The Wabash baseball team, coming off one of its most successful seasons in school history, is picked to finish third overall in the 2010 North Coast Athletic Conference Baseball Coaches Poll.
Wabash received 72 total points from the coaches in the voting. Wooster was the unanimous top choice, earning 100 points with 10 first place votes. Ohio Wesleyan received 87 total points for second place. Kenyon (68) was picked fourth, followed by Denison (63). Allegheny and Wittenberg tied for sixth with 49 points, while Oberlin (24), Earlham (22), and Hiram (16) rounded out the voting.
The Little Giants tied for the NCAC Western Division title in 2009, earning the team's first berth in the post-season conference tournament. Wabash took conference champion Wooster to the third and deciding game before losing 6-4. The Scots went on to reach the NCAA Division III championship game before falling in the final national title contest.
Wabash returns seven offensive starters from last year's squad that posted a 23-19 record while going 11-5 in the NCAC West. Junior catcher PJ Tyson (right) earned Honorable Mention All-NCAC honors last season, hitting .307 with three homers and 18 RBI in 36 games. Chris Deig, Brian Lares, and Nathan Schrader should make up the starting outfield for Wabash. Deig will move into right field to replace All-Region and Wabash record-holder Jake Thomas.
David Seibel returns at third base, as does the trio of Tanner Coggins, Derek Bailey, and John Holm at first. Joe Johnson and John Pennington each split time at second for the Little Giants. Pennington, Johnson, and Sam Starbuck could all also take the starting shortstop position, replacing three-time All-NCAC selection Matt Dodaro.
Senior pitcher Keegan Leckrone (left) was a Second Team All-NCAC pick with a 6-3 record to go with five saves. Leckrone is projected to join starters Andrew Swart and Brian Van Duyn in the rotation this season, handing over the stopper duties in the bullpen to Luke Zinsmaster. Pete Schmith, Craig Austin, and Logan Frederick will try to lock down the number four starting position on the mound for Wabash this season.
Thirteen freshman will also try to earn time in the lineup in their first season of college baseball.
Wabash is scheduled to open the 2010 campaign Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Athletes In Action Park in Xenia, Ohio against Allegheny College in a non-conference matchup.
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