Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Tabbed to Win MAC West Division in Preseason Poll
January 24, 2003 | Baseball
Jan. 24, 2003
Cleveland, Ohio - Defending Mid-American Conference tournament champion Kent State and Bowling Green, last year's regular season champion, have been selected to win their respective divisions of the baseball season in the Mid-American Conference, announced Jan. 24 by the league office. Voting for the team was conducted by the league's head coaches.
In the West, new division member Bowling Green edged last year's divisional champion Eastern Michigan by six points, 79-73. The Falcons received four first-place tallies, compared to the Eagles' six.
The Falcons return five starters and nine pitchers, including MAC Player of the Year Kelly Hunt (1B) and all-MAC pitchers Neil Schmitz (RP) and Kyle Knoblauch. BGSU captured its fourth East Division Crown in five years last season with an 18-7 league record, while winning the regular season championship outright. BGSU was 32-22 overall in 2002 and return 18 lettermen from that squad. BGSU coach Danny Schmitz is beginning his 13th season as skipper of the Falcons with an overall record of 331-297-4.
For EMU, seven position starters are back from last year's West Division champion. Topping that list is first-team outfielder Ryan Goleski and last year's MAC Freshman of the Year Brian Bixler (SS).
Central Michigan edged Ball State by one point for third-place, receiving two-first-place tallies and 57 points. With 53 points is Western Michigan, which garnered one first-place vote and is picked to finish fifth. Sixth and seventh place in the West are separated by two points, with Northern Illinois (24) finishing ahead of Toledo (22).
The Golden Flashes, who have won the last two MAC tournament crowns, are the unanimous choice to win the East Division. KSU, which received 13 first-place votes and 78 total points, is also favored to win the MAC tournament title again this year capturing 10 votes while Miami and Ohio picked up one vote each. One coach didn't pick a tournament champion.
Only once since 1994 has a team -- Ohio in 1997 -- that won the MAC regular season crown went on to win the conference's tournament title. Kent State, which has won a league-best four MAC tourney titles, is looking to become the first five-time champion as well as the first to win a title three consecutive seasons.
Kent State has been ranked as high as No. 31 in various preseason polls and returns seven position players and eight pitchers. Headlining KSU's returnees are three all-MAC selections from last year's 37-22 team are pitcher Dirk Hayhurst, relief pitcher Gus Hlebovy and catcher Pat O'Brien.
Three points separate second and third place in the East, as Miami with 60 points edged out Ohio (57). Tabbed for fourth was Akron with 31 points, followed by Marshall (30) and Buffalo (17).
The 56th season of MAC baseball kicks off January 31, with Eastern Michigan traveling to face Florida International in a three-game series. The conference season will get underway on March 28.
2003 MAC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
East Division
1. Kent State (13) 78 2. Miami 60 3. Ohio 57 4. Akron 31 5. Marshall 30 6. Buffalo 17West Division
1. Bowling Green (4) 79 2. Eastern Michigan (6) 73 3. Central Michigan (2) 57 4. Ball State 56 5. Western Michigan (1) 53 6. Northern Illinois 24 7. Toledo 22Tournament Winner
Kent State 10 Ohio 1 Miami 1Note: First-place votes in parentheses; one coach didn't pick a tournament champion.
East Voting was done on a 6-5-4-3-2-1 basis West Voting was done on a 7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis
