Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcon Baseball Picked Sixth In The MAC East Division In 2008 Preseason Coaches' Poll
February 21, 2008 | Baseball
Feb. 21, 2008
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Bowling Green State University baseball team was picked to finish sixth in the Mid-American Conference East Division in the 2008 preseason coaches' poll, announced on Thursday (Feb. 21) by the league office.
BGSU, 22-32 a year ago and 7-20 in the MAC, returns 18 letterwinners from last year's squad, including six positional starters and three starting pitchers. The squad will be led on the field by senior captain Nick Cantrell and junior Travis Owens. At the plate, the Falcons return sophomore Derek Spencer (.405. 9 2B, 4 HR, 24 RBI) and junior Brandon McFarland (.348, 5 2B, 4 HR, 18 RBI) who both finished last season ranked first and second on the team in batting average. Leading RBI-man, senior Andrew Foster (.289, 12 2B, 4 HR, 35 RBI) also returns as the Falcons welcome back 68 percent of their total team RBI from last season.
On the mound, BG returns Cantrell (4-8, 5.01 ERA, 70. IP, 30 K), along with starters: senior Brett Browing (0-2, 4.54 ERA, 35.2 IP, 20 K), junior Marty Baird (5-5, 6.80 ERA, 45.0 IP, 26 K), junior Dusty Hawk (0-3, 6.19 ERA, 48.0 IP, 22 K) and junior Kevin Leady (0-1, 10.45 ERA, 10.1 IP, 10 K). Returning to the bullpen then will be junior Brian Hangbers (0-1, 9.75 ERA, 12 IP, 15 K) sophomore Phil Hettlinger (2-0, 4.62 ERA, 25.1 IP, 19 K) and sophomore Richie O'Brien (0-1, 3.45 ERA, 15.2 IP, 4 K).
The Falcons will also welcome in 10 newcomers, including two transfers and one walk-on.
BG starts its' season this weekend with a three-game non-conference set at Western Kentucky, starting Friday at 3 p.m. The Falcons home opener is scheduled for Mar. 19th when BG plays host to Cleveland State.
East Division
1. Kent State
2. Miami
3. Ohio
4. Akron
5. Buffalo
6. Bowling Green
West Division
1. Central Michigan
2. Northern Illinois
3. Western Michigan
4. Toledo
5. Eastern Michigan
6. Ball State
Tournament Champion: Kent State (10 votes), Miami (1), Western Michigan (1)
COMPLETE MAC RELEASE
Kent State, Central Michigan Selected As Baseball Preseason Favorites
Defending MAC Tournament Champion Golden Flashes picked to repeat as tournament champions.
Cleveland, Ohio - Defending MAC Tournament Champion Kent State and West Division regular season runner-up Central Michigan have been chosen by the league's head coaches to win their respective divisions, released today by the league office. The Golden Flashes were also selected by ten of the leagues coaches to take home the 2008 MAC Tournament title.
The Chippewas were followed by Northern Illinois in the West, while Western Michigan was picked to finish third. Toledo was selected to finish in fourth place, while Eastern Michigan and new head coach Jake Boss and Ball State followed.
Miami was picked to finish second in the East Division after finishing last season with a 32-24 overall record (16-9 MAC). In the remaining places in the East Division were Ohio, Akron, Buffalo and Bowling Green.
Kent State returns 15 letterwinners, including seven position starters and eight pitchers from its 2007 squad that won 18 of its final 20 games, including four in row at the MAC Tournament. KSU and head coach Scott Stricklin finished with a 19-8 record against conference opponents and a 33-26 overall mark. The Golden Flashes advanced to last year's NCAA Tournament and fell to Missouri and Miami (Fla.) in the Columbia, Mo., Regionals. Among the returning Golden Flashes are LF Anthony Gallas and DH Greg Rohan, who were both members of the All-MAC first team a year ago.
The Chippewas and head coach Steve Jaksa will welcome 14 letterwinners, including seven positions players and seven pitchers. Central Michigan posted a 35-21 mark overall and a 21-6 record in conference play last season. 2007 MAC Player of the Year and All-MAC first team selection Tyler Stovall will return for CMU this season. The outfielder/catcher earned third-team All-America honors by the American Baseball Coaches Association and second-team honors by Collegiate Baseball following his junior season after leading the Mid-American Conference in batting average (.391), hits (88) and RBI (59). He also tied for the lead in runs (58), had the second-most steals (20), was third in on-base percentage (.462) and total bases (127), and fourth in slugging percentage (.564). Stovall has already received preseason recognition as he has earned 2008 Louisville Slugger preseason third-team All-America honor and is also among the nation's elite on the 2008 Wallace Award preseason watch list. The Chippewas will also welcome back All-MAC second team selections SS Jeff Helps, INF Billy Anderson and LHP Dan Taylor.
The MAC baseball season begins tomorrow with a full slate of games. Conference play will begin on Friday, March 21 and the season will culminate with the conference tournament, which takes place May 21-24.
