The Wesleyan baseball team, which finished 19-16 last year and edged out Amherst for a spot in the NESCAC tournament after going 7-5 in in league play, will look to build on its 2009 success behind the strength of 17 returning letter­men and an infusion of young talent with six freshmen. Among those returning to the mound for Wesleyan in 2010 is Yarusi, who as a freshman led the team with a 3.50 ERA, the fifth-best mark in the NESCAC last season. Yarusi posted a 3-3 record last year while logging 43.2 innings, fourth on the team. He fanned 44 hitters last season, the second-best total on the squad, and held opponents to a staff-leading .279 average while allowing only 11 extra-base hits including no home runs. This ace-in-the-making appears poised for a breakout season, and may cement himself among the NESCAC’s elite pitchers.

Yarusi will be aided by a defense which ranked first in the NESCAC last year with a .953 fielding percentage, and is returning its entire infield and outfield except for shortstop and left field. Five newcomers look to add talent and depth to the rotation, and the Cardinals return 11 of 16 regulars from a lineup that combined for a .328 batting average, .406 on-base percentage, and 23 home runs. Given its strength around the diamond, Wesleyan should have no problem build­ing on its 2009 success this spring.