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A By The Numbers Look At The Weekend’s Action

Alex Kaminsky (WSU photo)

1…Run allowed in 7 IP by Wright State starter Alex Kaminsky in Friday’s 2-1 win over #1/#2 Virginia.  Kaminsky struckout 7 to earn his first win of the season in a head-to-head dual with UVA sophomore ace Danny Hultzen.

2…Wins in the last two years by the Raiders on a top ranked team’s home field.  WSU beat #1 Georgia last year in Athens.

10…Runs and hits allowed in 2 1/3 innings by Kentucky starter Taylor Rogers in Saturday’s 14-13 win over Monmouth.

0 & 9…Hits allowed & strikeouts recorded in 4 IP by Wildcat reliever Matt Little, who earned the win in that game after allowing just two hits.

10…Hit batters by Monmouth pitchers in the loss to Kentucky to tie an NCAA record.  It’s just the third time a pitching staff has hit 10 batters in a game.

4…Straight hit batters by Monmouth pitchers Andy McDonnell (1) and Stephen Prosapio, who hit Kentucky’s Braden Kapteyn with the bases loaded and the score tied 13-13 to give the Wildcats the winning run.

1…Career home run by 5’9-160 pound Kentucky redshirt junior Neiko Johnson, whose long ball on a 2-2 pitch in the bottom of the 9th inning tied the score at 13 just before the four straight hit batsmen.

103…Runs scored by Georgia State in a 4-game series vs. North Carolina Central.

14…Of the runs scored by Georgia State junior Mark Micowski, who transferred to the school this year after Vermont disbanded baseball last year.  Micowski hit for the cycle in the first four innings of Friday’s 32-3 victory.  He batted .636 with 10 RBIs in the four games.

17…Combined strikeouts by George Washington pitchers Matt Branham and Scott DeCecco in Friday’s 5-1 win over USC Upstate.  The combined effort tied a school record.

210…Career Ks by Branham-whose career high 12 strikeouts in the win made him the 3rd pitcher in GW history to top the 200 K mark.

6…Straight wins by USC Upstate prior to the loss-a record for the Spartans since joining the Division One ranks.

1…Hit allowed by West Virginia’s Jarryd Summers in 8 innings in a 1-0 loss to Western Carolina.  Summers fanned 11 in the loss.  The only hit he allowed was a solo home run by WCU third baseman Tyler Kirkpatrick.

3…Hits allowed by Catamount starter Jason Sullivan-who struckout 8 in 9 shutout innings to improve to 3-0 on the season with the win over the Mountaineers.

Blake Kelso (Houston photo)

9…Strikeouts by Houston’s Michael Goodnight in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Texas at the Houston College Classic.

1…Wild pitch by Longhorn starter Brandon Workman-after a triple by Houston’s Blake Kelso-which allowed the game’s only run to score.

2…Losses by Cal State Fullerton in a 3-game series at Arizona to fall to 4-6 on the season.  The Titans started the year ranked in the top 10 in every poll.

1…Inning pitched by Titan All-American Daniel Renken in Friday’s 8-7 loss to the Wildcats.  Renken was lifted after hitting Wildcat CF Joey Rickard to lead-off the 2nd inning.

3…Walk-off wins by Arizona this season after freshman Seth Mejias-Brean singled home classmate Alex Mejia in the bottom of the 11th inning in that win over the Titans.

8…Strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings by Florida starter Alex Panteliodis in Friday’s 7-1 series-opening win over Miami (FL).

7…Strikeouts in 3 1/3 scoreless, hitless innings pitched by Gator reliever Nick Maronde to earn his first save of the season in that same win over the Hurricanes.

Kevin Chapman

4…Shutout innings pitched by Florida reliever Kevin Chapman in Sunday’s series-clinching 4-2 win over Miami.  Chapman gave-up just one hit with two strikeouts to earn his second save of 2010.

17…Combined strikeouts in 12 innings pitched by Duke starters Eric Pfisterer (10) and Michael Ness (7) who each tossed six shutout innings to help the Blue Devils to a 3-game sweep of Temple.

11…Strikeouts in 6 IP by Florida Gulf Coast ace Chris Sale in a 7-2 win over Wichita State.

2…Home runs hit over the weekend by Middle Tennessee State’s Bryce Brentz.  The outfielder led the nation with 28 HR last year, but he had been shutout through the first two weeks of the season.

1…Loss this season by Washington State after falling 4-1 in Sunday’s finale of a 4-game series with Utah.  The Cougars had started 9-0 for their best opening to a season since 1988.

Steve Fernandez

138…Pitches thrown by Santa Clara starter Alex Rivers in a 4-0 win over San Jose State.  Rivers scattered seven hits with five strikeouts for his third career complete game.

5…RBIs by St. Louis redshirt freshman Steve Fernandez to help St. Louis down Ohio State 10-9 on Saturday.

109…Pitches thrown by West Virginia’s Chris Enourato, who struckout 9 in seven innings of relief to help the Moutaineers to an 11-8 win over Illinois.  Enourato retired 16 of the first 17 batters he faced.

3…Wins by WVU (with seven losses) this season.  Enourato has earned two of the wins and a save in his five relief outings.

16…RBIs in five games by New Mexico State’s Wade Reynoso.  He batted .522 (12-23) with 3 home runs and 11 runs scored as well in wins over New Mexico and St. Joseph’s.

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Six 2009 Semifinalists On 2010 List

USA Baseball announced Thursday its preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List, marking the organization’s first step toward identifying the top amateur baseball player in the country. Sponsored by Major League Baseball, the Golden Spikes Award will be presented in 2010 for the 33rd time.

