 Baseball Picked to Finish Sixth in League Race
Jan. 15, 2010
ST. LOUIS - In a vote of the Atlantic 10 Conference baseball coaches, the Saint Louis Billikens were predicted to finish sixth in the league standings. It is the highest predicted finish for the Billikens since they were tabbed to place second in 2007. Last season, the Billikens posted a 30-25 record and a 12-13 mark in Atlantic 10 Conference play. It was just the fourth time since 1972 that the Billikens finished above .500. In addition, it marked the third time SLU achieved 30 wins, joining the 1977 squad (30) and trailing only the 2006 club's 32 wins. The Billikens have experienced improvement in each of head coach Darin Hendrickson's two years at the helm. In his first season in 2008, the Bills won eight more games than the year prior finishing 24-29. SLU again increased its win total last year, and a late-season charge put the Billikens in position to qualify for the A-10 Championship for the first time since 2006. SLU won six of its last eight conference games, which included five victories on the road, but finished one spot out of a conference playoff berth in seventh place. Saint Louis returns three of its top four hitters from a season ago. Senior first baseman Danny Brock hit .336 last year with 15 doubles and 38 RBIs, while senior catcher Ben Braaten returns his .335 average, eight homers and 41 RBIs. Sophomore infielder Zach Miller claimed Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America plaudits a season ago after hitting .324 with a team-leading 10 home runs and 61 RBIs. On the mound, senior right-hander Bryant Cotton (5-4, 4.64 ERA) leads a rotation that is likely to include several newcomers.
Dayton was picked to finish first in the league, while Charlotte was tabbed second. The top six teams at the end of the regular season advance to the A-10 Championship in Camden, N.J. SLU begins its season Feb. 19 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Little Rock, Ark. |
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