CLEVELAND, Ohio – Head coach Steve Jaksa and the Central Michigan baseball team have been tabbed to finish third in the Mid-American Conference West Division, according to the coach’s poll released by the league office on Thursday.
The Chippewas return 12 letterwinners from last year’s squad that finished 29-27-1 overall and 13-13 in MAC play (fifth in West Division). Central’s postseason run was ended two games into the MAC Tournament, after falling to Kent State and Ball State.
Four starting position players and 11 total pitchers return from last year’s team. This season, 13 freshmen and 10 sophomores give the Chippewas a young but talented core to build around throughout the year and beyond.
CMU was picked to finish behind Western Michigan and Ball State, but ahead of Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan and Toledo. The Chippewas did receive one of 12 MAC Tournament champion votes, with predicted East Division champion Kent State receiving nine. Western Michigan and Miami each also received single votes.
The Chippewas kick off the 2009 college baseball season against Florida Gulf Coast tonight at 12:01 a.m., in Fort Myers, Fla.
2008 MAC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll East Division 1. Kent State 2. Ohio 3. Bowling Green 4. Miami 5. Akron 6. Buffalo
West Division 1. Western Michigan 2. Ball State 3. Central Michigan 4. Northern Illinois 5. Eastern Michigan 6. Toledo
Tournament Champion: Kent State (9), Central Michigan (1), Western Michigan (1), Miami (1)
Courtesy: Robert Barclay/CMU