The Watch List features 50 of the nation’s top amateur talents, and it will be a “rolling” list to ensure that athletes can play themselves into consideration for the Golden Spikes Award, to be presented live on Tuesday, July 13, at the 2010 Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest in Anaheim, Calif.

Headlining the 2010 Watch List are six athletes who were among the 30 semifinalists for the 2009 Golden Spikes Award. Those players are Daniel Bibona (LHP, Sr., UC Irvine), Bryce Brentz (OF/RHP, Jr., Middle Tennessee), Deck McGuire (RHP, Jr., Georgia Tech), Addison Reed (RHP, Jr., San Diego State), Anthony Rendon (3B, So., Rice) and Alex Wimmers (RHP, Jr., Ohio State).

“We’re very pleased to announce the 50 members of the preseason Watch List for the 2010 Golden Spikes Award,” said Paul Seiler, Executive Director/CEO of USA Baseball. “The level of amateur baseball talent in our country continues to rise each year, and there is no greater evidence of this than seeing six 2009 semifinalists named to the 2010 Watch List.”

The list of 50 names also features Bryce Harper of the College of Southern Nevada, a junior. The freshman catcher is the only junior-college player named to the list. Alex Fernandez, as a sophomore pitcher for Miami Dade Community College (now Miami Dade College) in 1990, stands as the only junior-college player to ever win the Golden Spikes Award.

LSU leads all schools with four players named to the Watch List. Texas is second with three, and Alabama, Arkansas, Cal State Fullerton, Coastal Carolina, Florida State, Georgia Tech, University of Miami, Rice and Virginia have two apiece.

The SEC tops all conferences with 15 Watch List players. Other leading conferences include the ACC with 10 athletes, the Big 12 with five, and the Big West and Conference USA with three each. Juniors dominate the list with 35 players named. Sophomores are next with nine players, there are five seniors, and Harper is the lone freshman.

On Tuesday, June 1, USA Baseball officials will cut the list of players to 30 names. The final list of 30 will then be sent to a voting body consisting of select professional baseball personnel, past USA Baseball National Team coaches, select members of the media, former USA Baseball sports information directors, and current USA Baseball staff — about 150 voters in total.

All voters will be asked to choose five players from the list of 30 names. Fan voting will once again be a part of the Golden Spikes Award in 2010. June 1 will also mark the day when college baseball fans from across the country will be able to vote for their favorite player for the Golden Spikes Award on goldenspikesaward.com. On Tuesday, June 8, USA Baseball will announce the five finalists, and voting for a winner will commence that same day.

The 2010 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award will be presented nationally July 13 on an award show via live telecast from Anaheim on goldenspikesaward.com, USABaseball.com and MLB.com in conjunction with All-Star FanFest.

Past winners of the Golden Spikes Award include Terry Francona (1980), Will Clark (1985), Robin Ventura (1988), Jason Varitek (1994), J.D. Drew (1997), Mark Prior (2001), Jered Weaver (2004), Tim Lincecum (2006), David Price (2007), Buster Posey (2008) and last year’s winner, Stephen Strasburg.

2010 USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Important Dates

Thursday, Feb. 18 – 50-player Watch List released, shaped by USA Baseball officials, advisors and college SIDs
Tuesday, June 1 – 30 semifinalists announced, selected by USA Baseball officials; semifinalist voting begins; voters select five
Friday, June 4 – Deadline to vote for finalists, 5:00 p.m. ET
Tuesday, June 8 – Five finalists announced; finalist voting begins; voters to select one
Friday, June 18 – Deadline to vote for winner, 5:00 p.m. ET
Tuesday, July 13 – Golden Spikes Award presentation live at All-Star FanFest in Anaheim

Complete 2010 preseason Golden Spikes Award Watch List:

Name, School, Position, Class (in order of name)

Chad Bettis, Texas Tech, RHP, Junior
Daniel Bibona, UC Irvine, LHP, Senior
Bryce Brentz, Middle Tennessee, OF/RHP, Junior
Michael Choice, Texas-Arlington, OF, Junior
Gerrit Cole, UCLA, RHP, Sophomore
Christian Colon, Cal State Fullerton, SS, Junior
Zack Cox, 3B/RHP, Arkansas, Sophomore
Todd Cunningham, OF, Junior
Blake Dean, LSU, Jacksonville State, 1B/OF, Senior
Sam Dyson, South Carolina, RHP, Junior
Brett Eibner, Arkansas, RHP/OF, Junior
Micah Gibbs, LSU, C, Junior
Sean Gilmartin, Florida State, LHP, Sophomore
Yasmani Grandal, University of Miami, C, Junior
Sonny Gray, Vanderbilt, RHP, Sophomore
Justin Grimm, Georgia, RHP, Junior
Jedd Gyorko, West Virginia, 2B/3B, Junior
Rick Hague, Rice, SS, Junior
Bryce Harper, College of Southern Nevada, C/3B/OF, Freshman
Cody Hawn, Tennessee, 1B, Junior
Chris Hernandez, University of Miami, LHP, Junior
Tyler Holt, Florida State, OF, Junior
Danny Hultzen, Virginia, LHP/1B, Sophomore
Kevin Jacob, Georgia Tech, RHP, Junior
Taylor Jungmann, Texas, RHP, Sophomore
Leon Landry, LSU, OF, Junior
Deck McGuire, Georgia Tech, RHP, Junior
Hunter Morris, Auburn, 1B/OF, Junior
Jarrett Parker, Virginia, OF, Junior
Drew Pomeranz, Mississippi, LHP, Junior
Anthony Ranaudo, LSU, RHP, Junior
Addison Reed, San Diego State, RHP, Junior
Anthony Rendon, Rice, 3B, Sophomore
Daniel Renken, Cal State Fullerton, RHP, Junior
Kyle Roller, East Carolina, 1B, Senior
Cameron Rupp, C, Junior, Texas
Chris Sale, Florida Gulf Coast, LHP, Junior
Jake Smith, Alabama, 3B/RHP, Senior
Josh Spence, Arizona State, LHP, Senior
Tony Thompson, Kansas, 3B, Junior
Preston Tucker, Florida, 1B, Sophomore
Kolbrin Vitek, Ball State, 3B/RHP, Junior
Austin Wates, Virginia Tech, OF, Junior
Cody Wheeler, Coastal Carolina, LHP, Junior
Ross Wilson, Alabama, 2B/SS, Junior
Alex Wimmers, Ohio State, RHP, Junior
Mickey Wiswall, Boston College, 3B/1B, Junior
Kolten Wong, Hawaii, 2B, Sophomore
Scott Woodward, Coastal Carolina, 3B, Junior
Brandon Workman, Texas, RHP, Junior

