As the fall season for the Lincoln (PA) University baseball team comes to a successful end, the attention now turns to the 2024 spring season. After a record setting 2023 season, the Lions are poised to exceed last year’s success. The experience of the team will finally be a strength as the 10 seniors and 5 juniors have played many impactful innings during their careers.
The 10 seniors have left an undeniable mark on the program with two looking at the opportunity to break multiple career records. Alex (AJ) Jones, is in his 5th season after COVID ended his freshman year (2020). Jefry Azcona, in his 4th season, arrived the following season (2021). Both players are looking up at Melvin Robinson (2008-11), who holds nearly every career offensive record. Both players are within reach of Robinson for hits and total bases, while Jones also is within reach of his record in doubles and RBI’s. Azcona has the opportunity to reach the career mark in stolen bases, also held by Robinson.
| HITS | RBI | 2B | TB | SB | |
| Robinson | 128 | 85 | 30 | 218 | 37 |
| Jones | 93 (-35) | 50 (-35) | 22 (-8) | 144 (74) | |
| Azcona | 80 (-48) | 41 (-44) | 16 (-14) | 102 (-116) | 31 (-6) |
While the pair of seniors in Jones and Azcona are eying some historic offensive numbers, another career mark is in serious jeopardy of being surpassed. Junior Conner Jones has entrenched himself as a viable multi-appearance reliever in his first two seasons as a Lion. He has produced the 1st (18) and 2nd (16) most appearances in a season. Jones, with 34 appearances, is now 1 behind Josiah Bowles (35) and 2 behind Rolando Alvarez (36) for the most appearances in a career.
The contributions of so many players during the fall leaves room to be hopeful that last year is just the beginning of something great brewing for the 2024 season. With so many key returners and newcomers, it is difficult to single out many players, but the strikeout tandem of RHP David Esteves and 2-way standout Jaden Greenidge, should anchor a much improved pitching staff.
This year’s Lions staff should see as many as 15 players appearing, including 5 seniors, 2 juniors, 6 sophomores and 2 freshmen. Junior outfielder Miguel Agramonte and junior Infielder Wesley Hogan swung the bat well over the fall while the team, as a whole, improved its approach at the plate. Several players had solid defensive performances and the team played a much improved brand of team baseball.
The Lions will open up the 47 game spring campaign at the Peach Tree Classic on February 9th against Morehouse. The Lion’s first 6 opponents are HBCU programs before returning to the Mid Atlantic for a bulk of the non-conference match ups. During this time, the team will get a firm handle on the roster, as they prepare to take on a very balanced East Coast Conference (ECC) schedule.