Feb. 3, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Wright State baseball team was tabbed as the preseason favorite by the Horizon League on Wednesday (February 3) as the 2009 Horizon League Tournament champions received all six possible first place votes from the voting coaches in the league.

Wright State claimed the six possible first place votes to account for their 36 points, while UIC was chosen second with 31 points and the other first place vote. Milwaukee was third with 21 points, followed by Valparaiso (22 points) and Youngstown State (15 points). Cleveland State was picked sixth with 12 points and Butler rounds out the poll with seven points.

The preseason poll is made up of votes from the seven league coaches and each rank the six teams, excluding their own, in order of finish.

The Raiders will bring back four of their five All-Horizon League performers from last season, led by the league’s Relief Pitcher of the Year, Michael Schum, and Quentin Cate, the 2009 Newcomer of the Year. Second Team performer R.J. Gundolff, along with All-League First Team outfielder and Team USA member Casey McGrew also return for the Green and Gold.

The 2010 Raiders will play a tough schedule before starting league play, but 24 returning players give WSU a wealth of experience to draw from during their pre-league schedule. Eight starting position players return in 2010, along with four starting pitchers, led by Alex Kaminsky, Michael Woytek and Jon Durket, who returns from injury in 2010.

Cate and McGrew return to lead the Raiders offense, with each player driving in 50+ RBI’s last season. Six players that hit over .300 last year are back for another tour and nearly 80-percent of their runs scored return from 2009. Ryan Ashe, Cate, Aaron Fields, Garrett Gray, Gundolff, Jake Hibberd, McGrew, Tristan Moore and Gerald Ogrinc all have staring experience heading into the 2010 campaign.

The Raiders will open up their 2010 slate with a trip to Cary, N.C. to compete in the USA Baseball Complex Classic. WSU will open play with a single game on Opening Day, February 19, with Canisius at 2:00.

2010 Horizon League Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll