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Can Brandon Boesiger lead the Wooster Scots to a championship
The top team in the mideast region is the number one team in the nation, the Otterbein Cardinals. Behind the Cardinals are familiar rivals, including last year's National Championship winner. Manchester, Wooster and Marietta are in the midst of a rebuilding years and how new recruits respond will be key to each school's successes. Up and coming are the Washington and Jefferson Presidents. A solid year in 2006 and a good recruiting class could make the Presidents the surprise of the region.
Otterbein (2006 Record: 34-16, 2006 Conference Record: OAC: 16-2) return every starter from a team that was ranked 11th in the final 2006 Division III poll. The Otterbein Cardinals are led by All-American candidates, Dan Remenowsky (9-2, 1.92 ERA) and Doug Stevens (10-0, 2.47 ERA) and are the favorite to claim the National Championship in May. Offensively for the Cardinals, keep an eye on Jerry Tulga (.420, 16 RBI and Ben Titus (.373, 35 Runs, 33 RBI).
Manchester (35-11, 19-2) is the preseason pick to win the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference crown. The Spartans return a host of key components from last season's team including reigning conference MVP Zac Bireley (.371, 9 HR, 50 RBI). Also key to the Spartan's success will be the pitching of Tyler Wolfe (6-4, 2.63 ERA) and Marcus Miller (9-1, 3.36 ERA).
The 2006 Champion Marietta Pioneers (43-11, 15-3) lost several key players from last year's championship team to graduation and the MLB amateur draft. They had a large recruiting class with 20 new faces wearing the pin stripes of the Pioneers. Justin Baumler (8-2, 3.57 ERA) will be the ace of the staff that saw the departure of Mike Eisenberg and Mike DeMark to pursue their dream of a MLB career. "This will be a different club from a year ago, but we still should be successful," said coach Brian Brewer.
Wooster (38-9, 15-1) will be looking for their fourth straight North Coast Athletic Conference title. Leading the Scots will be their two captains, Brandon Boesiger (.427, 17 2B, 30 RBI) and Shaun Swearingen (.435, 20 SB, 46 RBI). "Those two guys are as blue collar as you can get. Both get the most out of their ability. They're great role models. They're very good students," Head Coach Tim Pettorini commented. Boesiger will be twice as valuable behind the plate as he will backstop a very young staff. If the pitching staff can learn on the job, the Wooster Scots might find themselves contending for a national championship.
The Washington and Jefferson Presidents (34-13, 12-6) return 25 letterwinners, all eight starting position players and their top six pitchers from last year's school-record 34-13 squad which claimed the Presidents' Athletic Conference and ECAC Southern Championship titles. W&J also finished the season as the No. 5 ranked team in the Mideast Region. W&J is on the move and was close to some big breakthrough wins last year. If they see continued successes from an experienced squad, they could be the surprise team of 2007.
Others to watch: Adrian (26-17), Denison (25-15 ), Mt St Joseph (30-17) , Ohio Wesleyan (26-14), Rose-Hulman (25-15
Otterbein (2006 Record: 34-16, 2006 Conference Record: OAC: 16-2) return every starter from a team that was ranked 11th in the final 2006 Division III poll. The Otterbein Cardinals are led by All-American candidates, Dan Remenowsky (9-2, 1.92 ERA) and Doug Stevens (10-0, 2.47 ERA) and are the favorite to claim the National Championship in May. Offensively for the Cardinals, keep an eye on Jerry Tulga (.420, 16 RBI and Ben Titus (.373, 35 Runs, 33 RBI).
Manchester (35-11, 19-2) is the preseason pick to win the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference crown. The Spartans return a host of key components from last season's team including reigning conference MVP Zac Bireley (.371, 9 HR, 50 RBI). Also key to the Spartan's success will be the pitching of Tyler Wolfe (6-4, 2.63 ERA) and Marcus Miller (9-1, 3.36 ERA).
The 2006 Champion Marietta Pioneers (43-11, 15-3) lost several key players from last year's championship team to graduation and the MLB amateur draft. They had a large recruiting class with 20 new faces wearing the pin stripes of the Pioneers. Justin Baumler (8-2, 3.57 ERA) will be the ace of the staff that saw the departure of Mike Eisenberg and Mike DeMark to pursue their dream of a MLB career. "This will be a different club from a year ago, but we still should be successful," said coach Brian Brewer.
Wooster (38-9, 15-1) will be looking for their fourth straight North Coast Athletic Conference title. Leading the Scots will be their two captains, Brandon Boesiger (.427, 17 2B, 30 RBI) and Shaun Swearingen (.435, 20 SB, 46 RBI). "Those two guys are as blue collar as you can get. Both get the most out of their ability. They're great role models. They're very good students," Head Coach Tim Pettorini commented. Boesiger will be twice as valuable behind the plate as he will backstop a very young staff. If the pitching staff can learn on the job, the Wooster Scots might find themselves contending for a national championship.
The Washington and Jefferson Presidents (34-13, 12-6) return 25 letterwinners, all eight starting position players and their top six pitchers from last year's school-record 34-13 squad which claimed the Presidents' Athletic Conference and ECAC Southern Championship titles. W&J also finished the season as the No. 5 ranked team in the Mideast Region. W&J is on the move and was close to some big breakthrough wins last year. If they see continued successes from an experienced squad, they could be the surprise team of 2007.
Others to watch: Adrian (26-17), Denison (25-15 ), Mt St Joseph (30-17) , Ohio Wesleyan (26-14), Rose-Hulman (25-15
Permalink | Feb 21, 2007