Ten Questions On The Eve Of The College Baseball Season

A new college baseball season is about to begin.  It’s a season that is started a week earlier than it was originally slated to begin, and one school (James Madison) has already canceled its season opener, because (spoiler) it snows in roughly two-thirds of the country in mid-February.

Anyway, from time to time different thoughts pop into my head and I have managed to corral a few of them here.  So, here are Ten College Baseball Questions For 2010… (in no particular order)…

1.  Can LSU Repeat? The odds say it’s not going to happen.  Oregon State (2006-2007), LSU (1996-1997) and Stanford (1987-1988) are the only teams to win back-to-back crowns since Rod Dedeaux’s USC Trojans ended a streak of five straight titles from 1970-1974.  Paul Mainieri’s Tigers have a lot of key elements returning, like Blake Dean’s bat and Anthony Ranaudo & Matty Ott’s arms, but the odds just aren’t in their favor.  On the other hand…

Russell Moldenhauer (Texas Photo)

2.  Can Texas Be Stopped? The odds (along with a sick pitching staff and a lot of returning everyday players) would seem to be in Augie Garrido’s favor.  The Longhorns return three starters, Taylor Jungmann, Cole Green and Chance Ruffin who could all be just about anyone’s number one starter.  The trio combined to win 26 games last year.  Cameron Rupp, Kevin Keyes and Omaha long ball ace Russell Moldenhauer are also back to lead the offense.  With all that back the biggest question right now seem to be can they stay number one from now until season’s end?

3.  Would An LSU vs. Texas Championship Re-Match Be Good For College Baseball? It would be good for TV ratings, but I don’t know that it would actually be good for the game as a whole.  Does anyone who’s not a Yankees fan think that the cash cow’s 27th title is good for any other MLB team other than the one in the Bronx with the new stadium and overpriced (and often empty) seats?  Texas and LSU at the College World Series is good for college baseball, because it gets casual fans a little more interested.  But when it comes time for all the marbles David vs. Goliath  is just more fun.

4.  Speaking Of David…Who Will Be This Year’s Cinderella? Fresno State was the ultimate Cinderella two years ago, but Mike Batesole’s great-great-great grand children will be playing before we see that kind of run again.  But that doesn’t mean there won’t be more Cinderellas.  They’re quite common when it comes to the CWS.  Fresno State, Southern Mississippi, Louisville, Southwest Missouri State, Notre Dame, and San Jose State all made it to Omaha in the last decade in what was either their first appearance or their first trip after a long CWS drought.  The odds say there’ll be a Cinderella, but the waiting is the hardest (and most fun) part.

Bryce Brentz (MTSU photo)

5.  Will Bryce Brentz Win the NCAA’s Triple Crown? The Middle Tennessee State slugger just about did it last year.  He led the nation with his .465 batting average, and he tied Alabama’s Kent Matthes for the home run title with 28.  Brentz also topped the charts with his .930 slugging percentage, but he missed the Triple Crown with “just” 73 RBIs.  That technically tied for 31st nationally, but Brentz was just 14 RBIs behind NCAA leader Paul Goldschmidt of Texas State.  Logical thinking would say Brentz, now a junior, doesn’t have a chance, but logic never pitched to Brentz.

6.  Can Arizona State Overcome The Loss Of Pat Murphy? Love him or hate him, it’s hard to argue with the success that Murphy had in his 15 years in the ASU dugout.   But it’s not like ASU had never won prior to Murph’s arrival.  He led his team to Omaha four times, but the program has 21 CWS appearances since 1964 thanks to Bob Winkles and Jim Brock.  Now it’s Tim Esmay’s turn to guide the cruise ship Sun Devil.  Esmay, a former Utah head coach, himself played for Brock in Omaha twice, and he was also on Murphy’s staff for the last five seasons.  He also has a lot of experience sitting with him in the dugout.  Ken Knutson is in his first year as an assistant on the ASU staff after 17 seasons as the Washington Huskies’ head coach.  ASU’s line-up is loaded again, and there’s plenty of pitching too.  For now anyway the good ship ASU doesn’t show any signs of running aground.

