The First Report Of The Baseball Season

Competitive Southland Looks For Another Mult-Bid Season

2009 Regular Season Champion: Texas State

2009 Tournament Champion: Sam Houston State defeated Texas State 7-1 to win its 3^rd straight Southland Conference Tournament Championship.

Two Southland Conference teams qualified for the NCAA tournament last season as both tournament champ Sam Houston State and regular season champ Texas State made the field.  It marked the sixth time in conference history that multiple teams earned bids to the NCAA tournament, and the first since 2005.

With 21 conference players selected in last June’s MLB draft, the Southland Conference may be a “mid-major”, but can boast of a rich baseball heritage.

This season, Texas State and Sam Houston State are favored to finish 1-2 in the standings, but several other teams are looking for banner seasons themselves.  Will it be a repeat of 2009, or will another team breakthrough?

Central Arkansas

2009 Season: (22-30, 10-21)

Nickname: Bears

Head Coach: Doug Clark

Location: Conway, AR

Vitals: .309 BA, 51 HR, .360 OBP, .962 Fld. %…5.58 ERA, 8 CG, 10 SVs, 337 K, 214 BB, .290 Opp. BA

Bobby Pritchett

Strong Hitters: Central Arkansas was a strong hitting team last year and return 3 of their top 4 hitters this season.  The offense will be led by Sr. OF Tye Throneberry (.374, 4 HR, 34 RBI), So. 2B/OF Jordan Getchell (.333, .467 OBP, 6 SB), and Sr. INF Bobby Pritchett (.327, 5 triples, 2 HR).

Pitching Staff: In addition to being one of the top hitters, RHP Bobby Pritchett (4-5, 4.85 ERA, 1 CG, 5 SVs) is the top relief pitcher returning.  While the starting rotation will be hurt with the loss of Jeremy Cloud (4-6, 5.92 ERA, 5 CG), the Bears return Jr. RHP Reece Cross (4-4, 4.48 ERA, 2 CG).

Lamar

2009 Season: (38-22, 20-13)

Nickname: Cardinals

Head Coach: Jim Gilligan

Location: Beaumont, TX

Vitals: .304 BA, 52 HR, .403 OBP, .969 Fld. %…4.44 ERA, 2 CG, 9 SVs, 466 K, 209 BB, .277 Opp. BA

Eric Harrington

Another Strong Season: Lamar’s 38 wins last year marked the ninth consecutive year the Cardinals won over 30 games, and were the most since they won 41 games in 2004.  Also, for the eighth time in school history s member of the team was named a Freshman All-American.  RHP Eric Harrington (8-1, 3.01 ERA, 63 K) earned honors from both Louisville Slugger and the NCBWA on his way to being named Southland Conference Freshman of the Year.

Newcomers: Lamar brings in 22 new players on this year’s roster, while only returning 18.  The first-year players include 8 freshman, and 14 junior college transfers.  The young team will be led by Sr. OF Quentin Luquette (.316, 4 HR, 33 RBI).

Fleet Feet: The Cardinals stole 92 bases as a team last season, but return players that stole only 33 of that total.  Gone are burners Tyler Link (.369, 15 SB), and Jeremiah Sammy (.310, 14 SB).

McNeese State

2009 Season: (21-30, 10-22)

Nickname: Cowboys

Head Coach: Terry Burrows

Location: Lake Charles, LA

Vitals: .316 BA, 60 HR, .410 OBP, .965 Fld. %…7.60 ERA, 1 CG, 8 SVs, 319 K, 212 BB, .318 Opp. BA

Lee Orr

Looking Forward: McNeese State struggled at times last year, winning only 10 league games, but with 21 returning letterwinners, including 10 seniors, the Cowboys believe they could show a marked improvement this season.

Offensive Attack: The Cowboys were a good hitting team in 2009, and bring back several top hitters led by preseason 2^nd team All-Southland Conference selection So. OF Lee Orr (.301, 15 HR, 57 RBI).  Also back is two-sport star and leading hitter So. INF Jace Peterson (.366, 3 doubles, 13 SB), and Sr. INF Matt Fontenot (.343, 7 doubles, 3 HR).

Two-Sport Cowboy:  Peterson is also a safety on the McNeese State football team.   He had 39 tackles, three sacks and an interception during the 2009 football season.  He is one of more than 35 two-sport college baseball players who have been in our Two-Sport Reports throughout the fall.

Big Games: McNeese takes on CWS participant Arkansas and defending national champion LSU in the non-conference slate.  They also travel to Louisiana Tech, and play Dallas Baptist at the Lamar Tournament

Nicholls State

2009 Season: (19-32, 9-23)

Nickname: Colonels

Head Coach: Chip Durham

Location: Thibodaux, La.

Vitals: .271 BA, 11 HR, .350 OBP, .952 Fld. %…4.97 ERA, 1 CG, 8 SVs, 288 K, 171 BB, .292 Opp. BA

Uphill Battle: Nicholls State is picked to finish last in the Southland Conference by both the coaches and SIDs.  They finished just a half game ahead of A&M-Corpus Christi in the standings in 2009.  Their top returning player Sr. OF Scott Moseley (.346, 12 doubles, 37 RBI) is a preseason 2^nd team All-SLC pick, but is coming back from offseason hip labrum surgery.

More Two-Sport Guys:  Senior Kyle Hughes plays linebacker for the Colonels football team, while freshman OF Mike Barba is also a wide receiver at Nicholls State.  Hughes had 39 tackles with an interception in 2009.  This is Hughes’ first season on the baseball team.  He is listed on the roster as a right-hand pitcher.

Minimum Travel: The Colonels will keep the miles off their schedule this year playing in only four states all season.  36 of their 52 games will be played in Louisiana, 12 in Texas, 3 in Arkansas, and 1 game in Alabama.

