In the fifth installment of our annual regional previews we look at the Mideast. Follow D3baseball.com on Twitter for updates throughout the season.
The Mideast Region is loaded with experienced team with five teams ranked in the preseason D3baseball.com Top 25. Second ranked Wooster will field an experienced team with 10 seniors. Heidelberg, the three-time defending OAC regular season champions, return all but one of their pitchers from the staff that recorded 37 wins with a team ERA of 3.73. Marietta just missing a trip to the World Series when they dropped a heartbreaker to Wooster in the regional finals, brings back eight starters. Adrian, who won the 2010 MIAA title with a 25-3 record, lost only two starting position players from the 2009 squad and return a solid pitching staff, who had a 4.09 ERA. Rose-Hulman, looking for their third trip in three years to the Mideast Regional tournament, return eight starters. With their depth and experience, Wooster is a favorite for another trip to Wisconsin. Among the four teams that will try to unseat the Scots' will be regional host Marietta. If last years game was held at Don Schaly Stadium, the results might have been different. The "Etta Express" is depending on that homefield advantage to get them a record 20th appearance in the finals.
New Faces:
Jake Martin, DePauw: Wabash alumni Jake Martin was named the Tiger's interim head baseball coach in August. Martin guided the DePauw's offense as their hitting instructor and recruiting coordinator. "Jake has played a key role with the baseball program since he came here and I'm confident he can step in and lead the team," DePauw Director of Athletics Page Cotton said.
Mike Clark, Denison: Mike Clark comes to Denison after spending six seasons as an assistant coach at Emory. "Coming to Denison is an exciting opportunity," said Clark. "The doors have been opened, and I am thrilled to be given the chance to coach a great group of young men at an institution as highly regarded as Denison."
Ryan Grice, Capital: Ryan Grice, who comes to Capital from LaGrange, was named the new head coach this summer. "Ryan is an energetic and driven young coach that is ready to embrace a new challenge," Director of Athletics Dawn Stewart said. "His experience at all levels of collegiate baseball has prepared him to manage all aspects of our program."
Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC): Franklin was atop the HCAC standings at the end of the 2009 regular season, but a 17-11 loss to Rose--Hulman in the conference tournament finals kept the Grizzlies from 2009 regional tournament play. No. 21 Rose-Hulman looks to defend their HCAC tournament championship and head back to the regional tournament in 2010. The Fightin' Engineers received seven first-place votes in the HCAC poll and have been dubbed as the team to beat. Rose-Hulman Head Coach Jeff Jenkins eclipsed the 500 career win mark in 2009. On the field, 2009 2nd Team All American and HCAC MVP and 2010 pre-season 1st Team All American, Tim Tepe lead the offense with a 0.489 BA. Seven other position starters are returning for Rose Hulman. Additionally, all pitchers accounting for innings pitched during the '09 season return in 2010. This includes 1st Team All-HCAC pitcher Derek Eitel, who lead the staff with 10 wins.
Franklin finished second in conference voting, eight points in back of Rose-Hulman. Franklin has been at or near the top of the HCAC the past two years. The Grizzlies concluded their 2009 season with their best conference mark at 17-4 and their second best overall record of 31-11, but were edged out for an at-large bid to the NCAA Division. Franklin returns a host of key components from last season's team, including second baseman Ian Sanders (.408, 52 R, 10 HR, 59 RBI), third baseman Alex Boone (.450, 42 R, 15 SB), pitcher Luke Mehringer (4.67, 8-1, 59 SO) and pitcher Derrik Patterson (5.15, 9-2). Sanders, Mehringer and Patterson were 2009 HCAC First Team selections while Boone was an All-HCAC Second Team pick.
Mount St. Joseph looks to better their 27--15 record. The Lion's closer Steve Matre is two saves away from the DIII career record and was named a 2nd Team D3baseball.com preseason All American. The Lions have added coach Mike McNaughton, who brings AAA experience (Florida Marlins) to the pitching staff. Finally, Don Brandon will coach his last year at the helm of the Anderson Ravens. Coach 'Bama has been an important leader at Anderson and while he has amassed great numbers as a coach, it is his players' success on and off the field that speak to his legacy.
Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA): Adrian, who won the 2010 MIAA title with a 25--3 record, lost only two starting position players from the 2009 squad and return a solid pitching staff, who had a 4.09 ERA. The defending MIAA Champion Adrian Bulldogs returns 2009 player of the year Alex Cowart, who along with Ryan Domschot, were named to the 2010 D3baseball.com preseason All-American first team. Overall, Adrian is returning seven starters. As a team the Bulldogs batted .343, with Cowart, the current MIAA career leader in batting average, leading the way with a .447 average. In 2009, Domschot recorded 10 wins leading the pitching staff.
