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2015 SCHEDULE | 2015 ROSTER | 2014 FINAL STATISTICS
 
SAN FRANCISCO—Baseball is just around the corner and the San Francisco Dons are ready for the 2015 campaign to begin. As the team begins practice, here is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2015 team.
 
The Dons finished last season with a 25-29 record and 11-16 in conference, which followed a season in which they reached the NCAA Regional for the second time in three years. USF returns a slew of veterans as well as 17 newcomers to the Hilltop as they look to return to the postseason.
 
USF is looking to rebound after a disappointing 2014 and they are prepping themselves with a grueling preseason schedule, which includes 12 straight on the road to begin the season. They will play 2014 College World Series participant Texas Tech, New Mexico, Oregon, and Stanford as part of the nonconference schedule.
 
The season begins on Feb. 13 at Texas Tech.
 
JAN. 27: INFIELDERS | JAN. 30: CATCHERS/DESIGNATED HITTERS
FEB. 4: PITCHERS | FEB. 6: OUTFIELDERS
 
INFIELDERS
The Dons lose some key pieces around the diamond, including All-WCC performer Zack Turner and starting third baseman Bob Cruikshank, but bring back a good amount of experience back to the infield this season and that is highlighted by the return of senior first baseman Brendan Hendriks.
 
Hendriks split time between first base, leftfield, and being the designated hitter in 2014 and had a breakout season. He hit .287 with six home runs, three triples, a team-high 19 doubles, and 39 RBI and was named to an All-WCC honorable mention.
 
One of his six home runs was a towering shot that was hit onto Masonic Avenue.
 
He kept it rolling through the summer as he hit .298 with a home run and 15 RBI for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod League.
 
"I think he's in a position where he's going to have a great year both offensively and defensively," San Francisco head coach Nino Giarratano said. "He continues to work hard at the game."
 
USF also returns its starting shortstop, Nico Giarratano. The sophomore started all but one game as a freshman, finished with 22 RBI (fourth on the team), and was named to the WCC All-Freshman Team. His summer was just as eventful as he hit .339 in his final 19 games with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox and helped them to a Cape Cod League championship.  
 
"Having played every day as a freshman and having gone out and having a really good summer and won a championship in the Cape, he's seasoned and ready to be a great performer in the conference at that position," Nino Giarratano said.
 
Both second and third base are up for grabs and the competition includes a mixture of returners and newcomers.
 
At second, Michael Eaton appears to be penciled in as the starter after making 34 starts last season and holding down a .981 fielding percentage. He also had an impressive summer for the Healdsburg Prune Packers and hit a team-high .347 with three home runs and a team-best 16 doubles.
 
"Eaton, who really played his first full season last year, there were times he struggled in and out of the lineup," Giarratano said. "I think he will have the experience necessary to be a solid defensively player for us at second base."
 
Zack McCoy, who spent three seasons with Portland, will likely be a role player as a utility infielder and could earn starts at second, third, or at shortstop and his speed is an asset Giarratano is looking forward to seeing in action.
 
"We're excited what Zack adds to us from a speed standpoint."
 
Matt Sinatro returns for his sophomore season after he made 47 starts in 2014 and was a sparkplug for the team. He will likely be called upon to fill the utility role and get playing time at second, third and in leftfield.
 
"Matt's capable of playing those positions and gives us a left handed bat in that part of the lineup," Giarratano said.
 
Western Nevada College transfer Jack Hall will also be vying for playing time.
 
Freshman Ross Puskarich has a chance to win the starting job at the hot corner. He hit .459 with six home runs and 33 RBI in his final season at Liberty High School (Bakersfield, Calif.) and kept it up in the summer where he hit .385 with 25 RBI for the Ohio Warhawks, helping them to a 52-2 record.
 
McCoy and Sinatro are also vying for the starting nod at third.
 
"We're looking forward to some youth, looking forward to solidifying what we did," Giarratano said. "We led the conference in defense and we finished eighth in the conference. I don't know how much better we can get defensively but we're definitely going to have to get better as a team."