Jarrett Parker (UVA photo)

7.  Is Virginia The Next National Power Or A One-Hit Wonder? The Cavaliers can hardly be considered a Cinderella.  Yes, last year was their first-ever College World Series trip, but they are from the ACC and they won their conference tournament last year.  Glass slippers aside, it would be easy to write-off UVA as a team that got hot and made a big run.  However, last year’s CWS squad included 23 underclassmen and set 11 school records…and the most prominent components-like Danny Hultzen, Jarrett Parker and Kevin Arico to name a few-are all back this year.  Who saw North Carolina coming prior four years ago?  Mike Fox’s Tar Heels hadn’t been to Omaha since 1989 prior to 2006 & now they’ve gone four straight times.  Cavalier head coach Brian O’Connor has now guided the Cavs to six straight NCAA berths, and he has been a guy whose destiny has always seemed to be Omaha.  He grew-up in the shadow of Rosenblatt Stadium in Council Bluffs, NE, pitched in the ’91 CWS for Creighton, helped Notre Dame get to Omaha in 2002 as the Irish pitching coach, and finally took his own team to the promised land last year…not to mention the fact that his mug is one of the players on the famed “Road To Omaha” statue outside Rosenblatt.  So, if you’re asked what lies in the shadow of the statue the safe answer might be “O’Connor’s Cavaliers”.

8.  Is A Northern Team Ready To Make A Real National Statement? Michigan and Notre Dame flirted with it last decade.  St. John’s has had its moments, and Ohio State and Minnesota have each had some success, but it all comes down to pitching.  Or more specifically, pitching depth.  The biggest difference in teams in the good southern teams and the good northern teams is pitching depth.  There are guys coming out of the bullpen in the ACC and SEC who could be starters on most Big Ten and Big East teams.  Just look at last year’s save numbers in those conferences:  157 in the SEC & 160 saves in the ACC compared to 110 and 121 in the Big Ten and Big East, respectively.  But save totals don’t even tell half the story.

When it comes to playing in an NCAA Regional winning the first game is important, but for a northern team winning the first two games of a regional is critical.  The team that starts 2-0 at a regional is at least one starting pitcher ahead of each opponent it plays the rest of the weekend.  Look at Minnesota last year:  They lost their regional opener to Baylor, then out-slugged Southern 11-8 and Baylor 15-12 atfter that before falling 10-3 to LSU.  They played respectably, but they gave-up 10 runs a game over their last three contests, while LSU gave-up 3 runs with its third starter on the mound.   Ohio State lost 24-8 to Georgia to its regional opener last year, then won 6-4 and 13-6 in elimination games before getting trounced 37-6 by Florida State in game four (game 3 for FSU).  OSU’s starting pitcher gave-up 7 runs without getting an out in that game.  But what about Michigan in 2007?  The Wolverines won the first two games of their regional, lost game three, but then beat Vanderbilt in the deciding game four to advance to a Super Regional.  In 2002 Notre Dame used just five pitchers while going 3-0 at their Regional en-route to being the only northern team to advance to Omaha since the ’80s.  The Irish also used just two pitchers in their two Super Regional wins over Florida State the following week.   It’s no coincidence that in recent years only teams from the south have come back  to win a Regional after losing one of their first two games.

ECU's Kyle Roller (ECU photo)

9.  Is Conference USA The Most Underrated Baseball Conference In The Country? Quick question…what three conferences have sent at least one team to the College World Series in each of the last five seasons?  If you said the SEC, Pac 10 and Conference USA you get the gold star for the day (but remember to raise your hand before blurting out the answer next time).  Rice, Tulane and last year’s darling Southern Mississippi have all gone to Omaha in that stretch.  Terry Rooney left LSU after a trip to the 2008 CWS in part because C-USA had earned a reputation as a three bid league.  But Conference USA didn’t just get three bids last year.  Rice, Southern Miss. and East Carolina all advanced to Super Regionals, and ECU and USM did it by beating South Carolina and Georgia Tech, respectively, in Regional action.  USM then beat Florida on the road to advance to Omaha, Rice lost to eventual National Champ LSU in its Regional while ECU fell to a North Carolina team that made a fourth straight CWS appearance.  C-USA has arrived, and based on the talent the aforementioned ’09 Super Regional teams have back, the conference doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.

10.  Will The Season Just Start Already? Really, aren’t you tired of waiting?  Oops, that’s another question, we don’t have room for eleven.  Is it here yet?  That’s another questions too…

Plenty Of Player Interviews To Get Fans Primed For The Season

LSU Head Coach Paul Mainieri – Reflects on winning the 2009 National Championship.

UT Arlington’s Michael Choice – Talks about his summer with Team USA & upcoming season.

Washington State’s Chad Arnold – On his summer & last year’s record-setting Cougar season.

George Washington’s Marshall Seedorf – Talks about balancing being a college pitcher and swimmer.

UConn’s Pierre LePage – Discusses big plans for 2010 & winning a Cape Cod League title.

Southern Mississippi’s B.A. Vollmuth – On the College World Series run & playing on The Cape last summer.

East Carolina’s Kyle Roller – Cape Cod MVP talks about going farther with ECU this year.

West Virginia’s Jedd Gyorko – On Cape Cod & getting the Mountaineers over the hump.

Florida Gulf Coast’s Chris Sale – Cape Cod Pitching MVP talks about FGCU being NCAA eligible this year.

Middle Tennessee’s Bryce Brentz – The 2009 NCAA hitting & HR leader on growing as a college baseball player.

Villanova two-sport star Matt Szczur – On winning a football national title & plans for the future.

Michigan’s Ryan LaMarre – The preseason All-American on returning Michigan to NCAA Tourney.

