Bowling Green, KY – As UPIKE baseball gears up for a busy 2021 campaign, three Bears have earned a spot on the first ever Mid-South Conference Baseball Preseason Watch List. Two returners, Eduardo Bello and Noah Helton grace the list as well as newcomer Nolan Fernandes.

Catcher and utility player Eduardo Bello claims a spot as a talent to keep an eye on in 2021 after swinging for 16 hits and 16 RBIs for UPIKE a season ago. Prior to his first season with the Bears, Bello spent a season at Columbia State where appeared in 35 games for the Chargers.

One of just four players to start in 23 of 24 games in 2020, Bello has become a reliable threat at the plate, leading the team in walks and landing in the top five in on-base-percentage at .433. The La Riviera native slugged four doubles and a pair of homeruns for Coach Hamilton's squad, tallying four multi-hit outings.

Another Bear entering his second season, Noah Helton is on the conference radar in 2021. A 6'2 outfielder from Somerset, KY, Helton quickly stepped into a productive role for the Bears offensively. Helton slugged a team-high 26 hits in 75 at-bats in 2020, wrapping up the short season with a .347 batting average.

Switching between left field and DH, Helton was consistent at the plate and let the team with an on-base percentage of .479. On the field, Helton had a sure glove as shown by his 37 put-outs without recording a single error.

From Chino, California – Nolan Fernandes claims a spot on the list as he prepares for his first season with UPIKE baseball. Prior to signing with the program, Fernandes spent a season with Muskingum University where he made a name for himself as a go-to starter for the Muskies rotation. The 6'2 right-handed freshman took the mound for 10 starts, leading the team with 46 strikeouts.

Fernandes' best performance for the Muskies came in his 10-inning, one-hitter victory over Capitol in April of 2018. Following the win, Fernandes was named OAC Pitcher of the Week.

UPIKE baseball is just 17 days away from their 2021 opener with Indiana University Southeast on the road. The Bears will face the Grenadiers in a three-game weekend series with a double-header
slated for a 1PM start on Friday, February 5^th followed by a single 9-inning matchup on Saturday.