The last two seasons have seen Adrian "battle it out" with Calvin. The Knights mustered 20 conference wins during the 2009 campaign and return two first-team MIAA players in Ben Sietsema and Tyler Berger. Berger was also named to the Division III All-Mideast Region third team by the American Baseball Coaches Association. The Knights return all but one of their pitchers from a staff that recorded 37 wins with a team ERA of 3.73.
Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC): 2009 regular season/OAC tournament champions Heidelberg and the "Etta Express" of Marietta find themselves ranked at #10 and #14, respectively in the 2010 D3baseball.com preseason Top 25. The Student Princes have all but one starting infielder returning. Gar Keen (2010 Preseason 2nd Team AA, '09 AA HM) anchors a solid infield with conference award winners Jason Lash and Willie Brechun. Heidelberg lost their entire outfield, but look to reload and compete for another OAC title. They return All American and OAC Pitcher of the Year Andy Lowe (ERA 1.34) and a host of others with experience on the mound. Certainly Heidelberg will look to advance to and beyond the Mideast regional tournament, where they were the #1 seed in'09. Heidelberg head coach Matt Palm has been a stable force in leading his team to at least 23 wins per season since arriving 11 years ago. He was the OAC coach of the year in '09 and previously won the award in '00, '04, and '08.
The tradition of success continues at Marietta, where the team finished second in the OAC, tied with Otterbein in 2009. Marietta made a strong run in the 2009 Mideast regional tournament at Adrian. They return six position players including their DH Chris Beatty (2009 First Team All-OAC) who batted 0.373 and belted 12 home runs, leading the team with 56 RBIs. The pitching staff will have somewhat of a new look as two starters have graduated.
Otterbein, who shared the second spot in the OAC with Marietta in 2009, returns eight starters including Brian Hiscox (2009 3rd Team AA and 2010 preseason AA HM) who has consistent power. Hiscox holds the DIII record for home runs in consecutive games (8) and is 25 homers away from the DIII career record. The Cardinals have only two pitchers returning, but they accounted for 30% of their wins in 2009.
North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC): How can one hit, a single through the left side of the infield, motivate a team? Ask The College of Wooster. The single came in the twelfth inning and resulted in St. Thomas capturing the 2009 DIII championship from Wooster. The Scots successful season was built on teamwork and most of that team returns for the 2010 season. Wooster ended the season ranked no. 2 in the country and start off this season in the same position. Except for their second baseman, the infield returns, with 2009 All-American and 2010 preseason All-American Matt Groezinger (.344, 73 RBI) leading the way. With respect to pitching, 2010 preseason All-American Justin McDowell (2.38, 13-3) returns and leads a solid pitching staff that looks to be successful in 2010. Pitcher Matt Barnes had a good fall, but previous arm issues may sideline him for spring ball. It was expected that he and McDowell would be in the top of the rotation. During the 2009 tournament season, McDowell was 6-1 with a save and a 2.25 ERA over 56 innings. Wooster has built a baseball tradition and looks to extend that into the 2010 season...all the way to their first NCAA DIII championship.
Kenyon finished one game behind Wooster in the NCAC and returns eight starters for the 2010 season, including junior Craig Wocl, who brings strong offensive numbers. The Lords lost some pitching, but returners Dan White and Mike Kalis, are expected to be at the top of the pitching rotation.
Presidents' Athletic Conference (PrAC): The Washington & Jefferson Presidents went 13-5 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference, won the conference tournament and advanced to the South Regional Tournament. If the ingredients for success were there in 2009, W&J is in great shape for 2010 with all starters returning for the 2010 season. Lead by D3baseball.com 2010 preseason Second Team All American Jim Pasquine, the Presidents are experienced with six seniors and two juniors in the field. Pasquine batted 0.481 and was atop the statistical categories of at bats, runs, hits, doubles, and triples. He finished second on the team with eight home runs. From the standpoint of pitching, Washington & Jefferson had a team ERA of 4.81 with a relatively young staff. Starters Pat Kennedy and Dave Trushel combined for 15 of the President's 35 wins. With the same "chemistry" back for the 2010 season, look for W&J to be successful again.
Thiel and Thomas More finished at 12-6 in the PrAC, one game off the lead. Thomas More lost just two starters themselves and will look to overtake W&J. The Saints are lead by senior Chris Fishburn, their shortstop, who batted 0.385 and lead the team in runs scored.