OVC Baseball Coaches - A handful talk about moving the OVC Tourney to Pringles Park this year.

Brentz, MTSU Are Preseason Favorites

Will The Sun Belt Race Go Down To The Wire Again?

2009 Regular Season Champion:  Middle Tennessee & Western Kentucky * MTSU and WKU shared the regular season crown based on their identical 21-8 league marks.  The Blue Raiders were the #1 seed at the Sun Belt Tournament, because they won their two head-to-head games vs. the Hilltoppers (game 3 of their series was rained-out).

2009 Tournament Champion: Middle Tennessee beat Louisiana-Monroe 3-1

Banner Year:  Middle Tennessee earned the Sun Belt Conference’s automatic NCAA Tournament bid by winning the league tournament in 2009.  Regular season co-champion Western Kentucky garnered the program’s first-ever at-large bid when it was picked for the Oxford, MS Regional.

On The Way Out:  The University of New Orleans recently announced that it will leave the Sun Belt Conference and the Division I ranks after the current season.  The program plans to begin the transition to Division III.

2010 Sun Belt Conference Preview

Arkansas State

2009 Record:  (23-30, 12-18)

Mascot:  Red Wolves

Head Coach:  Tommy Raffo

Location:  Jonesboro, AR

Vitals:  .296 BA, 34 HR, .393 OBP, .959 Fld%…5.67 ERA, 2 CG, 6 SV, 392 K, 215 BB, .282 opp. BA

Murray Watts (ASU photo)

Heart Of The Order:  Arkansas State loses three of its top five hitters, but the team’s 3 and 4 batters in the line-up, but Todd Baumgartner (.350, 8 HR, 53 RBIs, 13 SB) and Murray Watts (.305, 10 HR, 44 RBIs), both return.  One of those two led the Red Wolves in nearly every offensive category in 2009.  Watts is in his third season at his home town school after redshirting at Arkansas in 2007.  Leadoff man Cody Pace (.282)  is back for his senior season as well.

Pitching Questions:  The pitching staff loses its top three hurlers, Chris Bullington (2-3, 3.95 ERA), Chase Ware (5-3, 4.22 ERA) and Nick Lambert (4-1, 4.35 ERA), from a year ago.  Junior Andy Ferguson (5-5, 4.65 ERA) tied Ware for a team-high with five wins in ’09.

Home Opportunities:  The Red Wolves host 2009 Sun Belt Co-Champs Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky as well as 2009 Super Regional host Ole Miss this season.

Hey Rookie:  Former big league pitcher Jim Morris is the team’s featured speaker at its preseason Grand Slam Banquet.  The movie “The Rookie” was based on Morris’ inspirational and non-traditional route to Major League Baseball.

Arkansas-Little Rock

2009 Record:  (16-34, 7-21)

Mascot:  Trojans

Head Coach:  Scott Norwood

Location:  Little Rock, AR

Vitals:  .274 BA, 51 HR, .380 OBP, .941 Fld%…7.14 ERA, 2 CG, 5 SV, 368 K, 250 BB, .314 opp. BA

Core Four:  The Trojans lose their top overall hitter, Matt Apfel (.325 12 HR, 41 RBIs), but they return four key regulars from last year’s line-up.   Nate Brown (.306, 7 HR, 42 RBIs), Tim Emmons (.292, 10 HR, 32 RBIs), Tyson Parks (.276, 6 HR, 34 RBIs), and Landis Wilson (.274, 2 HR, 25 RBIs) each started at least 44 of the team’s 50 games in 2009.

Trojan Turnover:  UALR has 29 players on its roster (including the four previously mentioned returnees) who began their college baseball careers at other schools (mostly junior colleges).  20 junior college transfers, including 2009 NJCCA All-Americans Cody Giles, Ryan Juris and Casey McCollum, are among 26 newcomers on this year’s roster.

Mound Experience:  Four of the pitching staff’s top five pitchers, Adam Champion (3-7, 5.60 ERA, 13 starts), Sean Potter (2-4, 6.07 ERA, 25 app/6 starts), Anthony Pryor (3-4, 6.99 ERA, 10 starts), and J.R. Boling (2-3, 3.53 ERA, 3 SV), are all back for the Trojans in 2001.  All four are seniors.

Tough Tests:  The Trojans make non-conference  mid-week road trips to four 2009 NCAA Tournament teams – Kansas, Oral Roberts, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss.  They also host Kansas on May 18.

Florida Atlantic

2009 Record:  (30-26, 12-17)

Mascot:  Owls

Head Coach:  John McCormack

Location:  Boca Raton, FL

Vitals:  .313 BA, 59 HR, .396 OBP, .965 Fld%…6.41 ERA, 1 CG, 14 SV, 354 K, 281 BB, .295 opp. BA

Nick DelGuidice (FAU photo)

Balancing Act:  FAU had 12 batters who saw extensive duty in the line-up in 2009.  Seven of them hit between 6 and a team-leading 9 home runs and had between 32 and 52 RBIs (departed William Block led the team in both categories).  Junior SS Nick Delguidice (.321, 6 HR, 38 RBIs) is the only returnee from that group.

Something To Build On:  Nick Albaladejo (.373, 10 RBIs) started just 20 games as a freshman last year, but five of them were in the Owl’s last seven games.  The catcher finished his season by being named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team.  He was 7 for 12 (.583) with four of his total 10 RBIs in three tournament games.  Albaladejo started just four of FAU’s first 23 games, but earned more playing time by hitting .308 in his opportunities.

