Baseball Picked Sixth in Horizon League
1/24/2003 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
The Wright State baseball team was picked to finish sixth in the Horizon League preseason poll, announced the league office today. The rankings are based on voting from all seven head coaches in the league.
UW-Milwaukee was picked as the favorite for the 2003 season, garnering four first-place votes and two second-place votes. Milwaukee totaled 34 points with 2002 regular season champion UIC second with 33 points.
Youngstown State was third in the voting with 24 points, followed by Butler with 23 points, Cleveland State and the Raiders each with 12 points and Detroit seventh with nine points.
The Raiders, who finished 20-33 overall last season, placed sixth in the conference with a 9-14 mark. The 2003 squad returns two All-League performers in sophomore catcher/first baseman Bryan Vickers (.250 BA, 7 HR .459 SLG%) and senior outfielder Chris Tuttle (.333 BA, .431 OB% 22 SB).
Also returning for WSU are three junior pitchers in Aaron Braden (7-6, 6.65 ERA), Casey Abrams (3-3, 4.50 ERA) and reliever J.P. Jung (3 saves, 23 Appearances, 28 K) along with sophomore Josh Manis and Matt Crawford and newcomers Chris Snyder and Greg Glaus.
Returning in the field for the Raiders are junior shortstop Trent Matthews and sophomore second baseman Brandon Osborne. Seniors Chris Ranstead, Bill Johnson and Kofi Gyimah will join Tuttle in the outfield for the Raiders this season.
Head Coach Ron Nischwitz returns for his 29th season at the helm of Raider Baseball. Nischwitz collected his 25th 20-win season last year and looks to extend it this season.
The Raiders will open their 2003 season on the road as they travel to Western Carolina on February 22-23 for a three-game series.
