GAME NOTES: No. 32 Delta State Statesmen at Montevallo/UA-Monticello (Games 1-4)
Complete Weekly Baseball Release with stats, standings and rankings in PDF

CLEVELAND, Miss. - The No. 32 ranked Statesmen of Delta State University (0-0) open the 2012 campaign on Friday, Feb. 10 in a three-game series at the University of Montevallo Falcons (0-0).  Friday's season-opener gets under way at 2 p.m. with single games to follow at 1 p.m. on Saturday (2.11) and Sunday (2.12).  All three games will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network with Matt Jones, Eric Gallo and Clayton Coffman on the call.   

Delta State enters the 2012 season with the most wins all-time in Gulf South Conference history.  The Statesmen are 1,731-867-11 in program history, including 11 GSC titles and the 2004 NCAA Division II National Championship. 

Defending NCAA DII and GSC champion West Florida was picked to repeat as league champions this year in the annual GSC Preseason Coaches Poll.  The Statesmen (40) were picked third behind the UWF (44) and the North Alabama (43).

Coach Mike Kinnison enters his 16th season as skipper of the Statesmen.  In his previous 15 seasons, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Famer has compiled an enviable 654-201-1 record with four GSC championships, four NCAA DII College World Series appearances the 2004 NCAA DII National Championship.

Josh Branstetter, a junior right-hander from Pensacola, Fla., returns as one of the top pitchers in the league this season and was named to the Preseason-All-GSC Team. In 76.1 innings last season, Branstetter was 7-2 on the bump with a career-best 2.59 ERA.  He walked a mere 11 batters with 49 strikeouts while the opposition hit just .237 against him.    

Senior right-hander Aaron Newcomb, who went 7-7 last season with a 4.43 ERA in 14 starts, was named the 49th best prospect in NCAA Division II by PrefectGame.com in January.  The Centralia, Ill., native was named to the Preseason All-GSC Team.  In 85.1 innings pitched last season, Newcomb walked just 19 batters while striking out 77. 

Michael Vinson, a Preseason National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association Preseason All-Region pick, returns to anchor the Statesmen offense.  The junior from Southaven, Miss., boasts a career .351 average with 24 doubles and 79 RBIs.  As a sophomore last season, the left fielder batted .338 at the plate with eight doubles and 31 RBIs.  He totaled 14 multiple hit and eight multiple RBI games as well.

Jon Carnahan will start the season behind the plate for the Statesmen after batting .304 with three home runs and 15 RBIs last season.  The Port Neches, Texas native played in 24 games with 18 starts a year ago.

Delta State's Opening Day lineup will feature five newcomers at key positions on the field. 

Junior college transfers Kris Koerper (1B) and Ben Kingsley (OF/DH) combined to hit 48 home runs in their two previous stops.  Kingsley led all junior college divisions last season with 19 home runs, while Koerper smashed seven.  As freshmen, Koerper connected on 13 while Kingsley drilled nine. 

SEASON OPENING SUCCESS
Opening day has come to be known as a successful day for the Statesmen under head coach Mike Kinnison. Since taking over the squad in 1997, the Statesmen are 12-3 on opening day under his direction.

FALCONS-STATESMEN CONTINUE RIVALRY
Montevallo and Delta State will continue its long standing rivalry this weekend with a three-game set at Johnson Field in Montevallo, Ala.  DSU and UM did not meet last season.

The two former league foes have met 35 previous times on the diamond with the Statesmen holding a 26-9 edge in the series standings.  

STATESMEN PICKED TO FINISH 3rd IN GSC RACE
The Delta State baseball team was picked to finish third by the coaches in the conference for the upcoming season. West Florida and North Alabama were both tied atop the preseason rankings each with 44 points. West Florida, the defending national champion, received one more first place vote than North Alabama.

No. 32 Delta State is next in the poll with 40 points. The Statesmen received one first place vote, three second place votes, and three votes for third.

After the Statesmen is Valdosta State in fourth and West Alabama in fifth. Next is Alabama-Huntsville in sixth and West Georgia picked seventh. Christian Brothers rounds out the poll in eighth.

BRANSTETTER/NEWCOMB NAMED PRESEASON ALL-GSC; MITCHELL, BABIN & KINGSLEY NAMED TO WATCH LIST
The Gulf South Conference also named their 2012 Pre-Season All-GSC team. Two Statesmen pitchers find themselves on the squad. Junior Aaron Newcomb and junior Josh Branstetter were picked to the team.

Pitcher Cullen Babin, outfielder Ben Kingsley, and pitcher Colton Mitchell, all three juniors, were picked as top-newcomers to the conference for the Statesmen.

DELTA STATE GUNNING FOR 12th GSC TITLE; HOLD RECORD FOR MOST LEAGUE CROWNS
The Statesmen enter the 2012 season gunning for their 12th Gulf South Conference Championship in a league that will sport a new look and feel this year.  Delta State holds the GSC record for most championships (11), GSC postseason wins (62), semifinals appearances (24) and finals appearances (14). No other school has more than five titles.

Delta State's GSC Championship Teams
1978  43-19 (14-4)
1979  32-20 (12-6)
1985  38-20 (7-5)
1988  44-13 (13-1)
1991  33-12 (11-2)
1994  45-13 (19-4)
1996  53-8 (15-1)
2000  48-12 (13-3)
2003  52-10 (28-4)
2004  54-11 (19-3)
2008  48-11 (17-1)

STATESMEN OPEN SEASON RANKED 8th; NEWCOMB NAMED TO PERFECT GAME PROSPECT LIST
The Delta State baseball team has been tabbed by perfectgame.org as the eighth best team in the country. The website released their 2012 NCAA Division II Preview this week, and had high marks for the Statesmen.