Owl Arms:  Junior starter Mike Gipson (4-5, 5.93) is FAU’s top returning starter.  He had the staff’s only complete game and also earned a save last year.  Fellow junior Glen Troyanowski (4-3, 5.75 ERA, 6 SVs) is the top arm back in the bullpen.  Sophomore Hugh Adams (3-2, 3 SV) returns as well.

Big East Battles:  The Owls open the season by hosting a 3-game series vs. Big East member Cincinnati.  They also host Big East team Pittsburgh (March 10) and Rutgers (March 16 & 17) in 2010.

Florida International

2009 Record:  (34-22, 18-12)

Mascot:  Golden Panthers

Head Coach:  Turtle Thomas

Location:  Miami, FL

Vitals:  .325 BA, 82 HR, 65 SB, .410 OBP, .958 Fld%…5.74 ERA, 4 CG, 10 SV, 445 K, 167 BB, .297 opp. BA

Is That A Hole Or The Grand Canyon?:  FIU returns six of its top nine batters from last year’s team, but it loses one of the top power hitters in the country.  Tyler Townsend’s 24 home runs ranked 8th in the nation, his .434 batting average was 13th and he was 20th in the NCAA rankings with 77 RBIs.  He was taken by Baltimore in the third round of the 2009 MLB Draft.

Filling The Void:  Senior first baseman Tim Jobe (.364, 10 HR, 48 RBIs) heads the group of top returnees.  He’s joined by Mike Martinez (.335, 6 HR, 37 RBIs), Junior Arrojo (.316, 23 SB), Pablo Bermudez (.313), and Raiko Alfonso (.300).

Panther Pitching:  Two weekend starters, Scott Rembisz (6-3, 4.69 ERA) and LHP Corey Polizzano (4-3, 6.20 ERA), are back to bolster the FIU pitching staff.  Sophomore LHP R.J. Fondon (7-2, 5.05 ERA, 2 SV) and Jorge Marban (4 SV, 24 app.)are among the returning relief corps.

Golden Panthers Go West :  18 of FIU’s first 22 games are in the state of Florida.  The only exceptions are four are games vs. Utah Valley State, Cal-Riverside, Cal Poly, and Arizona State at the Coca Cola Classic March 4-7 in Surprise, AZ.

Louisiana-Lafayette

2009 Record:  (27-30-1, 14-15)

Mascot:  Ragin’ Cajuns

Head Coach:  Tony Robichaux

Location:  Lafayette, LA

Vitals:  .278 BA, 51 HR, 68 SB, .358 OBP, .968 Fld%…5.01 ERA, 2 CG, 12 SV, 374 K, 202 BB, .288 opp. BA

Ragin’ Cajun Returns:  The team brings back six position players from 2009, including 3 of 4 infield spots. Greg Fontenot (.329), RBI leader Chad Keefer (.282, 8 HR, 47 RBIs) and Kyle Olasin (.305, 10 SB) are the top returnees.  Travis Whipple (.329, 8 HR), Scott Hawkins (.303, 10 HR) and Les Smith (.284, 9 HR, 41 RBIs) are the line-up’s  biggest losses.

Returning Pitching:   Senior Zach Osborne (5-3, 3.44 ERA) who had both of the staff’s complete games as well as a save and  junior Michael Cook (5-3, 5.88 ERA) are the top starters to return.  The duo tied for the team lead in wins.  Senior Justin Robichaux (3-3, 1.98 ERA, 2 SV) started six games and came out of the pen11 times last year.  They lose LHP Greg Wilborn, who was drafted in the 18th round by the Dodgers.

Bayou Cookin’:  The Ragin Cajuns play 22 of their first 25 and 46 games overall in Louisiana this season.

Louisiana-Monroe

2009 Record:  (32-27, 12-17)

Mascot:  Warhawks

Head Coach:  Jeff Schexnaider

Location:  Monroe, Louisiana

Vitals:  .325 BA, 85 HR, 65 SB, .415 OPB, .965 Fld%…6.27 ERA, 6 CG, 10 SV, 338 K, 235 BB, .325 opp. BA

So Long Soignier:  ULM loses Ben Soignier, who  led the Warhawks in batting average (.376), doubles (22), RBIs (71), slg% (.628), and on-base percentage (.500) last year.  He also hit 11 HR.  Soignier was drafted in the 18th round by Florida last year after a stellar senior season.

Oh Canada:  Another key loss is OF Jon Prevost (.332, 15 HR, 52 RBIs).  The Montreal native was recently named to the Canadian Baseball Network’s 2009 All-Canadian College First Team.

Boomer Blanchard (ULM photo)

Key Returns:  The Warhawks return four key contributors, Jordy Poche (.365), Perry Smith (.365), Boomer Blanchard (.351, 12 HR), and Matt Laird (.301, 10 HR, 55 RBIs), to this year’s line-up. Blanchard was named 2009 Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year.  Poche also started 12 games on the mound (2 wins).  Fellow starter Don Williams (6-2, 5.72 ERA, team-high 3 CG) also returns along with reliever Corey Brown (4-2, 3.46 ERA, SV).

Bring It On:  ULM opens the season with a 3-game series in Oxford, MS vs. 2009 Super Regional team Ole Miss.  They also face defending national champion LSU in Baton Rouge on March 9th.

