Storm open 2016 season Friday in Arizona

The Simpson baseball team gets the 2016 season underway Friday afternoon when it takes on Marian (Wis.) in a doubleheader on the first day of the Tucson Invitational. The Storm are set to play 10 games against four opponents on their annual trip.

Tenth-year head coach Ben Blake welcomes back six starters and six pitchers from last year's squad that went 14-25 overall and 10-18 in the Iowa Conference. The Storm finished seventh in the IIAC, just outside of the conference tournament field. With two of the team's top offensive weapons returning, Simpson looks to pick up where it left off the 2015 season - a four-game winning streak.

2016 Preseason Quick Facts 

Included in the returners are the top two hitters on the squad in infielder Gage Reis and outfielder Austin Burlin. Reis led the team with a .331 average a year ago while Burlin hit .314. 

Simpson has holes to fill with the departure of center fielder Jake Esdohr and Second Team All-IIAC shortstop Jake Scieszinski. Also gone is staff ace and First Team All-IIAC hurler Matt Pennings, who ate up a team-high 67 2/3 innings last season.

Reis will factor into the pitching rotation again in 2016 after going 1-1 in three appearances last season. The top returning hurler in terms of innings is Brock Borgeson, who went 3-2 with a 6.00 ERA in 42 innings last season. He was the only pitcher on the staff to finish with a winning record.

A LOOK AT THE OPPOSITION

Marian (Wis.) Sabres
Friday, March 4 and Wednesday, March 9
2016 Record: 0-0
2015 Record: 23-19
All-Time Series: 5-5
Last Meeting: 2012, lost 4-3

Wheaton (Ill.) Thunder 
Saturday, March 5
2016 Record: 1-2
2015 Record: 21-21
All-Time Series: Simpson leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: 2014, won 13-6

Aurora Spartans
Sunday, March 6
2016 Record: 1-2
2015 Record: 23-20
All-Time Series: Aurora leads 5-0-1
Last Meeting: 1995, lost 15-0

Bethany Lutheran Vikings
Thursday, March 10
2016 Record: 0-0
2015 Record: 19-21
All-Time Series: 1-1
Last Meeting: 2015, won 3-2