WVIAC Baseball 2007 Preseason Poll
UC tabbed to contend for WVIAC playoff spot in '07
Feb. 2, 2007
The University of Charleston baseball team is expected to be among the contenders in the WVIAC Southern Division after narrowly missing a WVIAC playoff spot last season, according to the pre-season coaches poll that was released this week.
Three teams in each division advance, and the Golden Eagles finished in fourth place in the WVIAC Southern Division in 2006.
Traditional power West Virginia State is the pick to claim the 2007 West Virginia Conference baseball championship. The Yellow Jackets earned the top nod from 10 of 13 responding coaches to win the overall league title. WVSU is also favored to win the Southern Division. Shepherd grabbed the top spot in the Northern Division prognostications.
State was the top pick on 11 of 13 ballots in the South. Defending WVIAC Tournament champion Ohio Valley received the other two first place votes and was second. The Fighting Scots also got three votes to win the overall title. Concord, Charleston, West Virginia Wesleyan, and Bluefield State round out the predicted order of finish.
Shepherd took 10 first place votes in the North. Fairmont State, which received a pair of first place nods, was second. Davis & Elkins garnered the final Northern Division first place vote and held down the third spot. West Liberty State, Alderson-Broaddus, Wheeling Jesuit, and Salem International complete the balloting.
New WVIAC members Pitt Johnstown and Seton Hill are not eligible for this season's pennant. However, UPJ will play a Southern Division slate as they fill former league member West Virginia Tech's spot in the schedule. The contests will count in the league's power ratings system.
Charleston (25-23 overall, 11-9 WVIAC) The outfield pair of Jimmy Daily (.354-0-27) and Jon McGuire (.346-2-30) fuel the attack for veteran mentor Tom Nozica. Big things are expected of pitchers Matt Meyers (5-3, 2.93 ERA, 4 SV), Tony Musante (7-4, 5.02 ERA), and Alex Shaw (3-5, 4.55 ERA). Junior college transfer Tyler Boshart could make a big impact behind the plate.
West Virginia State (45-9-1, 14-1-1), which has participated in eight of the past nine NCAA regionals, returns a trio of imposing sluggers. 1B Jeff Miller (.487-19-69) is Baseball America's Preseason NCAA Division II Player of the Year. OF Brandon Halstead (.420-15-67), and OF Joshua Miller (.349-12-53) also should post big numbers again. 6-4 right-hander Travis McGrath (4-0, 2 SV, 3.23 ERA) is the top returnee on the mound for Calvin Bailey's Yellow Jackets. OF Tyler Courts (.346-4-33) and C Jonathan Stowers (.321-0-17) are also solid contributors.
Ohio Valley (37-27, 15-9) made a splash last season as Chad Porter's club appeared in the national ratings and then came out of the loser's bracket to capture an improbable WVIAC Tournament crown. The Fighting Scots return all but one position starter. 1B Andrew Lore (.341-9-56), 2B Brad McConnachie (.350-5-32), and SS Jesse Young (.340-8-42) form the core of a strong infield. Outfielders Kenny Balderson (.338-9-46) and D.J. Schreckengost (.374-9-57) also provide offensive pop. Jesse Young (6-1, 4.02 ERA) heads up the pitching staff.
Concord (25-23, 12-8) has been a fixture near the top of the league standings under head coach Kevin Garrett. C/OF Ben Bennett (.376-1-37) and OF Josh Wright (..355-5-32) lead the Mountain Lion attack. Drew McClanahan (6-3, 4.32 ERA) and Tim Merolillo (5-4, 6.32 ERA) are the top returning CU pitchers.
West Virginia Wesleyan (18-25-1, 9-11-1) is usually in the mix of Southern Division contenders. Josh Norman (4-2, 4.26 ERA), Tyler Phares (4-4, 5.88), and Jason Kelley (1-2, 3.16 ERA) key the mound staff. 1B Eric Stettnisch (.421-7-34), OF Nick Newberry (..398-0-15), and OF Marc Kimes (.299-5-21) wield the big sticks for Randy Tenney's Bobcats.
Bluefield State (6-38, 1-17) should field an experienced starting lineup. SS Cory Mann (.348-0-12), C Larry Lowry (.281-0-4), 2B Braxton Huffman (.277-1-14), and OF Glen Ciborowski (.299-0-11) lead the Big Blues.
Shepherd (34-18) has developed into one of the region's most consistent programs under head coach Wayne Riser. The Rams claimed the WVIAC Northern Division regular season title in 2006. IF Dirk Webb (.391-16-65), OF John Hawse (.397-12-59), and IF Drew McCormick (.317-8-31) give SU a powerful middle of the order. Steve Kozak (5-0, 4.28 ERA), who fanned 62 batters in 61 innings last season), is the top Ram hurler entering the season.