Middle Tennessee State

2009 Record:  (44-18, 21-8)

Mascot:  Blue Raiders

Head Coach:  Steve Peterson

Location:  Murfreesboro, TN

Vitals:  .340 BA, 101 HR, .416 OBP, .969 Fld%…5.15 ERA, 5 CG, 16 SV, 392 K, 233 BB, .281 opp. BA

Bryce Brentz (MTSU photo)

The Champ Is Here:  The defending conference champions are led by junior OF/P Bryce Brentz.  The reigning SBC Player of the Year led the nation in batting average (.465), home runs (28-T), and slugging % (.930), while his .535 on-base % ranked 4th nationally.  Brentz was also 5-3 with a 4.57 ERA and a complete game in 14 starts on the mound.

Supporting Cast:  MTSU returns five other tough outs in the line-up with Tyler Burnett (.344, 7 HR), Blake McDade (.340, 6 HR, 51 RBIs), Ben Darlington (.325, 7 HR), Stuart Meinhart (.324, 6 HR), and Drew Robertson (.312) all back.

Staff Ace:  Senior Kenneth Roberts (11-1, 3.04 ERA) is back to lead the pitching staff.  Brentz and senior Chad Edwards (8-2, 5.77 ERA) give the Blue Raiders a solid pitching rotation.

Key Losses:  Rawley Bishop (.398, 14 HR), Nathan Hines (.352, 11 HR, 73 RBIs) and closer Coty Woods (4-3, 1.62 ERA, 15 SV) were all drafted and signed professionally last summer.

SEC Challenge:  MTSU plays home-and-home series vs. in-state rivals Vanderbilt and Tennessee.

New Orleans

2009 Record:  (22-23, 12-18)

Mascot:  Privateers

Head Coach:  Bruce Peddie

Location:  New Orleans, LA

Vitals:  .291 BA, 54 HR, 60 SB, .370 OBP, .948 Fld%…7.76 ERA, 0 CG, 10 SV, 337 K, 220 BB, .312 opp. BA

Baseball Jones:  Sophomore OF Rodarrick Jones (.299,7 HR, 12 SB) was named the New York Collegiate Summer League’s #3 prospect by Baseball America.  In 41 games for Glen Falls last summer he hit .279 with 13 stolen bases and a team-high 25 RBIs.

Locked-In Line-Up:  Including Jones UNO returns its top six hitters for first year head coach Bruce Peddie.  Jr. Jay Morris (.362), Sr. Alan Harris (.344, 9 HR, 44 RBIs), Sr. Nick Schwaner (.332, 12 HR, 53 RBIs, 1.015 OPS), Jared Comarda (.306, 9 HR), and Ryan Eden (.270, 5 HR) combined with Jones to hit 44 of the Privateers’ 54 home runs in 2009.

Privateer Pitching:  UNO returns 12 of its 16 pitchers who saw action last year, including Soph. RHP Joe Zimmerman (3-4, 6.04 ERA, 13 starts) and Jr. RHP Cory Myers (2-8, 9.31 ERA, 11 starts), who were the only hurlers on the staff to reach double digit starts.  The biggest loss is reliever David Burch (2-0, 3.26 ERA, 9 SV).

South Alabama

2009 Record:  (25-30, 13-16)

Mascot:  Jaguars

Head Coach:  Steve Kittrell

Location:  Mobile, AL

Vitals:  .328 BA, 37 HR, .394 OBP, .966 Fld%…6.70 ERA, 1 CG, 10 SV, 387 K, 226 BB, .314 opp. BA

Eddy Cabrera (USA photo)

Two Sport Milestone:  Freshman Eddy Cabrera is also a member of the USA football team.  2009 was  South Alabama’s first season of college football, which makes Cabrera the first player in the 45-year history of the USA baseball program to play both  football and baseball.  The defensive back played in five games last fall and ranked third on the team with two interceptions.

Pitching Questions:  The Jaguars lose three of their top starters, Brandon Sage (3-6, 4.64 ERA), Matt Jackson (5-4, 5.33 ERA) and Miles Ethridge (4-4, 7.38 ERA), who combined to make 35 of the team’s 55 starts last year.  They do return their most versatile pitcher, Lance Baxter (3-3, 3.74 ERA).  The senior southpaw made seven starts and also led the staff with 6 saves.

No Doss:  The Jaguars lose one of the most prolific hitters in program history, David Doss.  The catcher Leaves South Alabama as the Jags’ all-time leader in career hits (312), doubles (70), RBI (197) and at-bats (851).  He hit .378 with 12 HR and 59 RBIs last year before being drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Solid Returns:  USA does return a quartet of solid hitters from last year’s team.  OF Adam Heisler led the Jags with a .309 average while stealing 16 bases,  Jake Overstreet hit .336 with 18 doubles and 4 HR, Clint Reynolds hit .328 with a team-high 18 stolen bases, and INF Zach Grichor hit .306.

Troy

2009 Record:  (33-23, 18-10)

Mascot:  Trojans

Head Coach:  Bobby Pierce

Location:  Troy, AL

Vitals:  .309 BA, 67 HR, .392 OBP, .970 Fld%…6.32 ERA, 0 CG, 13 SV, 382 K, 234 BB, .299 opp. BA

En-masse Experience:  Troy returns 13 seniors, of which 9 are position players.  Eight of those nine have been starters at some point in their first three years.  The team’s top two hitters from 2009, OF Miles Hoyle (.350, 9 HR, 35 RBIs) and 1B Ryan Ditthardt (.327, 7 HR, 54 RBIs) along with OF Chad Watson, (.317, 6 HR, 10 SB) are included in the veteran group.

