HANCOCK — With the turn of the calendar to March, the winter sports seasons wind down and the spring sports wind up. This past week, the Finlandia Lions baseball team spent its spring break in Florida, where it played 10 games in six days to start the season off quickly, going 2-8 over that span against the toughest competition they will likely see all season.

The Lions have a new man, but a familiar face to Lions’ fans, at the helm in Evan Brandt. Brandt has spent the last two seasons as an assistant under former manager Steve Nordstrom. The players know him from the recruiting trail, and he hopes that familiarity will help his team bond with him quickly.

“I feel confident,” Brandt said. “Coaching with Nordy set up a successful path for me going into this. I am excited.”

Brandt has another familiar face in the mix in assistant Luke Paul. A Hancock native, Paul holds nearly every pitching record for the Lions, and graduated just two seasons ago, so the older members of the Lions know him and are very comfortable with him.

The Lions return a big chunk of last year’s squad, and that is a good thing, as the 2017 Lions gained valuable experience as a fairly young team.

The roster for the Lions features sophomore Brian Doyle, junior Joey Krug and seniors Aaron Froelich and Josh Gregory.

As a freshman, Doyle, the starting second baseman, proved to be an important cog at the top of the lineup. The Reisterstown, Maryland, native started all 32 games last season and was the Lions’ most consistent hitter, batting .318 with two doubles and 14 RBI. He struck out just six times all season as well.

While Doyle stands just 5-foot-6, Krug, who stands 6-foot-0 and 235 lbs., cuts an imposing figure whether at third base or on the pitching mound.

Krug started all 32 contests last season, hitting .284 with three home runs and a team-high 18 RBI. While his exploits at the plate are impressive, Krug also did some special things on the mound, where he threw the Lions’ first no-hitter in school history in a 9-0 victory over North Central on April 22, 2017.

Krug is a vocal leader in the clubhouse and on the field for the Lions.

“He’s a kid that is very similar to me as a person,” Brandt said. “He’s loud on the field. He’s got an aggressive style of play. He is very vocal. You can’t argue with a kid like that.”

Froelich returns as the Lions’ top hurler this season after appearing in 10 games last year with an ERA of 4.96 and a 2-5 record in seven starts. He only walked 11 and led the team with 38 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .276 batting average.

Gregory, an outfielder, slots into the heart of the Lions’ lineup. What makes him special is ability to run on the basepaths, where he led the team with 17 steals last season. He has 39 stolen bases in his career at Finlandia coming into his final season.

“Josh is just a pure athlete,” Brandt said. “Anytime he gets on base, he’s just a havoc.”

While the returning core is strong, Brandt is excited about the newcomers joining the Lions this season. The Lions have added four transfers. Sophomore Shawn Knutson and junior Brandon Teichman, two guys who grew up alongside Krug, will likely see a lot of action throughout the season.

Knutson, a 5-foot-5 infielder, possesses what Brandt describes as a “cannon” for an arm, a tool that he will have in the lineup immediately. As a transfer, Knutson has the benefit of having seen college pitching, and has already had an impact offensively, hitting .333 through his first three games with the team this season.

“He will start the season as our back up second baseman, but he can play short if we need him to,” Brandt said. “He is a kid with an experienced bat and a very good defensive game. He’s been a huge help for us right now.”

Teichman should give the Lions depth on the mound. He had a rough first outing this season against St. John’s, but Brandt feels he will work through that without difficulty. Also, Teichman’s bat can be a weapon for the Lions as well, which could have him in the lineup even on days he’s not pitching.

“He’s got the opportunity to set a couple of single season records for us right away,” Brandt said. “He throws the ball hard. He’s got good movement. He knows how to control the game on the mound.”

The Lions have 14 freshmen on the roster this season, with players like catcher Ben Loya who could see significant playing time as the season goes along.

The Lions play the bulk of their schedule on the road again this season, but have three doubleheaders scheduled for the final four days of the regular season as they prepare for the American Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament at the end of the season.