GAMES 1-3: Montevallo at Delta State (2.8-10.13)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The No. 1/No. 2 Statesmen (0-0, 0-0 GSC) of Delta State University open the season with a familiar foe as the Falcons (0-0, 0-0 PBC) of the University of Montevallo enter Ferriss Field for a three game series Friday, Feb. 8 through Sunday, Feb. 10.  Friday's first pitch is set for 3 p.m.  Saturday and Sunday's games are scheduled for 1 p.m. The series will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network.  Matt Jones and Keith Latham will have the call.   

DSU and UM have enjoyed a long and competitive series with the Statesmen owning a 29-9 edge in the standings.  The Statesmen swept last season's three-game series at Montevallo 24-3, 17-10 and 20-4 at Johnson Field.

As the Statesmen begin their quest for a return trip to Cary, N.C., February's schedule features a tough road of opponents for the green-and-white.  After this weekend's series with Montevallo, DSU welcomes No. 19 Nova Southeastern for three games on Feb. 15-16 and closes out the month with perennial power No. 32 Florida Southern on Feb. 23-24. 

The 2012 Gulf South Conference champions, Delta State University Statesmen, were selected by the coaches to enter the 2013 season as the preseason favorite.  Delta State topped the coaches' poll garnering 48 total points. West Florida boasted two first-place votes to place second with 43 points, while North Alabama secured third place with 36 points. Both Alabama-Huntsville and Valdosta State tied for fourth with 29 points each.  West Alabama recorded 18 points for fifth place, followed by West Georgia with 14. Rounding out the eight-team preseason coaches' poll was Christian Brothers with seven points.

Delta State University placed five players on the 2013 Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll All-GSC Team.  The five Statesmen named to the squad included Jordan Chovanec (CF), Colton Mitchell (LHP), Sam Kidd (RF), Michael Vinson (LF) and Josh Branstetter (RHP).

The Statesmen will begin the 2013 campaign ranked No. 2 in the nation in Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's annual NCAA Division II Preseason Top 40 Poll.  The GSC featured three teams in the annual preseason prognostication, including No. 2 DSU, No. 16 West Florida and No. 30 North Alabama.  The Statesmen will also face ranked opponents in No. 19 Nova Southeastern, No. 24 Southern Arkansas, and No. 32 Florida Southern.

The Statesmen feature four players on the Tino Martinez NCAA DII National Player of the Year Preseason Watch List.  Led by ABCA All-American Michael Vinson, the group also includes rightfielder Sam Kidd, right-handed pitcher Josh Branstetter and left-handed pitcher Colton Mitchell.

Coach Mike Kinnison begins his 17th season as head coach of the Statesmen.  In his previous 16 seasons as head coach, Kinnison has guided the Statesmen to the 2004 NCAA National title, five College World Series appearances, eight NCAA South Regional appearances, 11 GSC Western Division titles, five NCAA South/South-Central Regional championships and five Gulf South Conference titles.

UP NEXT
Delta State will travel to the University of Arkansas-Monticello on Wednesday, Feb. 13 before returning to Ferriss Field for a weekend series with No. 19 Nova Southeastern University.  Friday's single game is set for 3 p.m. with Saturday's doubleheader slated for 12 p.m.  The Nova SE-DSU series will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network.

DELTA STATE PICKED TO REPEAT AS GSC CHAMPIONS
The 2012 Gulf South Conference champions, Delta State University, was selected by the coaches to enter the 2013 season as the preseason favorite on Wednesday.  Traditional power Delta State topped the coaches' poll garnering 48 total points. West Florida boasted two first-place votes to place second with 43 points, while North Alabama secured third place with 36 points. Both Alabama-Huntsville and Valdosta State tied for fourth with 29 points each.

West Alabama recorded 18 points for fifth place, followed by West Georgia, with 14. Rounding out the eight-team preseason coaches' poll was Christian Brothers, with seven points.

DSU also enters the season ranked No. 2 in the nation in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's Top 40 Preseason Poll, while UWF and UNA (tied with Missouri-St. Louis) collected the No. 16 and No. 30 positions, respectively.

STATESMEN PLACE FIVE ON PRESEASON ALL-GSC
Ten 2012 All-GSC First Team standouts highlight the 20-member 2013 Baseball Preseason All-GSC Team, led by five Statesmen.   Overall, Delta State returned the most players with five, followed by West Florida and North Alabama, which added four each. Alabama-Huntsville and West Alabama both had two players, while Christian Brothers, West Georgia and Valdosta State all rounded out the contingent with one player each.

The five Statesmen named to the squad included Jordan Chovanec (CF), Colton Mitchell (LHP), Sam Kidd (RF), Michael Vinson (LF) and Josh Branstetter (RHP).

STATESMEN OPEN CAMPAIGN AGAINST FORMER GSC FOE
A familiar foe will invade Ferriss Field for the season-opener Friday, February 8, as the Falcons (0-0) of the University of Montevallo travel to Cleveland for a three-game series with the Statesmen.  Friday's first pitch is set for 3 p.m.  Saturday and Sunday's games are scheduled for 1 p.m.

DSU and UM have enjoyed a long and competitve series with the Statesmen owning a 29-9 edge in the standings.  The Statesmen swept last season's three-game series at Montevallo 24-3, 17-10 and 20-4 at Johnson Field. 

STATESMEN RANK NO.1 ALL-TIME IN WINS IN GSC
Delta State University baseball holds the distinction of owning the most conference titles (12) in Gulf South Conference history.  DSU also holds the honor of being the all-time winningest program in league history with 1,780 victories.  Since 1933, the Statesmen are 1,780-880-11. 

TOUGH FEBRUARY FOR GREEN-AND-WHITE
As the Statesmen begin their quest for a return trip to Cary, N.C., February's schedule features a tough road of opponents for the green-and-white.  After this weekend's series with Montevallo, DSU welcomes No. 19 Nova Southeastern for three games on Feb. 15-16 and closes out the month with perinnial power No. 32 Florida Southern on Feb. 23-24. 

DELTA STATE BASEBALL OPENS SEASON ATOP NATIONAL POLLS
The defending Gulf South Conference and NCAA Super Region II champion Delta State University Statesman Baseball team will begin the 2013 campaign ranked No. 1 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association Poll and No. 2 in the nation in Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's annual NCAA Division II Preseason Top 40 Poll.  The Statesmen, went 49-15 last season and claimed a national runner-up finish at the College World Series in Cary. N.C., return six starters in the field and bevy of pitching this year. 

The GSC featured three teams in the annual preseason prognostication, including No. 2 DSU, No. 16 West Florida and No. 30 North Alabama.  The Statesmen will also face ranked opponents in No. 19 Nova Southeastern, No. 24 Southern Arkansas, and No. 32 Florida Southern.

DELTA STATE RETURNS SOLID LINEUP IN 2013
The Statesmen feature eight returning position players this season off a team that claimed a national runner-up finish in 2012 at the NCAA College World Series.  Led by All-American, Michael Vinson (LF), the Statesmen offense should be ahead of the curve as we start the 2013 season.

PLAYER POS AVG 2B-3B-HR RBI
Michael Vinson LF .342 15-3-5 53
Jordan Chovanec CF .351 11-2-3 28
Jonathon Andrews SS .333 3-1-0 26
Tyler Aldridge 2B .321 12-1-0 23
Ben Kingsley DH .315 14-2-3 47
Sam Kidd RF .310 10-2-4 51
Brent Langston 1B .272 11-0-4 36
Josh Crowdus SS .257 1-1-0 14

NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES
The Statesmen feature four players on the Tino Martinez NCAA DII National Player of the Year Watch List.  Led by ABCA All-American Michael Vinson, the group also includes rightfielder Sam Kidd, right-handed pitcher Josh Branstetter and left-handed pitcher Colton Mitchell.

Vinson played in 62 games last season with 60 starts in left field.  The Southaven, Miss., native led the Statesmen in RBIs (53), doubles (15), triples (3), home runs (5) and was second on the team in batting average (.342) and hits (75). 

Kidd is the only player returning who played in all 64 games last season for the Statesmen.  The Hartford, Ky., native was second on the team with 51 RBIs, 75 hits and 19 stolen bases.  He finished the year hitting .310 with 10 doubles, two triples and four home runs. 

