In the Penn State baseball clubhouse, it's been hard to ignore the energy. A new stadium will be home for a team made up of fresh faces, giving new hope to a squad that puttered to a seventh place finish in the conference.

A steadier pitching rotation and a more potent lineup have excited third year head coach Robbie Wine, who is quick to admit that this team appears to be the best in his tenure.

"Right from the end of last year we started looking forward to this year. The original long-term plans when we came on board here were eye-balling this year to be our big year," Wine said. "It's scary how happy we are with the team and how things are going this last year with the opening of the new stadium and facilities and how much more work we're getting done in a shorter amount of time."

On May 17, Wine surprised his team by telling them that they would be finishing the day's practice at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, more than a month before the State College Spikes played the first game there. Since then, its convenient and state-of-the-art facilities have relaxed the Nittany Lions, used to juggling their time between Holuba Hall and the Multi-Sport Facility.

"[The stadium has] really helped us get better with pick-offs and run-downs, the simple things that good teams have to do," junior shortstop/pitcher Scott Gaffney said. "People are in and out, and it's really convenient."

Still, Wine isn't letting the Lions get so hyped up that they let their guard down. A crowd of young players and junior college (JUCO) transfers will be expected to fill holes in the lineup card, holes that played a part in Penn State losing more close games than it won.

JUCO transfer Robert Yodice will be manning the backstop, catching for a reconstructed pitching staff, including newcomers junior starter Ryan Stobart and sophomore reliever Drew O'Neil, who may have the heads up on the closing job. Fifth-year senior Matt Ogrodnik set a school record for appearances and will be returning to the bullpen, and lefty Craig Clark is penciled in as the No. 1 starter.

Though new additions will factor heavily into Wine's game plan, some familiar names return to the roster. Senior infielder Matt Cavagnaro is back after a breakout year in which he hit .292 with 31 RBIs, and sophomore Cory Wine, a promising first baseman and the coach's son, will bat cleanup.

"There is a whole lineup that each guy complements the next. The group that we have around Matt Cavagnaro will make him better," Robbie Wine said. "In a game there isn't that in-game pressure of 'you have to drive this run in' as opposed to 'if I put a good swing on it and if nothing good comes of it, another guy will pick it up.' "

The Lions are looking for the added talent and experience to help them pick up those pesky one-run games that eluded their win column in 2006. Though they start the season with a string of 14 road games until March 21, the prospects of a new home-field advantage should at least provide them with something to spark them away from home.

"The fans will be a great addition. At the old field we couldn't get as much support as we would like," Gaffney said. "At the new park, the playing surface is great, top of the line, and with the crowd and home-field advantage. We played on it in the fall, and we know the nooks and crannies of everything and the way the ball jumps and way the ball rolls fast, where the ball is going to die...

"I think everyone is really excited for a great atmosphere to play in and that is all you can ask for."

GRAPHIC: PROJECTED BATTING ORDER

2B Matt Cavagnaro (SR)

LF Brian Ernst (JR)

DH Joe Blackburn (JR)

1B Cory Wine (SO)

3B Mike Deese (JR)

C Robert Yodice (JR)

SS Scott Gaffney (JR)

RF Rick Marlin (SO)

CF Garrett Field (SO)