GAME NOTES: No. 6 Delta State University at Palm Beach Atlantic University (2.7-9, 2014)
Complete weekly release with notes, rankings, stats and more in PDF
CLEVELAND, Miss. - Delta State University faces a stiff road test to open the season, as the No. 6 Statesmen (0-0, 0-0 GSC) travel to Palm Beach Atlantic University (0-0) for a three-game series at Roger Dean Stadium in West Palm Beach, Fla. The series begins Friday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday's games are set for 1 p.m. This week's series will be the first between the schools on the diamond. DSU and PBAU have met previously in men's basketball.
INSIDE THE SERIES: DSU-PBAU
For the first time in program history, Delta State University Baseball will travel to West Palm Beach, Fla., to open the season versus Palm Beach Atlantic University. DSU and PBAU have met previous in men's basketball.
The three-game series will begin on Friday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at the St. Louis Cardinals training facility - Roger Dean Stadium. Saturday and Sunday's contests are set for 1 p.m. starts.
The Sailfish finished last season last season 28-23 while the Statesmen were 44-11-1.
LEADING OFF...
1. The Statesmen baseball team was picked to finish first for the second year in a row in the annual Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. DSU picked up a trio of first and second place votes to tie West Florida with 44 points. DSU finished the 2013 regular season atop the GSC rankings.
2. Delta State was also heavily represented in the 2014 GSC Baseball Preseason Team, with five of the 19 players. On the list for DSU are;
Jordan Chovanec (CF),
Kasey Hinton (2B),
Carlos Leal (C),
Michael Manley (RHP), and
Taylor Stark (RHP).
3. The Statesmen open the season ranked in all three major NCAA Division II polls. DSU's highest preseason ranking is by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association at No. 6 followed by No. 8 in The Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll. CBLineup.com has the Statesmen ranked No. 24 in its annual preseason prognostications.
4.
Jordan Chovanec (CF) and
Michael Manley (RHP) were named Preseason All-Americans by the ABCA & NCBWA.
5. Playing in the nation's toughest NCAA Division II region, it's way too early to predict who will represent the South in the NCAA Tournament. Delta State was picked second, behind defending national champion Tampa, in the NCBWA Preseason South Region Poll.
6. Coach
Mike Kinnison is in his 18th season as head coach of the Statesmen. Since 1997, Kinnison has accomplished an unbelievable career record of 747-227-2 (.765). DSU is nearly unbeatable at Ferriss Field, where the Statesmen are 378-71 under Kinnison's direction.
7. Delta State will be recognizing the 10th anniversary of its 2004 NCAA Division II National Championship later this spring. In 2004, the Statesmen defeated Grand Valley State, 12-8, at Patterson Field in Montgomery, Ala. for the title.
8. The Statesmen enter the season with an all-time record of 1,824-893-11.
9. Delta State has led NCAA Division II in home attendance for the past three seasons and six of the last seven.
UP NEXT
Delta State returns to Ferriss Field for a four-game home stand versus Harding University and the University of West Alabama. DSU faces the Bisons on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. before opening Gulf South Conference play versus the Tigers on Saturday (12 pm | DH) and Sunday (2 pm).
STATESMEN PICKED TO WIN GSC; FIVE STATESMEN NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-GSC TEAM
The Statesmen baseball team was picked to finish first by the rest of the conference, picking up a trio of first and second place votes to tie West Florida with 44 points. DSU finished the 2013 regular season atop the GSC rankings.
Delta State was also heavily represented in the 2014 GSC Baseball Preseason Team, with five of the 19 players. On the list for DSU are;
Jordan Chovanec,
Kasey Hinton,
Carlos Leal,
Michael Manley, and
Taylor Stark.
Delta State (44)
West Florida (44)
Alabama-Huntsville (37)
Valdosta State (29)
North Alabama (27)
West Alabama (18)
West Georgia (17)
Christian Brothers (8)
STATESMEN OPEN SEASON IN TOP 10
With the start of the college baseball season a week away, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its annual Preseason Top 25 on Wednesday, Jan. 29, ranking Delta State University No. 6 with 256 poll points. The Statesmen finished the 2013 season 44-11-1 and closed out the campaign ranked No. 6 in the final NCBWA rankings.