Two of the top pitchers in all of DII, Josh Branstetter and Colton Mitchell combined for a 15-5 record in 2010 and 192 strikeouts.  Branstetter, a native of Pensacola, Fla., went 7-3 with a 3.01 ERA and a team-high 104 strikeouts.  Mitchell, a Lake, Miss., native, was 8-2 with a 3.50 ERA and 88 strikeouts. 

THE FASTEST STATESMEN ON TWO FEET
Redshirt junior Jordan Chovanec climbed his way into the starting centerfield position from week one last season and showed just how valuable his speed would be for the Statesmen. 

In 63 games, Chovanec led the team in hits (78) and stolen bases (30), while ranking second in runs scored with 57.  The Inez, Texas native's 30 stolen bases were the third most in school history and ranked third in the GSC.  His 78 hits were the most in the league last year.

NO KIDDING AROUND
Senior rightfielder Sam Kidd takes his job seriously.  It's a simple job, defend right field and set the table for the Statesmen offense.  The former University of Kentucky transfer led the GSC in runs scored last season with 70, besting anyone in the league by 13 runs. 

In 64 games, all starts, the Hartford, Ky., native batted .310 with 10 doubles, two triples, four home runs and knocked in 51 runs.  In 122 chances in RF, Kidd committed just four errors and delivered five outfield assists. 

“COOKIE MONSTER” RETURNS
It's a nickname that took some time to sink in for junior first baseman Brent Langston.  The Southaven, Miss., native is affectionately referred to as the “Cookie Monster” for his ability to gobble up, just like the Sesame Street character, any throw at first base. 

Langston faced 511 chances in 2012 and committed just three errors to finish with a .994 fielding percentage.  Langston also produced at the plate, batting .272 with 11 doubles, four home runs and 36 RBIs.        

LOOKING FOR THE CROWN IN 2013
Senior designated hitter Ben Kingsley is coming off a solid junior campaign that saw the former Meridian CC transfer hit safely in 17-straight games and drive in 47 runs in 2012.  In 62 games, including 60 starts at DH, the Mantachie, Miss., native hit .315 with 75 hits in 238 at-bats.  He collected 14 doubles, two triples and three home runs along the way, while going 15-for-15 in stolen base attempts. 

700-CLUB KINNISON STYLE
Delta State University head baseball coach Mike Kinnison, a member of the MS Sports Hall of Fame, joined the 700-win club last season. He enters the year with a 703-216-1 record.

COVERED LIKE PLASTIC WRAP
The trio of Tyler Aldridge (2B), Jonathon Andrews (SS) and Josh Crowdus (SS) manned the middle of the Statesmen defense last season, producing quality numbers offensively and defensively. 

Aldridge, who blossomed in the postseason, hit .321 last year with 12 doubles and 23 RBIs while playing 62 games at second base with 55 starts. 

Crowdus started the season at shortstop, but missed the majority of the year with a broken finger.  Jonathon Andrews stepped in and provided some offensive firepower.  Crowdus finished the season hitting .257 with 14 RBIs, while Andrews collected a .333 average with 26 RBIs. 

ARMS RACE
While the Statesmen pitching staff will be anchored by  returning weekend starters Josh Branstetter (7-3, 3.01 ERA) and Colton Mitchell (8-2, 3.50 ERA), the rotation will also feature four arms that proved to be invaluable last season.

Senior right-handers Jordan Moore (8-1, 3.08 ERA) and Jared Bond (1-0, 3.68 ERA), junior right-hander Ricky Winters (5-0, 2.41 ERA) and sophomore Drew Milligan (2-0, 2.31 ERA) will provide leadership and depth for coach Mike Kinnison and the staff.

PROFESSIONAL STATESMEN
The Statesmen boast more professional players, 70 drafted and free agents, than any other program in the Gulf South Conference.  Currently, five Statesmen are on active major or minor league rosters.  DSU had three players taken in the 2010 MLB Draft, including: Brandon Hardin (10th/White Sox), Aaron Newcomb (19th/Angels) and James Hudelson (28th/White Sox).

DID YOU KNOW...
Former Delta State head coach and Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Dave “Boo” Ferriss made his professional debut on April 29, 1945?  In fact, Ferriss through a complete-game five-hit shutout in Boston's 2-0 win over Philadelphia.  The Shaw, Miss., native was also 3-for-3 at the plate with a run scored.