Northwestern State

2009 Season: (26-26, 18-13)

Nickname: Demons

Head Coach: J.P. Davis

Location: Natchitoches, LA

Vitals: .308 BA, 53 HR, .383 OBP, .958 Fld. %…6.98 ERA, 2 CG, 14 SVs, 342 K, 220 BB, .316 Opp. BA

Chase Lyles

Preseason Hype: Northwestern State is only predicted to finish 7^th in the conference this season, however, they bring back several top players that could form a great foundation for success this year.  Leading the charge is preseason 1^st team All-conference Sr. SS Trent Grondin (.324, 60 H, 11 doubles), 2^nd team All-SLC Sr. 3B Chase Lyles (.362, 14 HR, 17 SB), and 2^nd teamer So. P Chad Sheppard (4-1, 2.34 ERA, 10 SVs).  Sheppard is also a preseason All-Ping! Preseason All-American, and needs just 7 saves to become the school’s all-time saves leader.

Tough Tests: The Demons will have several tough non-conference games this year, starting with a season-opening trip to 2009 CWS participant Southern Mississippi.  Other contests include home-and-home games with national champ LSU, and trips to Texas A&M and Mississippi State.

Sam Houston State

2009 Season: (36-24, 18-14)

Nickname: Bearkats

Head Coach: Mark Johnson

Location: Huntsville, TX

Vitals: .328 BA, 48 HR, .402 OBP, .971 Fld. %…5.10 ERA, 6 CG, 12 SVs, 470 K, 213 BB, .300 Opp. BA

Johnson’s Dominance: Mark Johnson wrapped up his third season at Sam Houston State with his 3^rd Southland Tournament Title as the Bearkats defeated Texas State 7-1.  It was the 8^th SLC tournament title in school history and it earned them their 6^th NCAA tournament trip.  Johnson enters the 2010 season 11 victories shy of 1000 career wins.

Mound Strength: The Kats return only 11 of 24 letterwinners from last season, but do return 3 starting pitchers and their top reliever.  The staff is led by Jr. RHP Matt Shelton (7-0, 1.99 ERA, 2 SVs), Jr. LHP Brent Powers (3-2, 4.77 ERA, 61 K), and Jr. RHP Justin Jackson (3-0, 5.75 ERA, 21 APP).

Fresh Faces: In addition to 11 freshman joining the roster in 2010, several talented transfers from top baseball programs will also be eligible this season.  Those coming to SHSU include C. John Hale (Rice), OF Jared Wondra (Louisville), P/OF Michael Heard (Texas A&M) and 1B Taylor Davis (LSU).

Southeastern Louisiana

2009 Season: (37-22, 21-12)

Nickname: Lions

Head Coach: Jay Artiques

Location: Hammond, LA

Vitals: .305 BA, 32 HR, .389 OBP, .964 Fld %…5.66 ERA, 2 CG, 18 SVs, 401 K, 244 BB, .282 Opp. BA

Looking for More: Southeastern Louisiana won a school record 21 conference games last year to finish in 2^nd place during the regular season.  This season, they look to capture the SLC crown and will do so behind three preseason 2^nd team All-SLC picks.  Heading the group is Jr. OF Cass Hargis, a 2008 Freshman All-American, who hit .317 with 4 HR and 32 RBI, Jr. INF/OF Josh Cryer (.309, 71 H, 4 HR), and Sr. RHP Chris Franklin (5-2, 2.60 ERA, 12 SVs).  Franklin is also a 2^nd team preseason All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Association and is on the Stopper of the Year watch list.

Quick Start: The Lions play 12 of their first 16 games at home beginning on February 19^th with 3 games against Eastern Illinois and a single game with Mississippi Valley State.  They then head to Starkville for a 3-game set at Mississippi State before coming back home for 5 in a row.

Stephen F. Austin

2009 Season: (23-32, 14-18)

Nickname: Lumberjacks

Head Coach: Johnny Cardenas

Location: Nacogdoches, TX

Vitals: .302 BA, 41 HR, .368 OBP, .961 Fld. %…5.56 ERA, 1 CG, 13 SVs, 346 K, 246 BB, .286 Opp. BA

2010 Outlook: Stephen F. Austin finished 8^th in the conference last year and this season return just 12 letterwinners.  Among the guys returning are Sr. UTL Ryan Priest (.370, 4 HR, 26 RBI), Sr. SS Tanner Hines (.353, 78 H, 17 SB), and Jr. RHP Jared West (4-3, 5.11 ERA, 36 K).

Schedule Notes: The Jacks play more road games than home games this year, but do begin with a three game series in Nacogdoches against Grambling State.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

2009 Season: (18-38, 9-24)

Nickname: Islanders

Head Coach: Scott Malone

Location: Corpus Christi, TX

Vitals: .281 BA, 48 HR, .355 OBP, .959 Fld. %…7.71 ERA, 7 SVs, 282 K, 210 BB, .346 Opp. BA

Flipping it Around: The Islanders finished last in the conference last year and are picked to finish 11^th this season.  They will try to turn things around this year behind preseason 1^st team All-SLC selection Trey Hernandez.  Hernandez hit just .236 in 2009, but crushed a team best 12 HR.  He also performed on the mound going 2-3 with a team-high 4 saves.

Tough Schedule: A&M-CC will face 7 teams ranked in the NCBWA Top 35.  Among the ranked teams on the schedule is top-ranked Texas.  Other opponents are Rice, Houston, Oklahoma, UCLA, Elon, and Mississippi State.

Texas State

2009 Season: (41-17, 24-7)

Nickname: Bobcats

Head Coach: Ty Harrington

Location: San Marcos, TX

Vitals: .334 BA, 75 HR, .419 OBP, .970 Fld. %…4.85 ERA, 3 CG, 10 SVs, 358 K, 181 BB, .303 Opp. BA

Banner Year: Texas State captured their first ever regular season Southland Conference championship last season finishing 4 games up on Southeastern Louisiana.  Ty Harrington was named SLC Coach of the Year, and 7 players were selected to All-Conference teams.

