FULL ASC RELEASE
Richardson, Texas – Concordia University Texas has been chosen first in the 2012 American Southwest Conference West Division Baseball Preseason Poll, as announced by the league office on Wednesday, Jan. 19. In addition, senior utility player
Collin Janssen and senior pitcher
Scott Hays made the “16 to Watch in the West Division” list.
Concordia, which won its second ASC tournament crown last season, was selected to win the division title by receiving 181 points and 17 of the 24 first-place votes in the annual poll conducted by head coaches, sports information directors and selected media members. Hardin-Simmons was tabbed to finish second with six first-place votes and 166 points. Texas Lutheran checked in at third with 140 points and one first-place vote, while McMurry, Mary Hardin-Baylor, Sul Ross State, Howard Payne and Schreiner rounded out the poll.
Texas-Tyler, which along with Concordia advanced to the NCAA West Regional in 2011, totaled nine of the 21 first-place votes and 129 points as the East Division favorite. The Patriots were followed by Texas-Dallas and Mississippi College, which tied for second, as well as Louisiana College, LeTourneau, East Texas Baptist and Ozarks.
Concordia, which opens its season at Tornado Field against Southwestern on Feb. 3, returns most of its starters, six All-ASC selections and two major award winners from last year's championship squad. Janssen, a utility player who was primarily used as the team's starting catcher, was the ASC West Division Player of the Year.
Colin Butschek, the ASC West Division Pitcher of the Year, and Hays, who won all three of his postseason starts and was the winning pitcher against fifth-ranked Linfield in the NCAA Tournament, form what could be the top 1-2 punch for any team's starting rotation. Other returning players who garnered ASC postseason accolades last year include infielders
Colton Gommert and
Matt McManemin as well as pitchers
Bryant Hernandez and
Ryan Ullmann.
The 2012 ASC season – the 16th in league history – begins as early as February 3. The eight-team conference tournament's first round, which is played in a best-of-three series format at sites of the top two seeds from each division, is set for April 27-28. The four victorious teams will advance to the double-elimination championship round, set for May 4-6 at the home field of the top remaining seed from the West Division. The ASC champion receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.
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2012 American Southwest Conference Baseball Preseason Poll (West Division)
1. Concordia (17) 181; 2. Hardin-Simmons (6) 166; 3. Texas Lutheran (1) 140; 4. McMurry 140; 5. Mary Hardin-Baylor 97; 6. Sul Ross State 71; 7. Howard Payne 66; 8. Schreiner 32.
2012 American Southwest Conference Preseason Watch List (West Division, Position Players)
Ben Butler (Howard Payne), Josh Fredrick (Mary Hardin-Baylor),
Collin Janssen (Concordia), Brian Mata (Sul Ross State), Troy Tarrant (Hardin-Simmons), Brad Thomas (Schreiner), Matt Thompson (McMurry), Daniel Yancelson (Texas Lutheran).
2012 American Southwest Conference Preseason Watch List (West Division, Pitchers)
Luke Fry (Sul Ross State),
Scott Hays (Concordia), Justin Martinez (Schreiner), Jonathan Morris (Howard Payne), Brad Orosey (Texas Lutheran), Chance Ryan (Mary Hardin-Baylor), James Simmons (Hardin-Simmons), Spencer Smith (McMurry).
2012 American Southwest Conference Baseball Preseason Poll (East Division)
1. Mississippi College (17) 142; 2. Texas-Tyler (2) 120; 3. Texas-Dallas (1) 108; 4. Louisiana College 82; 5. Ozarks 51; 6. East Texas Baptist 49; 7. LeTourneau (1) 36.
2012 American Southwest Conference Preseason Watch List (East Division, Position Players)
Chase Brown (Texas-Dallas), Spencer Brunson (Mississippi College), Hayden Chick (Texas-Tyler), Cayden Cunniff (East Texas Baptist), Jordan Marks (Louisiana College), Kyle Morton (Centenary), Mitchell Powers (Ozarks), Nate Tomaszewski (LeTourneau).
2012 American Southwest Conference Preseason Watch List (East Division, Pitchers)
Bo Craig (Mississippi College), Derek Dallas (Texas-Dallas), Tyler Erickson (Ozarks), Pete Fitzsimmons (East Texas Baptist), Travis Norris (LeTourneau), Cole Thompson (Centenary), Greg Uzee (Louisiana College), Chance Williams (Texas-Tyler).
