It’s baseball season at Alpena Community College. The Lumberjacks began fall practice yesterday with 28 players at Veterans’ Field in Ossineke.

“There was a lot of excitement to get things rolling this fall and get after it on the field,” ACC coach Rob Enslen said. “The guys had great energy all day.”

Enslen was hired in June to revive the ACC program which has been dormant since 1973. He played four years at Division 1 Oakland University.

Matt Thompson and Luke Tucker, Alpena High graduates, just take their talents down the road a few miles, while ACC was a seven-hour drive (and move) for Justin Abel, a pitcher from Warren, Ohio.

“We’re super excited about the guys we have here,” Enslen said. “We have a fair share from northern Michigan which was a goal, but we’re excited about all of our guys. They play baseball at a high level.”

The 29-man roster is heavy on players from northern Michigan, featuring players from Bear Lake, Boyne City, Brimley, Cheboygan, Clare, Hale, Indian River, Onaway, Rogers City, Sault Ste. Marie, Traverse City and Whittemore.

The Lumberjacks will open the regular season at Owens Community College on March 17. The home opener is scheduled for April 21 against Bay College.