Tyler Sibley

Bobcat Repeat: The Bobcats are predicted to win the conference once again as voted on by both the coaches and SIDs.  In addition 4 players were tabbed for preseason conference honors with So. INF Tyler Sibley (.359, 10 HR, 14 SB) and Jr. OF Bret Atwood (.368, 86 H, 14 SB) first team selection, while Sr. INF Kyle Livingstone (.314, 5 HR, 34 RBI) and Jr. INF Jason Martinson (.303, 7 HR, 39 RBI) were named to the second team.

Pitching Prowess: Texas State will have to replace SLC Pitcher of the Year Kane Holbrooks (10-1, 3.29 ERA, 57), but do bring back Jr. RHP Brian Borski (7-3, 3.71 ERA, 1 CG), and Sr. RHP Michael Russo (4-3, 4.35 ERA, 6 SVs).

UT-Arlington

2009 Season: (30-26, 19-13)

Nickname: Mavericks

Head Coach: Darin Thomas

Location: Arlington, TX

Vitals: .306 BA, 39 HR, .375 OBP, .971 Fld. %…4.38 ERA, 4 CG, 12 SVs, 410 K, 183 BB, .292 Opp. BA

Michael Choice

Star Player: Jr. CF Michael Choice enters 2010 as one of the most decorated players in the conference.  A member of the 2009 USA Baseball Team, Choice is a preseason 2^nd team All-American from PING! and Louisville Slugger, and a 3^rd team All-American from the NCBWA.  In addition, College Baseball Blog rates Choice as the 13^th overall player on their Projected Top 100 player list.  Choice is school’s all-time career batting leader with a .396 average.  Last season, he batted .413 with 11 HR, and 52 RBI is helping UTA win 30 games.

Pitching Depth Problems: The Mavericks staff led the league with a 4.38 ERA, but only four pitchers return that threw at least 10 innings last season.  The team will rely heavily on Jr. RHP Rett Varner (2-3, 3.95 ERA, 44 K), a 1^st team preseason All-SLC pick, and Sr. RHP Jason Mitchell (4-5, 4.63 ERA, 42 K) as starters, with Jr. LHP Adam Boydston (1-5, 3.29 ERA, 9 SVs) coming out of the bullpen.

UT-San Antonio

2009 Season: (32-25, 20-12)

Nickname: Roadrunners

Head Coach: Sherman Corbett

Location: San Antonio, TX

Vitals: .317 BA, 89 HR, .398 OBP, .956 Fld. %…5.97 ERA, 2 CG, 7 SVs, 393 K, 241 BB, .307 Opp. BA

Offensive Explosion: UTSA broke several offensive records last year on their way to a 3^rd place finish in the SLC.  Records that were broken were team BA (.317), hits (661), homeruns (86), slugging (.532), and total bases (1109).  Leading the way were Michael Rockett (.394, 15 HR, 58 RBI) and Lance Brown (.372, 84 H, 17 doubles).

Key Returners: The Roadrunners will deal with the loss of Rockett and slugger Jose Hernandez, who crushed 17 HR last year, but bring back plenty of offense with Brown and Jr. Ryan Hutson (.343, 17 HR, 43 RBI), and Jr. DH Brett Aguilar (.304, 11 doubles, 29 RBI) returning.  Brown and Aguilar were named to the SLC preseason 1^st-team, with Hutson tabbed for the second team.

2010 Predictions

2010 Champion: Texas State just beats out SE Louisiana

2010 Player of the Year: Michael Choice—UT-Arlington

2010 Pitcher of the Year: Eric Harrington—Lamar

Lake Charles, LA McNeese State baseball coach Terry Burrows has announced the Cowboy schedule for the 2010 season and it includes games against 2009 College World Series champion LSU and CWS participant Arkansas.

McNeese St. Head Coach Terry Burrows

McNeese will also participate in the Lamar tournament this year where the Cowboys will play Penn State, Dallas Baptist and the host Cardinals.

Complete 2010 McNeese St. Schedule

Burrows has his team starting its schedule Feb. 19 in a three game home series against Valparaiso.  Other non-conference matchups for the  Cowboys are home and home matches with UNO, UL-Lafayette and UL-Monroe and single games at home against Prairie View and Texas Southern.

On the road the Cowboys will also play Louisiana Tech.

McNeese will begin Southland Conference action March 12 in a three game home series with Northwestern State.

The Cowboys have 23 lettermen returning this year including seven starters in the field and three pitchers in rotation.  Heading this group is outfielder Lee Orr who was named to the Louisville Slugger freshman all-American team last year after batting .301 with 15 home runs, 57 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.

Other front line players returning are outfielder Andy Riche’ (.340, three homers), third baseman Steven Irvine (.285, seven home runs), shortstop Matt Fontenot (.343, three home runs), second baseman Jace Peterson (.366, 13 stolen bases) and first basemen Nick Eubanks (.268, four homers) and Bryn Thompson (.240).

Starting pitchers returning are Tyler Davis (4-3, 6.91 ERA), Jonathan Conrad (3-6, 7.10 ERA) and Matt Click (2-4, 7.30 ERA).

A year ago the Cowboys posted a 21-30 overall record and were 10-22 in conference play.

(Release)

Toby Gerhart And Golden Tate Are Among More Than 35 Players In The Report

Zach Collaros

Zach Collaros- 6’1-209 – Football: QB & Baseball: IF
Collaros batted just .204 in 49 at-bats in 2009 for the Bearcat baseball team.  However, he has had a much bigger impact this fall for the UC football team.  Collaros has passed for 1,434 yards with 10 touchdowns and just two interceptions in 2009.  He has also rushed for 344 yards and four more TDs.  He has played in all 11 Cincinnati games in 2009, including four starts after Heisman contender Tony Pike went down with injury.

Cincinnati (11-0) plays Pittsburgh (9-2) on Saturday, Dec. 5.  A win would send the Bearcats to a second straight BCS bowl.

Clemson

Kyle Parker- 6’1-200 – Football: QB & Baseball: OF
Parker graduated high school a semester early to enroll at Clemson in January 2008.  He’s a redshirt freshman on the football team, but he will be a junior on the baseball squad in 2010.

