First Year Head Baseball Coach Billy Cather has announced his team's captains for the 2014 season. Senior pitcher Jeff Landry (Vestal, N.Y.) joins classmates Ryan Genua (Prospect, Conn.) and Paul-Michael Russo (West Haven, Conn.) as the leaders for the 2014 Lynx.

"Being named captain is an incredible honor for me," said an excited Russo. "I came to Lesley hoping just for the opportunity to hook on with a growing program, and to be named captain four years is an unreal feeling. I am indescribably grateful for the honor, being captain of this baseball team is a dream come true and I couldn't ask for two better guys to be co-captains with."

The three veterans were key pieces of the 2013 team that set a new program mark with thirteen wins, finishing just two games out of the New England Collegiate Conference Championship.

"The only good thing that came out of missing the playoffs was the extra motivation that we have going into the spring," said Genua, who is returning for his second season as captain. "Our goal this year is to make the conference tournament. Having the core of our players back allowed us to start this year off on the same page. We have not only grown as individuals, but as a team."

The team also welcomes Cather, who was named the second head coach in Lesley program history in September, as the new leader of the Lynx.

"From day 1 there has been a presence about him that I think a lot of the guys gravitated to and feed off of," said Russo of the new skipper. "He gained the respect of everyone on the team immediately and I think everyone is determined to play as hard as possible for him."

"With Coach Cather at the wheel I have full confidence that we will be a strong contender in our conference this year and really be successful," said Landry. "He has given the team a new energy, new charisma, and new excitement for the game that has driven us to be even more competitive. We have all the parts and we have the chemistry between us and I am really excited to see us put it all together."

The team enjoyed a successful fall season, which included 12 practices and a double-header against Northern Essex Community College, the defending National Junior College Athletic Association Champions.

"We played Northern Essex two years ago when we were still a really young program," remembers Landry, "and the team they saw then was not the same team as who we are now. Despite the loss, it was a great measuring stick to see how far we have come."

The Lynx will travel to Winter Haven, Fla. and kick off their season in the RussMatt Invitational from March 7^th through March 14^th before returning home for a double-header with Elms College on March 22^nd.