BASEBALL: LIONS RELEASE 2018 SCHEDULE

DUNDALK, MD -- CCBC Dundalk Lions baseball released its 2018 schedule today. Kyle Campbell returns for his third year as head coach. Backing up Coach Campbell are assistant coaches Garth Irwin, Joe Mirabile, Ryan Silcot, and Tripp Staley, and strength coach Travis Hash.

The Lions are looking forward to a competitive season with 15 home games and 19 away games (including a four-day trip to Myrtle Beach). Several non-conference and intra-divisional contests round out the season.

Last season the Lions went 17-30-1 overall and 9-15-1 in conference play.

The 2018 season opens on February 24 with a home doubleheader vs. Rowan College at Burlington (Pemberton, N.J.). Rowan went 28-20 and lost both games to the Lions in their doubleheader meeting last season.

On February 25, the Lions travel to Georgetown, Del. for a doubleheader against Delaware Technical and Community College.  The Roadrunners had an 18-19 season in 2017.

CCBC Dundalk has packed a lot of baseball into the month of March.

March 4-7, the Lions are off to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for the Ripken Experience. The Lions play Kankakee Community College (Kankakee, Ill.) and Danville Area Community College (Danville, Ill.) on March 4. On March 5, the Lions will rematch against Danville.

Two games are scheduled for March 6 as the Lions meet Rochester Community and Technical College (Rochester, Minn.) and Luzerne County Community College (Nanticoke, Pa.). They wrap up the experience on March 7 against PSU Beaver (Monaca, Pa.).

The Lions are back home on March 10 to host regional rival the Community College of Allegheny County – Boyce (Monroeville, Pa.) in a doubleheader.

Delaware County Community College (Media, Pa.) comes to town for a doubleheader on March 11. The Phantoms played 3-11 ball and lost to the Lions in both games of their doubleheader last season.

The Lions welcome region, division, conference, and intra-campus rival CCBC Essex on March 13. In 2017 the Knights went 15-31 (7-19 Maryland JUCO) and fell to the Lions in both of their contests.

There is more region and conference play on March 15 as the Lions host Harford Community College. The Fighting Owls went 51-10-1 last season (24-1-1 conference). The Lions tied Harford (15-15) and lost to them (10-0) in their two matchups in 2017.

Frederick Community College comes to the Lions' Den on March 17 for a doubleheader. Last season, the Cougars bested the Lions in both games of their doubleheader and finished the season at 39-16 (15-11 conference).

The Lions wrap up their 10-game home stand with a doubleheader vs. Lehigh Carbon Community College (Schnecksville, Pa.) on March 18. LCCC went 20-17 in 2017 and topped the Lions in both games of their doubleheader.

Prince George's Community College hosts the Lions on March 20. The Division III Owls played 33-15-1 ball (12-11-1 Maryland JUCO) and split two games with the Lions last season.

On March 22, the Lions are back in The Den against Cecil College. Region XX, Division II, and Maryland JUCO opponents, the Seahawks went 19-28 (15-11 conference) in 2017 and bested the Lions in their two matchups.

Hagerstown Community College is up next in the Lions' last home doubleheader of the month. The Division I Hawks (37-19-1, 15-9-1 Maryland JUCO in 2017) topped the Lions in both games of last season's doubleheader.

The Lions open up a 10-game road trip on March 25 with a double header against Montgomery County Community College (Blue Bell, Pa.).

CCBC Catonsville welcomes the Lions on March 27. The Lions bested their intra-campus rivals in both of their matchups, as the Cardinals finished the season at 30-22-1 (16-9-1 conference).

On March 29, the Lions travel north on Interstate-95 to play Harford for the second time this season.

March wraps up with a doubleheader in Cumberland, Md. against Allegany College of Maryland. The Trojans split a doubleheader and beat the Lions in the last game of last season. ACM finished the season 21-21 (9-17 Maryland JUCO).

The road trip continues into April as the Lions are at CCBC Essex on April 3 for their second matchup of the season.

Garrett College (22-30, 8-15 Maryland JUCO in 2017) hosts the Lions for a doubleheader on April 7. The Lakers bested the Lions in both games of last year's doubleheader.

The road goes on forever and the party never ends as Anne Arundel Community College welcomes the Lions on April 10. The Riverhawks played .500 ball overall (23-23, 14-10 conference) and topped the Lions in both of their matchups last season.

The Lions are back home on April 12 against Prince George's.

The Lions go back on the road April 14 for a doubleheader against College of Southern Maryland. The CSM Hawks finished last season 12-27 (6-20 Maryland JUCO), two of those losses coming at the paws of the Lions.

Montgomery County comes down to the 'Dalk on April 15 for a doubleheader.

On April 17, the Lions travel to Cecil in a rematch from March.

The Lions will return the favor from last month and host CCBC Catonsville on April 19.

Maryland's Montgomery College comes to the Lions' Den on April 21 for a doubleheader. The Raptors from Rockville went 25-25 (9-14 Maryland JUCO) last season and lost to the Lions in their only contest.

The Lions goes up against Chesapeake College on April 22 for an away doubleheader. The Division I Skipjacks (29-19-1, 12-9-1 conference) bested the Lions in both games of their doubleheader last season.

In their second matchup this month, the Lions host Anne Arundel on April 26.

April 28 will bring a doubleheader vs. Luzerne County to the Lion's Den. Luzerne and Dundalk will not have squared off since March 6 at the Ripken Experience. Last season, the Lions lost to the Trailblazers (14-15) in both games of a doubleheader.

The Lions wrap up the regular season on April 29 with a doubleheader against Ocean County College in Toms River, N.J. The Vikings finished last season 23-20 and split a doubleheader with the Lions.

Postseason play sees the NJCAA Region XX Division II Tournament May 8-13 at CCBC Catonsville (Catonsville Md.).

The Northeast District Tournament is May 18-19, location TBD.

The NJCAA Baseball Division II Championship tournament begins May 26 at the David Allen Memorial Ballpark in Enid, Okla. The tournament continues through June 2.

Coach Campbell is anxiously awaiting the season's first pitch. "The guys have been working really hard this off-season, and we are very excited to get the season underway," Coach Campbell tells us.  He adds "While young, I feel this year's team is loaded with talent across the board. Remaining healthy and getting our freshman to step up early and compete at this level will ultimately determine our success during the season. We are hoping to grow as the year progresses and battle for a chance to win the Region XX Division II tournament at season's end."