Fairmont State (25-30, 14-8) grabbed a Northern Division playoff spot after a second place finish last season. 1B Zack Solly (.331-6-31), OF Tyler Nun (.287-1-20), and OF Andy Taylor (.287-0-14) key the Falcon offense. Pitchers Josh Kusich (1-2, 4.38 ERA, 4 SV) and Shepherd transfer Tony Magnanelli look to shut down opposing hitters.
Davis & Elkins (27-22, 12-10) suffered huge graduation losses, including P/SS Tobi Stoner. Stoner is now in the New York Mets organization, but Ryan Brisbin's program has developed into a consistent winner. This season's Senators need a big effort from C/OF Adam Thompson (.324) and INF Blake Rogers (.284).
West Liberty State (20-29, 10-12) has the foundation of a potent attack with OF Tyson Gardner (.393-3-34), OF Josh Tysk (.371-0-19), and SS Tony SanFelippo (.307-1-20). A young pitching staff should determine how the season goes for Bo McConnaughy's young Hilltoppers.
Alderson-Broaddus (18-15, 10-8) came within a win of a conference playoff spot during Milan Rasic's first season in Philippi. Nine transfers join a squad keyed by INF/P Eduardo Castro (.350-6-22, 7-5, 4.40 ERA). 1B/C Brett Twigg (.354-4-27), INF Alan Baumann (.349-0-12), and P Michael Torres (4-4, 4.62 ERA) are among the other key Battler returnees.
Wheeling Jesuit (11-40, 6-18) begins their second season of baseball with a more experienced roster. SS/P Tommy Weidman (.375-1-20, 4-7, 5.57 ERA) enjoyed a solid rookie campaign. INF Josh Congrove (.361-1-17), INF Ricky Szeligo (.376-0-12), and P/INF Cody Stickdorn (.333-1-13, 4-7, 5.46 ERA) each return for their sophomore seasons.
Salem International (7-38, 4-12) experienced a building season last year under then rookie head coach Jeremy Burton. INF Edwin Orta (.341-4-30), OF Hector Sanchez (.325-0-14), and OF Mike Visca (.241-4-29) are key players for the Tigers. SIU must improve on an 11.27 earned run average to move up in the conference standings.
Seton Hill (45-20) looks to make a big impression in their first season at the NCAA Division II level. The Griffins reached the NAIA World Series last season in only the program's third year of existence, and virtually everyone is still on hand for Marc Marizzaldi's crew. The infield boasts speedsters 2B Brandon Whitfield (.409-3-47, 26 SB) and 3B Mike McCarthy (.420-2-33, 43 SB). 1B Steve Gumpf (.361-3-53) and SS Jerry Harness (.359-4-50) led the team in runs batted in last season. A veteran pitching staff welcomes back four eight-game winners from last season in Matt Nelson (8-4, 3.62 ERA), Rick Austin (8-3, 3.59 ERA), John Bachman (8-5, 5.43 ERA), and Steve Long (8-3, 5.40 ERA).
Pitt Johnstown (33-18) made their first NCAA Tournament appearance last season. Todd Williams' Mountain Cats will play a full WVIAC schedule this season as they try for an encore post-season trip. SS Chris Turka (.411-8-29) and RF Matt Hanley (.389-6-43) are the top bats. C Paul Pentz (.312-3-27) and CF Adam Plummer (.330-1-35) also return to the UPJ lineup. David Huey (8-1, 3.00 ERA) and Chuck Boring (5-3, 3.71 ERA) front the mound corps for the Mountain Cats.
Five conference squads are among the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association's North Atlantic Region preseason top ten. West Virginia State and Ohio Valley are in the fourth and fifth spots. Shepherd is seventh, while Seton Hill and Pitt Johnstown hold down the ninth and tenth positions.
WVIAC baseball opens up this weekend as Concord travels to Pfeiffer and Bluefield State heads to Claflin. The six-team WVIAC Baseball Tournament returns to Princeton's Hunnicutt Field May 4-6. An automatic bid goes to the winner. The top three squads in each division qualify for the field.
2007 WVIAC Baseball Pre-season Coaches' Poll:
Southern Division:
1. West Virginia State (11) 81
2. Ohio Valley (2) 61
3. Concord 59
4. Charleston 42
5. West Virginia Wesleyan 39
6. Bluefield State 15
Northern Division:
1. Shepherd (10) 94
2. Fairmont State (2) 69
3. Davis & Elkins (1) 68
4. West Liberty State 58
5. Alderson-Broaddus 51
6. Wheeling Jesuit 36
7. Salem International 15
Overall Champion:
West Virginia State 10
Ohio Valley 3
Note: Pitt Johnstown and Ohio Valley are not eligible for the 2007 WVIAC baseball championship.