Parker has passed for 2,294 yards with 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2009.  Clemson (8-4) plays Georgia Tech (10-2) on Saturday, Dec. 5 in the ACC Championship Game.

Elon

Scott Riddle-6’0-210-Jr. – Football: QB & Baseball: IF/C
This season Riddle became the  Southern Conference record holder for career completions and passing yards.

Elon's Scott Riddle

Riddle passed for 3,345  yards with 23 touchdowns and seven interceptions for the Phoenix in 2009.

Riddle led Elon (9-3)to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, but the Phoenix lost 16-13 to #4 Richmond in the first round.  He finished seventh in the nation with 278.7 passing yards a game.

Fairfield

Tucker Nathans-6’0-180-Jr. – Soccer: Forward & Baseball: 2B
Nathans started 10 of Fairfield’s 17 soccer games and totaled three points in 2009.  Nathans started all 47 games for the Fairfield baseball team last season, and led the Stags with a .377 average with a 1.006 OPS.

George Washington

Marshall Seedorf-6′3-185-So. – Swimming: Sprints & Baseball: P                                               Seedorf was one of just two freshman to qualify for the Atlantic 10 Championship finals in both the 50 and 100 meter freestyle events in 2009.  He pitched in relief in 13 games last season for the GW baseball team.  He is currently competing

Hofstra

Anthony Nelson-5’10-180-Jr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Nelson finished the 2009 season as  Hofstra’s second-leading receiver with 40 catches for 520 yards and four touchdowns for the (5-7) Pride.

Holy Cross

Rob Dornfried-5’8-176-Jr. – Football: K & Baseball: IF
Dornfried hit 7 of 9  field goals and 40 of 41 extra points for the Crusader football team this fall.  He played in 15 games in 2009 for the Holy Cross baseball team.

Holy Cross (9-3) won the  Patriot League title but lost 38-28 to Villanova in the first round of the FCS playoffs.

Josh Hauser-6’4-218-Fr. – Football: TE & Baseball:

Kentucky

Brian Adams-6’4-212-Fr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Adams is a true freshman who was a high school quarterback and is now making the transition to receiver in college.

Louisiana-Monroe

Kolton Browning-6’2-181-Fr. – Football: QB & Baseball: Pitcher.
Browning is a true freshman that is a back-up quarterback on the football team and is expected to pitch for the Warhawk baseball team next spring.

LSU

Chad Jones-6’3-231-Jr. – Football: Safety & Baseball: Pitcher
Like his former LSU teammate, Jared Mitchell (drafted and signed by the Chicago White Sox), Jones has both a football and a baseball national championship ring.

Jones is LSU’s fifth  leading tackler with 60 takedowns along with 3 interceptions.  Jones is also averaging 21.5 yards on six punt returns, including a 93 yarder for a touchdown vs. Mississippi State.  LSU (9-3) beat Arkansas 33-30 to close the regular season.  The Tigers will finish their season in a bowl game.

McNeese State

Jace Peterson-6’1-190-So. – Football: Safety & Baseball: IF

Jace Peterson (#6) In On A Tackle

Peterson had 39 tackles, three sacks and an interception in 2009.  He batted .366 with 16 stolen bases in limited action on the diamond last spring.

Malcolm Bronson-5’11-188-So. – Football: Safety & Baseball: OF
Bronson led the Cowboys with 75 tackles in 2009.  He also had two interceptions.

McNeese State lost 49-13 to New Hampshire in the first round of the FCS playoffs.

Minnesota

Eric Decker-6’2-215-Sr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Decker entered the season on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List.  The award is given to the nation’s top receiver.  He started Minneosta’s first eight games, but suffered a foot injury against Ohio State missed the rest of the season.   Depite missing the Gopher’s last three games, Decker was still named All-Big Ten by a vote of conference coaches.  He finished the season as Minnesota’s  leading receiver with 50 catches for 758 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Nebraska

Khiry Cooper-6’2-180-rsFr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Cooper started 20 games for the Cornhusker baseball team as a true freshman
last spring.

New Mexico State

Tanner Rust-6’2-195-Fr. – Football: QB & Baseball:
Rust is the Aggie’s third-string quarterback and he plans to play baseball next spring as well.  He would be just the second athlete to play both football and baseball at New Mexico State.

Nicholls State

Mike Barba-6’1-180-Fr. – Football: WR & Baseball

Kyle Hughes-6’5-220-Sr. – Football: LB & Baseball
Hughes recorded 34 tackles with an interception for the Colonel’s (3-8) in 2009.

Kevin Persick-6’2-215-rsFr. – Football: LB & Baseball

North Carolina State

Russell Wilson-5’11-201 – Football: QB & Baseball: 2B
Wilson is a redshirt sophomore for the football team, but he will be a junior on the 2010 Wolfpack baseball squad. He

Wilson Tops The ACC With 31 TD Passes

totaled 3,027 passing yards with 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2009, while also rushing for 260 yards and 4 more scores.   His 31 touchdown passes led the ACC.

He passed for 259 yards and 4 touchdowns to help N.C. State (5-7) upset North Carolina (8-4) to end an otherwise disappointing season for the Wolfpack.

Notre Dame

Eric Maust-6’2-190-Sr. – Football: P & Baseball: Pitcher
Maust has averaged 35.8 yards on 19 punts in 2009.  As the holder on ND’s field goal team he completed a pass to convert a first down on a fake FG vs. USC.  He was an All-Big East pitcher in 2008.

Evan Sharpley-6’2-217-Sr. – Football: QB & Baseball
Sharpley is the ND 3rd string quarterback in 2009. He was named the
team’s scout team player of the week for his impersonation of Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick prior to ND’s 35-0 win. 2009 was Sharpley’s last season with the Irish baseball team. He was picked by Seattle in the 50th round of the June MLB draft. Sharpley batted .333 with 7 HR, 29 RBIs and a 1.043 OPS for the Mariner’s AZL Rookie League team.

