By TRACY WATSON

For The Times Leader

BRIDGEPORT – In his third year at the Bulldogs’ helm, Bridgeport Coach Zach Winland welcomes back just three starters from his 2019 baseball team but does have a group of 11 seniors and juniors on a roster that had six players pick up diplomas last year without getting to finish their respective high school careers.

“We have three one-year starters coming back, but it really stings that we lost those six kids from last year and lost that season,” Winland said. “This will be my fourth year in the program, so I have built a nice relationship with these seniors and juniors and there isn’t much that needs to be explained to those kids.”

The three returning starters, all seniors, will be shortstop Cooper Dulesky, catcher/3B Neil While and Dylan Gregorcic, who will be the team’s leading pitcher when he isn’t playing center field.

Seniors Jason Marling and Corey Meersseman and junior CJ Fouty will all see playing time at first base, with Meersseman also available in the outfield, while senior Zach McKivigan will play left field.

Junior starters will include Aiden Tarr in center field and Sean White in right field while freshman Alex Moore will get the opening day call at third base.

Ciarian Flanagan, a junior letterman, will see action at second base and on the mound with classmate Frank Smith providing depth in the outfield.

The remainder of the roster will include sophomores Tristian Garcea (OF), Peyton Pyle (OF, 2B) and Asher Stockwell (OF) along with freshman Isaiah Lacy (C, OF).

Along with Gregorcic, Flanagan and Fouty will both be counted on heavily on the mound.