It's everyone's favorite time of year on Cape Cod. Opening Day! The Mariners finished their season last year with a 21-16-3 record. They look to bounce back after a heartbreaking loss to the Y-D Red Sox in the championship.

This year's team is filled with returning players who showed out towards the end of last season, and some new faces of players from all over the country.

Field Manager Steve Englert is optimistic with the group of guys he's starting the season with.

"I never like to make that call this early, give me another two weeks. But right now, I'd say it's pretty positive. Good group of kids this year”, Englert said.

Familiar Faces

The Mariners currently have four players from last year's team ready to suit up this season. Players like Ryan Gerety, Bryan Matuschat, Ernie Echevarria, and Adam Arther will all be back and ready to start the season.

Penn sophomore catcher Ernie Echevarria comes back to the Ners ready to compete with the best like he did a summer ago.

“It’s a grind, but it’s one of the best times I’ve ever had on the field,” said Echevaria. “I’m excited to meet a new group of guys and get ready to go.”

Sneak Peek to the Arms

It is gonna be a hard night for any hitter facing these Mariners with guys like Fairfield's Ben Alekson, Northeastern's Andrew Rogovic, UNCW’s Trey Williford, and FAU’s James Litman.

All They Do is Win

James Litman, a sophomore from FAU, had a dominant year with a 8-3 record to go along with 80 strikeouts. Litman finished 2nd in his conference for wins and fourth in his conference for strikeouts. The Mariners are more than happy welcoming one of the top arms in the AAC.

Fairfield's junior pitcher, Ben Alekson had his breakout year with the stags after finishing the year with an astounding 2.47 ERA to go along with his 7-4 record. Alekson’s grind through this gritty mid-major earned him the honor of MAAC Pitcher of the year.

Alekson's success doesn't come easy. He knows that being a successful pitcher comes with patience and keeping him mentally strong. It showed in the Mariners preseason scrimmage where he fell behind having trouble with command. Alekson stuck with playing his own game and later rallied to finish his outing striking out the side.

“I think it’s about winning every pitch. If I make a bad pitch, just win the next one,” said Alekson.

The K-Factory

Trey Williford, a freshman from UNCW, comes into Harwich after having one of the most productive seasons a freshman can have. Williford has elite swing-and-miss ability with his repertoire after striking out 89 batters in 67.1 innings during his first season with the Seahawks.

Northeastern’s Andrew Rogovic will be another young arm for the Mariners to be excited for. The skilled sophomore pitched 39.2 innings going along with 60 punchies. Englert will be more than happy if Rogovic can put up similar stats this summer.

No Metal Bats? No Problem.

If Mariners fans love the sound of the crack of a wooden bat, they will be more than pleased with the sluggers on the team.

It starts with the 6-foot-3 225-pound sophomore from Cincinnati, Quinton Coats. Coats was a must watch TV with the Bearcats this season after crushing 28 home runs alongside his .339 batting average. Coats made history this year setting a home run record for Cincinnati as well as finishing top five in Division I in homers.

Coats isn't trying to overcomplicate the massive change from Big 12 to the CCBL. He believes in his training and knows results will come.

“I did some good things in school that I’m hoping to bring here for the guys, help win some ball games, and hopefully put up a good season,” said Coats.

The Mariners aren't just bringing in a top division I bat. Charlie Bussey III, the redshirt junior from Division II Francis Marion University, had one of the most decorated seasons a Division II hitter could have.

Bussey batted a unimaginable .489 leading all of Division II in average. Bussey also added on 22 homers as a bonus. Most of the players Bussey will be playing with this summer might not have faced him before in college ball but they better start planning for him now.

“I’m not backing off just because I was in D-II. I’m going to keep the same standard, the same mentality,” said Bussey.

What The Coaching Staff Wants Next

Coach Englert made it very clear why he brought these future pros to Harwich for the summer. It was a mix of their production and character.

"We like kids that come out and play hard and compete and want to be here, stay the summer, be a good kid and a good teammate, and respect the host families," said Englert.

As sweet as it would be to add another championship banner to the rafters at Whitehouse field. Coach Englert knows what happens next for these young men is far more important.

"My personal goal is to get as many kids drafted as possible," said Englert. "Coach them up, try to get them better, improve their talent level and showcase their talent. Hopefully in next year's draft, they all get paid."

Mariners look for revenge in the season opener against Y-D in a championship rematch Saturday at Red Wilson Field. This year has all the makings for another historic team. So let's get ready to cheer on the Ners.