Golden Tate-5’11-195-Jr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Tate is one of three finalists for the 2009 Biletnikoff Award.  He’s had a record-setting season in 2009 with 93 receptions for 1,496 yards and 15 touchdowns (all single-season school records).  His 2,707 career receiving yards are also an Irish school record.

Tate finished the regular season with 10 catches for 201 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 45-38 loss to Stanford.  The Irish (6-6) lost their last four regular season games, but they are bowl eligible.

Oregon State

Jordan Poyer-5’11-181-Fr. – Football: S & Baseball

Penn State

Jesse Alfreno-5’11-194-Jr. – Football: CB & Baseball: Pitcher
Alfreno was 1-0 with one save in 20 relief appearances in 2009 for the Nittany Lions baseball team.

Sacred Heart

Steve Tedesco-6’1-195-Sr. – Football: WR & Baseball: IF

Tedesco is the Sacred Heart (2-8) school record holder with 37 career touchdowns.  Tedesco had a career day with 12 catches for 144 yards and four touchdowns in the Pioneer’s season-ending 45-42 loss to Duquesne.  He finished the 2009 season with a team-high 67 receptions for 865 yards and 11 touchdowns.  He was selected to play in the 9th annuall East Coast Bowl All-Star Game.

Bobby Shepherd-6’1-180-rs Fr. – Football: P & Baseball: Pitcher
Shephard made four relief appearances and two starts in ’09 for the Sacred
Heart baseball team. He’s the football team’s back-up punter.

South Alabama

Eddy Cabrera-5’9-160-Fr. – Football: DB & Baseball: OF

This is 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 football and baseball.

Stanford

Toby Gerhart-6’1-235-Sr. – Football: RB & Baseball: OF
Gerhart is one of three finalists for the 2009 Doak Walker Award, which goes to the nation’s top running back.  He is also a top contender for the 2009 Heisman Trophy. Gerhart was an outfield starter for Stanford’s 2008 College World Series team.

Gerhart capped his regular season with 205 rushing yards and 3 touchdown runs in Stanford’s 45-38 win over Notre Dame.  He also complete his first career pass attempt for an 18-yard touchdown pass in the game.

As of Nov. 29 Gerhart leads the nation with 1,736 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns.  His 42 career touchdowns are a Pac 10 record.  Gerhart has now topped the 200 yard mark three times this season.  Coming into 2009 no Stanford back had surpassed 200 rushing yards in a game since 1988.

Gerhart could exercise a fifth year of football eligibility (he missed most of 2007 with a knee injury) and he still has a final season of baseball eligibility remaining.  However,  he  is expected to forego those options to prepare for February’s NFL combine and, ultimately, April’s NFL draft.

Texas State

Jeff McVaney-6’2-220-So. – Football: FB & Baseball: OF/LHP
McVaney made 12 relief appearances as freshman for the 2009 Bobcat baseball team that made it to the NCAA Tournament.   The fullback had four carries for nine yards in 2009.

Villanova

Matt Szczur-5’11-195-Jr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF

Matt Szczur

Szczur was second team All-CAA in football last season as a sophomore.  He was named the Colonial Athletic Associations Offensive Player of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year in 2009.   He is just the second player in CAA history to receive two major awards in the same season.

As a redshirt freshman in 2009 he led the baseball team with a .346 average.  Szczur was a 38th round draft pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers out of high school in 2007.

Szczur’s 2009 stats include:  45 catches for 534 yards and 4 touchdowns, 86 rushes for 562 yards and 7 TDs, 3 of 3 pass attempts for 21 yards and 2 touchdowns, and 26 kickoff returns for a 27.7 average and another TD.

He and the Wildcats have playoff wins over Holy Cross and New Hampshire & are now in the FCS national semifinals.

Marlon Calbi-5’11-180-So. – Football: QB/Holder & Baseball: SS
Calbi is a third-string quarterback who has played every career game as the
team’s holder. He started more than half of the baseball team’s games at
shortstop last season.

Christian Culicerto-5’9-190-So. – Football: QB & Baseball: LHP
Culicerto is a backup quarterback on the football team who walked on to the
baseball roster last season. He pitched in two games in relief.

Kenny Miles-5’11-180-Fr. Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Miles is a highly-touted freshman in both sports. He is currently low on the depth chart for football, because the team is deep at the wide receiver position.

Wofford

Landon Bennett-6’3-200-So. – Football: K/P & Baseball: OF
Bennett had 8 punts in four games in 2008 for the football team. During the 2008 baseball season played in 25 games with 14 starts and hit .298 with 17 hits and 8 RBIs.

This is the latest installment of the Collegebaseball360.com Two Sport Report.  We are updating the progress of college baseball players who also play sports like football, soccer and swimming.  We have added a couple new players to the list as well.  If you know of someone not on the list shoot us an email and let us know: editor@collegebaseball360.com.

Shinskie

Dave Shinskie- 6’4-215 – Football: QB & Baseball: P
While Shinskie is not a college baseball player, he is an interesting two sport athlete.  Shinskie is a 25-year-old freshman who is starting at quarterback for the BC football team.  He has passed for 1,503 yards with 12 touchdowns and 9 int. so far in 2009.  He guided a 70 yard touchdown drive, capped by a one yard sneak to give the Eagles a 14-10 win over Virginia on Saturday.  The wins keeps BC’s ACC Atlantic Division title hopes alive.

Shinskie was drafted in the fourth round of the 2003 MLB draft by the Minnesota Twins, and he finished his minor league baseball career in 2009 in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.   He is not eligible to play for the BC baseball team.

Collaros

Cincinnati

Zach Collaros- 6’1-209 – Football: QB & Baseball: iF
Collaros batted just .204 in 49 at-bats in 2009 for the Bearcat baseball team.  However, he has had a much bigger impact this fall for the UC football team.  Collaros has completed 75- percent of his passes for 1,434 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions for the unbeaten Bearcats.  Cincinnati sits atop the Big East standing, and is ranked fourth in the most recent BCS standings.

