| |
Bethune-Cookman and West Virginia State top Black College Baseball.com preseason poll
January 30, 2007
Complete Poll: Division I | Div II, III, NAIA
Bethune-Cookman College and West Virginia State University have been selected as top choices in the preseason poll released by BlackCollegeBaseball.com
 B-CC, top pick in the Division I poll, rolled through the MEAC last year with an unprecedented 15-0 mark during the regular season. They went on to complete their perfect conference run with three wins in the MEAC Tournament to capture the 2006 MEAC crown in Norfolk, Va. In the process, the Wildcats tied Howard’s record back in 1998 as the only teams in MEAC history to go 15-0.
This season, the Wildcats return an overabundance of talented players, as well as bringing in two Junior College All-American talents. The Wildcats may have one of the best hitting teams they’ve had in years, according to B-CC head coach Mervyl Melendez … as well as some of his best pitching in recent memory with all but one starter returning on the mound.
Division II poll leader WVSU, 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.
Voters on the poll include Ruffin Bell, Blackcollegebaseball.com; Bo Carter, National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association; Kenyatta Cavil, The Heritage Group; Charles Curti, Beaver County Times; Paul Kislanko, SEBaseball.com; John Manuel, Baseball America; Tony McClean, Black Athlete Sports Network; Jeremy Mills, Ncaa-baseball.com; Boyd Nation, Boydsworld.com; Sean Ryan, Collegebaseballinsider.com; Rick Rollins; Eric Sorenson, CSTV; Phil Stanton,
Collegebaseballinsider.com and Glenn Tanner, College Baseball Newsgroup.
|
