is scheduled to begin on March 29 at Clinton CC, weather permitting. The first home game is scheduled the next day, Sunday, March 30, with FM hosting Clinton in a doubleheader at the FM ballyard.

                          C.J. Bonny, website writer