Clemson

Kyle Parker- 6’1-200 – Football: QB & Baseball: OF
Parker graduated high school a semester early to enroll at Clemson in January 2008.  He’s a redshirt freshman on the football team, but he will be a junior on the baseball squad in 2010. Parker has completed 134 of his 252 pass attempts for 1,665 yards with 14 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.  He has helped lead Clemson (7-3, 5-2 ACC) into the Top 25 in 2009.  A win over Virginia on Nov. 21 would clinch the ACC’s Atlantic Divsion for the Tigers.

Elon

Scott Riddle-6’0-210-Jr. – Football: QB & Baseball: IF/C
This season Riddle became the  Southern Conference record holder for career completions and passing yards.  For the season Riddle has completed 65-percent of his passes  for 2,758 yards with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions for the Phoenix in 2009.  Elon (8-2) finishes the regular season Saturday at Samford.  Riddle ranks 8th in passing yards and 17th in pass efficiency in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Fairfield

Tucker Nathans-6’0-180-Jr. – Soccer: Forward & Baseball: 2B
Nathans started 10 of Fairfield’s 17 soccer games and totaled three points in 2009.  Nathans started all 47 games for the Fairfield baseball team last season, and led the Stags with a .377 average with a 1.006 OPS.

George Washington

Marshall Seedorf-6′3-185-So. – Swimming: Sprints & Baseball: P                                               Seedorf was one of just two freshman to qualify for the Atlantic 10 Championship finals in both the 50 and 100 meter freestyle events in 2009.  He pitched in relief in 13 games last season for the GW baseball team.  He is currently competing

Hofstra

Anthony Nelson-5’10-180-Jr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Nelson is Hofstra’s second-leading receiver with 28 catches for 352 yards and three touchdowns through nine games in 2009.

Holy Cross

Rob Dornfried-5’8-176-Jr. – Football: K & Baseball: IF
Dornfried has hit 6 of 8 field goals and 34 of 35 extra points through the Crusader’s first six games.  He converted all four extra points in Saturday’s 28-26 win over Lafayette.  The win clinched the Patriot League title & gave Holy Cross (9-1, 5-0) the league’s automatic entry into the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Josh Hauser-6’4-218-Fr. – Football: TE & Baseball:

Kentucky

Brian Adams-6’4-212-Fr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Adams is a true freshman who was a high school quarterback and is now making the transition to receiver in college.

Louisiana-Monroe

Kolton Browning-6’2-181-Fr. – Football: QB & Baseball: Pitcher.
Browning is a true freshman that is a back-up quarterback on the football team and is expected to pitch for the Warhawk baseball team next spring.

LSU

Chad Jones-6’3-231-Jr. – Football: Safety & Baseball: Pitcher
Like his former LSU teammate, Jared Mitchell (drafted and signed by the Chicago White Sox), Jones has both a football and a baseball national championship ring.  Jones is LSU’s fourth leading tackler with 59 takedowns along with two interceptions.  Jones is also averaging 21.5 yards on six punt returns, including a 93 yarder for a touchdown vs. Mississippi State.

McNeese State

Jace Peterson-6’1-190-So. – Football: Safety & Baseball: IF
Peterson has 37 tackles, three sacks and an interception in the Cowboy’s first 10 games of 2009.  He batted .366 with 16 stolen bases in limited action on the diamond last spring.

Malcolm Bronson-5’11-188-So. – Football: Safety & Baseball: OF
Bronson leads McNeese (8-2) with 68 tackles in 2009.  He also has two interceptions.

Minnesota

Eric Decker-6’2-215-Sr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Decker entered the season on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List.  The award is given to the nation’s top receiver.  He started Minneosta’s first eight games, but suffered a foot injury and is out for the remainder of the 2009 season.  Although he has missed the Gopher’s last three games, he remains their leading receiver with 50 catches for 758 yards and five touchdowns.

Nebraska

Khiry Cooper-6’2-180-rsFr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Cooper started 20 games for the Cornhusker baseball team as a true freshman
last spring.

New Mexico State

Tanner Rust-6’2-195-Fr. – Football: QB & Baseball:
Rust is the Aggie’s third-string quarterback and he plans to play baseball next spring as well.  He would be just the second athlete to play both football and baseball at New Mexico State.

Nicholls State

Mike Barba-6’1-180-Fr. – Football: WR & Baseball

Kyle Hughes-6’5-220-Sr. – Football: LB & Baseball
Hughes has recorded 33 tackles with an interception in the Colonel’s ten games.

Kevin Persick-6’2-215-rsFr. – Football: LB & Baseball

North Carolina State

Russell Wilson-5’11-201 – Football: QB & Baseball: 2B
Wilson is a redshirt sophomore for the football team, but he will be a junior on the 2010 Wolfpack baseball squad.  He has completed 58-percent of his passes for 2,534 yards with 26 touchdowns and ten interceptions.  Wilson has also rushed for 319 yards and four touchdowns through seven games.

Notre Dame

Eric Maust-6’2-190-Sr. – Football: P & Baseball: Pitcher
Maust has averaged 35.8 yards on 19 punts in 2009.  As the holder on ND’s field goal team he completed a pass to convert a first down on a fake FG vs. USC.  He was an All-Big East pitcher in 2008.

Evan Sharpley-6’2-217-Sr. – Football: QB & Baseball
Sharpley is the ND 3rd string quarterback in 2009. He was named the
team’s scout team player of the week for his impersonation of Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick prior to ND’s 35-0 win. 2009 was Sharpley’s last season with the Irish baseball team. He was picked by Seattle in the 50th round of the June MLB draft. Sharpley batted .333 with 7 HR, 29 RBIs and a 1.043 OPS for the Mariner’s AZL Rookie League team.

Golden Tate

Golden Tate-5’11-195-Jr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Tate is a semi-finalist for the 2009 Biletnikoff Award.  He is ND’s leading receiver with 74 grabs for 1,172 yards and 11 touchdowns.  His 1,172 yards are the fourth most in the nation, and he’s 18th nationally in all-purpose yards.  Tate has also rushed for 159 yards and two TDs.  He returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown vs. Pittsburgh.

Oregon State

Jordan Poyer-5’11-181-Fr. – Football: S & Baseball

Penn State

Jesse Alfreno-5’11-194-Jr. – Football: CB & Baseball: Pitcher
Alfreno was 1-0 with one save in 20 relief appearances in 2009 for the Nittany Lions baseball team.

Steve Tedesco

Sacred Heart

Steve Tedesco-6’1-195-Sr. – Football: WR & Baseball: IF Tedesco is Sacred Heart’s leading receiver with 67 catches for 865 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.  His yardage ranks 14th in the Football Championship Subdivision.  He is the Sacred Heart (2-8) school record holder with 37 career touchdowns.  Tedesco had a career day with 12 catches for 144 yards and four touchdowns in the Pioneer’s 45-42 loss to Duquesne.

Bobby Shepherd-6’1-180-rs Fr. – Football: P & Baseball: Pitcher
Shephard made four relief appearances and two starts in ’09 for the Sacred
Heart baseball team. He’s the football team’s back-up punter.

South Alabama

Eddy Cabrera-5’9-160-Fr. – Football: DB & Baseball: OF
This is South Alabama’s first season of college football, which makes Cabrera

Gerhart

the first player in the 45-year history of the USA baseball program to play football and baseball.

Stanford

Toby Gerhart-6’1-235-Sr. – Football: RB & Baseball: OF
Gerhart is one of ten semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award, which goes to the nation’s top running back.  He has the third most rushing yards in the nation with 1,395 yards with 19 touchdowns in 2009.

On Sept. 26th he rushed for 200 yards and a TD in Stanford’s win over Washington.  On Nov. 7th he topped his own school record with 223 yards in a 51-42 upset of then #8 Oregon.  He also ran for 178 yards and 3 TDs in a Nov. 14th win at USC.  He is the first Cardinal back since 1988 to have a 200 yard rushing day.

In 2008 Gerhart was an outfield starter for Stanford’s College World Series team.

Texas State

Jeff McVaney-6’2-220-So. – Football: FB & Baseball: OF/LHP
McVaney made 12 relief appearances as freshman for the 2009 Bobcat baseball team that made it to the NCAA Tournament.   The fullback has four carries for nine yards through in 2009.

Matt Szczur

Villanova

Matt Szczur-5’11-195-Jr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Szczur was second team All-CAA in football last season as a sophomore.  As a
redshirt freshman in 2009 he led the baseball team with a .346 average.  Szczur was a 38th round draft pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers out of high school in 2007.

He has 33 catches for 335 yards and four touchdowns for the Wildcats (9-1)  in 2009.    Szcur is also averaging 28.8 yards on 19 kick returns (including one for a touchdown) this season.  As of Nov. 14 Villanova was third in the Football Championship Subdivision national rankings.

Marlon Calbi-5’11-180-So. – Football: QB/Holder & Baseball: SS
Calbi is a third-string quarterback who has played every career game as the
team’s holder. He started more than half of the baseball team’s games at
shortstop last season.

Christian Culicerto-5’9-190-So. – Football: QB & Baseball: LHP
Culicerto is a backup quarterback on the football team who walked on to the
baseball roster last season. He pitched in two games in relief.

Kenny Miles-5’11-180-Fr. Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Miles is a highly-touted freshman in both sports. He is currently low on the depth chart for football, because the team is deep at the wide receiver position.

Wofford

Landon Bennett-6’3-200-So. – Football: K/P & Baseball: OF
Bennett had 8 punts in four games in 2008 for the football team. During the 2008 baseball season played in 25 games with 14 starts and hit .298 with 17 hits and 8 RBIs.

This is the latest installment of the Collegebaseball360.com Two Sport Report.  We are updating the progress of college baseball players who also play sports like football, soccer and swimming.  If you know of someone not on the list shoot us an email and let us know: editor@collegebaseball360.com.

Elon QB Scott Riddle

Elon

Scott Riddle-6’0-210-Jr. – Football: QB & Baseball: IF/C
This season Riddle became the  Southern Conference record holder  for career completions and passing yards.  For the season Riddle is 96 of 153 for 1,799 yards with 13 touchdowns and two interceptions for the Phoenix.

Fairfield

Tucker Nathans-6’0-180-Jr. – Soccer: Forward & Baseball: 2B
Nathans has started the Fairfield soccer team’s first nine games in 2009. He
started all 47 games for the Fairfield baseball team last season, and led the
Stages with a .377 average with a 1.006 OPS.

George Washington

Marshall Seedorf-6′3-185-So. – Swimming: Sprints & Baseball: P      (Podcast)

Seedorf was one of just two freshman to qualify for the Atlantic 10 Championship finals in both the 50 and 100 meter freestyle events in 2009.  He pitched in relief in 13 games last season for the GW baseball team.

Hofstra

Anthony Nelson-5’10-180-Jr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Nelson is Hofstra’s second-leading receiver with 18 catches for 176 yards and a touchdown through the first six games of the season.

Holy Cross

Rob Dornfried-5’8-176-Jr. – Football: K & Baseball: IF
Dornfried has hit 3 of 5 field goals and 16 of 17 extra points through the Crusader’s first six games.

Josh Hauser-6’4-218-Fr. – Football: TE & Baseball:

Kentucky

Brian Adams-6’4-212-Fr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Adams is a true freshman who was a high school quarterback and is now making the transition to receiver in college.

Louisiana-Monroe

Kolton Browning-6’2-181-Fr. – Football: QB & Baseball: Pitcher.
Browning is a true freshman that is a back-up quarterback on the football team and is expected to pitch for the Warhawk baseball team next spring.

LSU

LSU's Chad Jones

Chad Jones-6’3-231-Jr. – Football: Safety & Baseball: Pitcher
Like his former LSU teammate, Jared Mitchell (drafted and signed by the WhiteSox), Jones has both a football and a baseball national championship ring.  He is LSU’s fourth leading tackler with 35 takedowns along with two interceptions.  Jones is also averaging 24.2 yards on five punt returns, including a 93 yarder for a touchdown vs. Mississippi State.