The University of Tampa was tabbed as the No. 1 team in the poll, and was followed by Grand Valley State (Mich.), and Francis Marion (S.C.).

Senior pitcher Aaron Newcomb is listed as the Statesmen's top prospect. The Centralia, Ill. native, transferred to Delta State from Olney Central Community College (Ill.). Newcomb finished the 2011 season with a 7-7 record, and an ERA of 4.43 for the Statesmen. He pitched 85.1 innings, walked 19 batters, and fanned 77.

Newcomb is listed as the 49th best prospect in Div. II on the perfectgame.org site. Stephen Johnson, a right-handed pitcher for St. Edwards (Texas) is listed as the top overall prospect in NCAA Div. II. Tampa leads the way on the prospect list with five players, all listed in the top-25. The Statesmen will face Tampa on Feb.25 in Valdosta, Ga.

STATESMEN RANK NO.1 ALL-TIME IN WINS IN GSC
Delta State University baseball holds the distinction of owning the most conference titles (11) in Gulf South Conference history.  DSU also holds the honor of being the all-time winningest program in league history with 1,731 victories.  Since 1933, the Statesmen are 1,731-867-11. 

VINSON SET TO POWER STATESMEN OFFENSE
Michael Vinson, a Preseason National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association Preseason All-Region pick, returns to anchor the Statesmen offense. 

The junior from Southaven, Miss., boasts a career .351 average with 24 doubles and 79 RBIs.  As a sophomore last season, the left fielder batted .338 at the plate with eight doubles and 31 RBIs.

CARNAHAN'S PLAN
Jon Carnahan returns to the lineup this season to resume his duties behind the plate for the Statesmen. Carnahan, a senior transfer from Marion Military Institute, had a solid first season with the Statesmen in 2011.

In 24 games and 18 starts, the catcher batted with a .304 average, hit five doubles, three home runs, and drove in 15 RBI's. Carnahan had a career high 4-for-4 performance with four RBI's against Lambuth last season.

BRANSTETTER RETURNS AS ONE OF LEAGUE'S BEST
Josh Branstetter, a junior right-hander from Pensacola, Fla., returns as one of the top pitchers in the league this season and was named to the Preseason-All-GSC Team.

In 76.1 innings last season, Branstetter was 7-2 on the bump with a career-best 2.59 ERA.  He walked a mere 11 batters with 49 strikeouts while the opposition hit just .237 at the dish.    

NEWCOMB READY TO MAKE MARK AS SENIOR
Senior right-hander Aaron Newcomb, who went 7-7 last season with a 4.43 ERA in 14 starts, was named the 49th best prospect in NCAA Division II by PrefectGame.com in January. 

The Centralia, Ill., native was named to the Preseason All-GSC Team.  In 85.1 innings pitched last season, Newcomb walked just 19 batters while striking out 77. 

KAKWITCH GEARING UP FOR BIG YEAR
Green Bay, Wisc., native Brent Kakwitch enters his second season playing third base for the Statesmen. The senior looks to contribute a full season after battling injuries his junior year.

Kakwitch started 41 games posting a .287 batting average on 37 hits that included six doubles, one triple, two home runs and 19 RBIs; also led the team and was ranked in the nation's top 20 with 15 hit-by-pitches.

BACK TO THE DIAMOND
After his freshman season was cut short due to injury, Justin Badon is looking to get right back to where he left off. In 29 games, Badon batted .317 with a home run, and nine RBI's. He also was successful in 5-of-6 steal attempts.

ET TU, BRUTE?
Et tu, Brute'? Not quite.  This season the Gulf South Conference  will be moving the league's championship tournament to Rome, Ga., and State Mutual Stadium, home of the Rome Braves. 

The Rome Braves are a Class A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.  The GSC Tournament is scheduled for May 5-9 and tickets will go on sale March 15 at GSCSports.org or by calling the Rome Braves' Ticket Office at (706) 368-9388.

YOUTHFUL TALENT READY TO STEP UP FOR STATESMEN
Coach Mike Kinnison will have two sophomores and a redshirt freshman ready to step up and make a play for time on the diamond this week at the University of Montevallo.  Centerfielder Jordan Chovanec and infielders Justin Badon and Marc McMillian are ready to make their mark for the green-and-white. 

Badon, a native of Summit, Miss., saw the most time last season as a true freshman, playing in 29 games while batting .317 with 24 runs scored and 19 RBIs. 

Chovanec saw time in 30 games, primarily as a speedster on the base paths, swiping 3-of-5 stolen base attempts and scoring five runs. 

McMillian, a Mendenhall, Miss., native, appeared in one game last season, going 1-for-1 at the plate with a double, before redshirting. 

STATESMEN ADD TWO BIG BATS
The Statesmen offense got a jolt this offseason with the addition of two big hitters. Kris Koerper joined the squad as a transfer from El Paso Community College (Texas). The junior first baseman batted .331 with 18 doubles, seven home runs, and 42 RBI's during the 2011 season with EPCC. Koerper was named a National Junior College Athletic Association All-Star.

The Statesmen also added Ben Kingsley, and outfielder from Meridian Community College. Kinglsey hit .366 for Meridian last season, and knocked in 60 RBI's. He also led the nation for junior colleges with 19 home runs last season. The Mantachie, Miss. native was named a MJCAA Player of the Week last season.