RedHawks Place At The Top In MAC Preseason Baseball Poll
2/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 1, 2004
OXFORD, Ohio - Miami, last year's tournament runner-up, and defending Mid-American Conference West Division champion Ball State have been chosen by the league's head coaches to win their respective divisions of the baseball season in the MAC, released on Thursday last week by the league office. Tabbed to finish behind the RedHawks in the East Division were Ohio and Kent State.
The RedHawks, who have reached the conference title game in five of the past six seasons, have also been tabbed to win the MAC Tournament despite losing three all-MAC performers. It is the fourth time in the last six seasons that Miami has been picked to win the East Division.
Miami returns 19 letterwinners and six pitchers from last year's 36-24-1 squad (19-9 in MAC), the team's sixth straight season of 30-plus victories. A pair of second-team all-MAC selections are back in the infield for the RedHawks in junior infielder Mike Ferris (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) (.360-5 HR-43 RBI) and junior catcher John Slone (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier) (.349-1-33).
"We are going to battle with our confidence early this season with such a good, competitive schedule," head coach Tracy Smith says. "Like most years, the emphasis is on the conference season and leading up till then we will be doing some growing and looking for replacements at key positions."
The RedHawks finished one game short of a Mid-American Conference title last season, but return three starting pitchers next year including the 2003 MAC Freshman of the Year in sophomore pitcher Graham Taylor (Villa Hills, Ky./Dixie Heights). The Red and White notched its sixth straight 30-win season by finishing with a 36-24-1 record.
The team is scheduled to open its 2004 season on Feb. 20-22 with three games in Gainesville, Fla., against the No. 20 Florida Gators.