McNeese State

Jace Peterson-6’1-190-So. – Football: Safety & Baseball: IF
Peterson has 26 tackles, three sacks and an interception in the Cowboy’s first six games of 2009. He batted .366 with 16 stolen bases in limited action on the diamond last spring.

Malcolm Bronson-5’11-188-So. – Football: Safety & Baseball: OF
Bronson is the Cowboy’s second-leading tackler with 39 through his first six games.

Minnesota

Eric Decker-6’2-215-Sr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF

Gopher WR Eric Decker

Decker is one of two wide receivers on the Biletnikoff Award preseaon watch list who is on the two sport report.  His 731 receiving yards are the fifth most in the nation.  He has caught five touchdowns as well.

Nebraska

Khiry Cooper-6’2-180-rsFr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Cooper started 20 games for the Cornhusker baseball team as a true freshman last spring.

New Mexico State

Tanner Rust-6’2-195-Fr. – Football: QB & Baseball:
Rust is the Aggie’s third-string quarterback and he plans to play baseball next spring as well.  He would be just the second athlete to play both football and baseball at New Mexico State.

Nicholls State

Mike Barba-6’1-180-Fr. – Football: WR & Baseball

Kyle Hughes-6’5-220-Sr. – Football: LB & Baseball
Hughes has recorded 26 tackles with an interception in the Colonel’s first six games.

Kevin Persick-6’2-215-rsFr. – Football: LB & Baseball

North Carolina State

Russell Wilson-5’11-201 – Football: QB & Baseball: 2B
Wilson is a redshirt sophomore for the football team, but he will be a junior on the 2010 Wolfpack baseball squad.  He has completed 132 of 225 passes for 1,659 yards with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions.  Wilson has also rushed for 249 yards and three touchdowns through seven games.

Notre Dame

Eric Maust-6’2-190-Sr. – Football: P & Baseball: Pitcher
Maust has averaged 39.8 yards on 14 punts so far in 2009.  As the holder on ND’s field goal team he completed a pass to convert a first down on a fake FG vs. USC.

Evan Sharpley-6’2-217-Sr. – Football: QB & Baseball
Sharpley is the ND 3rd string quarterback in 2009.  This past season was Sharpley’s last season with the Irish baseball team. He was picked by Seattle in the 50th round of the June MLB draft. Sharpley batted .333 with 7 HR, 29 RBIs and a 1.043 OPS for the Mariner’s AZL Rookie League team.

Notre Dame's Golden Tate

Golden Tate-5’11-195-Jr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Tate enters 2009 on the Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list. He is ND’s leading receiver with 41 grabs for 719 yards and six touchdowns through six games.  His 719 yards are the sixth most in the nation.  Tate has also rushed for 96 yards and another TD.

Oregon State

Jordan Poyer-5’11-181-Fr. – Football: S & Baseball

Penn State

Jesse Alfreno-5’11-194-Jr. – Football: CB & Baseball: Pitcher
Alfreno was 1-0 with one save in 20 relief appearances in 2009 for the Nittany Lions baseball team.

Sacred Heart

Steve Tedesco-6’1-195-Sr. – Football: WR & Baseball: IF
Tedesco is Sacred Heart’s leading receiver with 36 catches for 506 yards and four touchdowns through six games this season.

Bobby Shepherd-6’1-180-rs Fr. – Football: P & Baseball: Pitcher
Shephard made four relief appearances and two starts in ’09 for the Sacred
Heart baseball team. He’s the football team’s back-up punter.

South Alabama

Eddy Cabrera-5’9-160-Fr. – Football: DB & Baseball: OF
This is 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 football and baseball.

Stanford

Toby Gerhart-6’1-235-Sr. – Football: RB & Baseball: OF

Stanford RB Toby Gerhart

Gerhart has the fourth most rushing yards in the nation with 897 yards on 168 carries with 12 touchdowns in Stanford’s first seven games of 2009.  On Sept. 26th he rushed for 200 yards and a TD in Stanford’s 34-14 win over Washington.  He became the first Cardinal back since 1988 to have a 200 yard rushing day.

Texas State

Jeff McVaney-6’2-220-So. – Football: FB & Baseball: OF/LHP
McVaney made 12 relief appearances as freshman for the 2009 Bobcat baseball team that made it to the NCAA Tournament.   The fullback has three carries for six yards through six games in 2009.

Villanova

Matt Szczur-5’11-195-Jr. – Football: WR & Baseball: OF

Szczur was second team All-CAA in football last season as a sophomore. As a redshirt freshman in 2009 he led the baseball team with a .346 average. Szczur was a 38th round draft pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers out of high school in 2007.   He has 24 catches for 234 yards in seven games for the Wildcat football team in 2009.  On Sept. 19th he returned a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown on the game’s opening kickoff vs. Penn.  Szcur is averaging 29.6 yards on 16 kick returns this season.

Marlon Calbi-5’11-180-So. – Football: QB/Holder & Baseball: SS
Calbi is a third-string quarterback who has played every career game as the
team’s holder. He started more than half of the baseball team’s games at
shortstop last season.

Christian Culicerto-5’9-190-So. – Football: QB & Baseball: LHP
Culicerto is a backup quarterback on the football team who walked on to the
baseball roster last season. He pitched in two games in relief.

Kenny Miles-5’11-180-Fr. Football: WR & Baseball: OF
Miles is a highly-touted freshman in both sports. He is currently low on the depth chart for football, because the team is deep at the wide receiver position.

Wofford

Landon Bennett-6’3-200-So. – Football: K/P & Baseball: OF
Bennett had 8 punts in four games in 2008 for the football team. During the 2008 baseball season played in 25 games with 14 starts and hit .298 with 17 hits and 8 RBIs.

This is our second installment of the two-sport report.  Following is a list of college baseball players who also play another sport at the collegiate level.  Most play football, but there is also a soccer player and a swimmer on the list.   We have updated the stats through September for players who are currently playing a fall sport.