Significant Losses:  Gold Glove third baseman Brett Henry (.314, 7 HR, 42 RBIs) and team home run leader Trevor Tyre (.324, 11 HR, 36 RBIs) are the two biggest holes to fill in the Trojan line-up.  The pitching staff also loses starters Jason Walls (4-4, 4.73 ERA) and Travis Burge (6-2, 5.47 ERA) as well as closer Chris Sorce (2-1, 3.26 ERA, 5 SV).   Sophomore Tyler Ray (7-3, 4.60 ERA) is the only returning weekend starter.  His seven wins and 62 strikeouts led the Trojans.

CWS Challenge:  Troy plays four games vs. 2009 College World Series teams.  They play a 3-game series at Arkansas Feb. 26-28 as well as one game at Southern Mississippi on March 10th.

Western Kentucky

2009 Record:  (42-20, 21-8)

Mascot:  Hilltoppers

Head Coach:  Chris Finwood

Location:  Bowling Green, KY

Vitals:  .330 BA, 88 HR, .423 OBP, .982 Fld%…5.47 ERA, 1 CG, 19 SV, 450 K, 216 BB, .282 opp. BA

Historic Hilltoppers:  WKU’s share of the Sun Belt Conference regular season crown in 2009 was a program first.  The team also advanced to its first-ever NCAA Regional championship game before falling to Ole Miss.  Their at-large bid was also a first for the program.

No Net Gains:  The Hilltoppers have two huge holes to fill in the middle of their line-up this year.  Wade Gaynor (.371, 25 HR, 78 RBIs, 21 SB) was drafted in the 3rd round by Detroit last year with the 89th overall pick.  The highest draft pick in the Hilltoppers’ 90-year history is also the first WKU player to hit 20 HR and steal 20 bases in the same season.  Chad Cregar (.325, 19 HR, 63 RBIs, 19 SB) was drafted by Florida.  The team also loses 2009 Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year Matt Hightower (7-3, 4.01 ERA), who also hit .300 with 11 HR and 53 RBIs.

Key Returns:  Western Kentucky does return a slew of key players.  Junior catcher Matt Rice is a preseason All-American.  He’s joined in the line-up by Jake Wells Matt Payton and OF Kes Carter, who only started 24 games last year.   Starting pitchers Shane Cameron (5-2, 5.03 ERA) and Matt Ridings (8-2, 4.84 ERA) are back.  Ridings was drafted last June, but opted to return for his senior season.  Eight WKU pitchers combined for 19 saves last year.  Senior LHP Bart Carter (6-1, 6.00) led the staff with 4 saves.

2010 Sun Belt Conference Predictions

Player of the Year:  Bryce Brentz – Middle Tennessee State

Pitcher of the Year:   Kenneth Roberts – Middle Tennessee State

Sun Belt Champion:  Middle Tennessee State

Both Longhorn Teams Are National Runners-Up

LSU’s Ranaudo Tabbed Preseason National Player of the Year

Bryce Brentz Has An April To Remember

Bryce Brentz

during college baseball’s dog days he had achieved Zeus like status.  In 20 April games in the Blue Raider’s line up Brentz his .694 (50 for 72) with 9 home runs, 28 RBIs, 24 Runs, and 8 doubles.

Brentz homered in four straight and 4 out of 6 games in one stretch vs. Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Louisiana-Monroe, and Mississippi State.   The sophomore is a Knoxville, TN native, and the only game in which he failed to homer in that stretch was in his home town vs. the Volunteers.

The 6’0 also made four starts during the month, the best of which was an 8 inning effort with 9 strikeouts against just one walk in a 13-3 win over Sun Belt Conference rival ULM.  Brentz finished the season with a modest 5-3 record and 4.57 ERA, but consider this:  In his four starts as MTSU’s #1 pitcher Brentz struckout a combined 21 opposing batters. In 230 at-bats in the 2009 season Brentz fanned just 32 times himself while leading the nation with 28 home runs.

By season’s end Brentz had put-up just sick numbers.  He led MTSU with a .465 batting average, 28 home runs, and 73 RBIs with a .930 slugging percentage and .535 on-base percentage for a 1.465 OPS.

Brentz tied for the NCAA lead with 28 HR in '09.

His HR total tied with Alabama’s Kent Matthes for the NCAA lead, his slg % was tops in the nation by 68 points over the next closest hitter, and his OBP ranked fourth among individual batters.

Collegebaseball360.com Editor, Sean Stires, talked to Brentz just after his spectacular month of April.  CLICK HERE to listen to that exclusive podcast interview.

Brentz’s efforts helped Middle Tennessee State win the 2009 Sun Belt Conference Tournament and a trip to the Louisville NCAA Regional.

He played for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team over the summer with the likes of Florida State’s Tyler Holt, Michael Choice of UT Arlington, Yasmani Grandal of Miami, and Christian Colon from Cal State Fullerton.

Other Top Moments Of 2009

15.  Clemson’s Kyle Parker Does Double Duty

16.  #1 Arkansas Beats #1 Arizona State

17.  Rhode Island Beats Miami And Oklahoma State

18.  Kansas State’s A.J. Morris beats Arizona State’s Mike Leake

19.  North Carolina’s Mike Fox Wins His 1,000th Game

20.  Illinois Shocks #1 LSU In Baton Rouge

21.  Alabama’s Kent Matthes Launches Longballs

22.  Freshman Levi Michael Starts In North Carolina’s Season Opener

23.  LSU Opens The New Alex Box Stadium

24.  Oregon Brings Back Baseball

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association  has announced its 2010 Preseason All-America Team.  The first team looks like this:

Click Here To See The Complete NCBWA Release (PDF)