PINE BLUFF, Ark.- UAPB Baseball will open spring practice this Friday in preparation for its season opener against the University of Arkansas-Little Rock on February 17.
 
While the Golden Lions return seven lettermen from last year's ball club including junior pitcher Michael Newby, the 2012 squad will also consist of fourteen new faces. In the January edition of Collegiate Baseball Magazine, Newby along with newcomers Tyler Hill, Jordan Sechler, and Christian Weeber were recognized as "Players to Watch" in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
 
"This is always an exciting time of year knowing that the start of the regular season is just around the corner," noted second year Head Coach Carlos James. "The players have done an outstanding job with their individual workouts, and now it's time to let them transfer their hard work onto the diamond and compete."
 
Additionally, Boydsworld.com recently tabbed UAPB's "out-of-conference" schedule as the 24th toughest in the country playing the likes of Alabama, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Oregon State, and others.
 
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