JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven Baseball team is set to kick off their 2022 season in just a few short weeks as they look to build on a 2021 campaign that saw them finish the year 20-18 and 15-12 in conference play while also reaching the American Southwest Conference tournament at the end of the year.

The year of 2022 has already started well for the Blazers who saw pitcher Brett Sanchez named to the D3Baseball.com Preseason All-America Third Team earlier this week. Along with Sanchez who was named to a pair of All-West Region First Teams last season, the Blazers are returning four other ASC All-Conference players in Kyle McLaughlin, Nick Lucido, Nathan Herron and Hunter White. 

Here's how the schedule breaks down for the Blazers...

FEBRUARY - The Blazers will open up their season with a three-game series on the road against ETBU on February 11th and 12th before returning to Smith-Wills Stadium for their home opener against Birmingham-Southern on February 15th. Belhaven will then host LeTourneau University for their first home conference series of the season on February 18th and 19th before returning to non-conference action against crosstown rival Millsaps on February 22nd. The Blazers will close the month of February on the road in Austin, Texas against Concordia (TX) on February 25th and 26th. 

MARCH - Belhaven will open the month of March at home against Howard Payne in an ASC series on March 4th and 5th before hosting the University of St. Thomas (Houston) in non-conference action on March 11th and 12th. Belhaven will then travel to Alpine, Texas for a three-game set against Sul Ross on March 18th and 19th before a return to Jackson for a series against UMHB on March 25th and 26th. The Blazers will close the month at home against Millsaps on March 29th. 

APRIL - Belhaven will kick off the final month of the regular season at home against McMurry on April 1st and 2nd before finishing the season series against Millsaps on April 5th. The Blazers are set to host MUW in a non-conference double-header on April 8th before a trip to Abilene, Texas to face Hardin-Simmons on April 14th and 15th. Belhaven is slated to play Hendrix College in a neutral site contest in Millington, Tenn. on April 19th before a return to Jackson for the final home series of the season against Ozarks on April 22nd and 23rd. Belhaven will wrap up the 2022 regular season on April 29th and 30th on the road at UT Dallas with the ASC Tournament set for the following week, May 5th-7th. 

Here's what Head Coach Kyle Palmer had to say on the upcoming season...

"We are looking at one of the most resilient groups of players that I have been around.  When you look at all the adversity these guys have faced and you see them continually show up and put in the work, you know you are heading into the season on the right foot.  I couldn't be more thankful for my staff in Assistant Coach Clay Ardeeser and Graduate Assistant Coach Trip Benson, as well as our trainer Raymond Reimann, strength & conditioning coordinator Aaron Wood, and my academic success director Rebecca Romine.  With their help we have set the stage to have another great season.  Now it is on me to get these guys to maximize their ability so we are ready to take on defending Red Bracket Champion East Texas Baptist University in week one."

To view the Blazers' schedule in full click here. 

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