The Bethlehem Catholic Connie Mack team is returning eight starters from a successful campaign a year ago, and that could mean good things for the 2017 season.

So far it has as the team is off to a 4-0 start as of late last week, already beating South Parkland and Lower Mac.

“Last season was our inaugural Connie Mack season at Becahi but we had great year finishing fifth out of 24 teams in the regular season,” said head coach Jack Daddona. “With that said, and returning eight experienced starters, you can imagine the boys are excited for the year.”

Five of the eight returning starters were also starters for the Becahi high school team: Dalton Daddona (C), Caden Giordano (1st), Grant Hershman (P, Inf), Anthony Indelicato (P, CF) and Jaden Weida (P, OF, 1B).

“We’ll rely heavily on them in order to be successful,” Daddona said. “The rest of the team is coming off a very successful 12-4 JV season at Becahi.”

The three other returners are Robert Church (P, 3B), Joe Peacock (OF, C, P) and Stefan Rollins (P, SS).

Kris Morrow (P, Inf) and Matt Caricari (P, OF) should also be major contributors. AJ Aach (C), Logan Bender (1B), David Ciaccio (P, 3B), Gabe Jauregui (OF) and Cole Roche (OF) are newcomers while Matt Martinez (C, 3B) and Jaden Clements (P, 2B) are incoming freshmen.

“They have definitely announced to each other some very lofty goals so yes expectations are high,” said Daddona.

The league consists of 20 teams this year, and the teams will play against one another once for a total of 19 games.

Last year, Becahi finished just outside the top-four, which would have been an automatic state tournament birth. This year, the Hawks are again aiming for a top-four spot.

Daddona will have a different coaching staff this year. He said he’s excited to coach with Kyle Weida again, someone he was with at Emmaus.

Vinny Caricari was a JV assistant this past season at Becahi and knows the kids and Anthony Indelicato, Sr. will man the bench. Bob Church will handle the book.