Defending NCAA DII champion and South Region foe Tampa holds down the top spot in the preseason ranking followed by Minnesota State-Mankato, St. Edward's, Mount Olive and Grand Valley State in the top five. DSU is sixth with Franklin Pierce, Chico State, South Carolina-Aiken and Shippensburg rounding out the top 10.
CHOVANEC & MANLEY NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
The preseason awards continue to grow for Delta State University Baseball as a pair of seniors,
Jordan Chovanec and
Michael Manley, have each been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association preseason awards lists. Both players were recognized as All-South Region First Team honorees, while Manley also earned a place on the Second Team All-American list.
Manley returns for his senior season for the Statesmen after posting a 9-0 record in 2013 over 14 appearances with a 1.93 ERA. After his first season pitching for DSU Manley earned many postseason accolades, including First Team All-Gulf South Conference thanks to being named Pitcher of the Week four times, First Team All-South Region by Daktronics and the NCBWA, Daktronics All-America Second Team, and NCBWA All-America Honorable Mention.
Chovanec will hit the field for his fourth season as a member of the Statesmen, where he will be looking to continue to rise the career record books in several categories. His career efforts have totaled 156 hits, 126 runs, and 52 stolen bases. Last season, the Inez, Texas, native hit .347 with 76 hits, while scoring 64 runs to lead the GSC.
The 2013 season saw Chovanec credited with postseason honors on All-GSC First Team, the conference also named him Most Valuable Player of the GSC Tournament, Daktronics All-South Second Team, and honorable mention by NCBWA All-South. Not to be overlooked are Chovanec's efforts in the classroom, where he earned placement on Capital One Academic All-American Second Team, CoSIDA Academic All-South Region Team, and CoSIDA Academic All-South Region Team.
This is the second preseason honor for the Statesmen duo, having previously been selected to the American Baseball Coaches Association/Collegiate Baseball News Preseason All-America Team.
STATESMEN ROTATION SOLID ENTERING SEASON
With
Michael Manley (9-0, 1.93 ERA) and
Ricky Winters (5-0, 3.93 ERA) returning to anchor the rotation in 2014, coach
Mike Kinnison is looking for a few arms to step up for the Statesmen.
Returnees
Drew Milligan (2-1, 2.13 ERA) and
Casey Greene (1-0, 2.70 ERA) will look to fill voids left by a senior laden class in 2013 on the mound. There are also several newcomers looking to make an immediate impact for the Statesmen.
STARK RETURNS TO ANCHOR BULLPEN
Senior RHP
Taylor Stark returns to anchor the bullpen for the Statesmen. The former Mississippi State transfer and First Team All-GSC selection was 3-0 with five saves last season for the Statesmen.
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 1,824 victories. Since 1933, the Statesmen are 1,824-893-11. In GSC games only, DSU is 512-186-1.
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 747-227-2 record.
PROFESSIONAL STATESMEN
The Statesmen boast more professional players, 71 drafted and free agents, than any other program in the Gulf South Conference. Currently, six Statesmen are on active major or minor league rosters. DSU's
Garrett Pickens was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 28th round following last season.
MIDDLE INFIELD OFFERS BOTH DEPTH AND OPTIONS
Returning to anchor the middle infield is
Kasey Hinton at Second Base. The senior had quite an impact on the Statesmen as a junior, hitting .331 and scoring 34 runs on his way to being named to the All-Gulf South Conference Second Team. The slick-fielding infielder had a .961 fielding percentage - totaling 97 putouts and 148 assists.
Jonathan Andrews returns for his third season with the Statesmen. The junior looks to regain the form that had him hit .333 as a freshman in 2012. Over the course of two seasons, Andrews has collected 44 hits and scored 31 runs while seeing action in 72 games.
Newcomers
Benji Sullivan (Jones County CC),
Zac Corona (Las Vegas, Nev.),
Dalton Skelton (Senatobia, Miss.), and
Juan Rivera (Jackson State CC) look to contribute and provide options for the coaching staff.
CHOVANEC HAS MADE A HOME IN CENTER
In the first game he plays this season, national player of the year candidate
Jordan Chovanec will do so in game number 150 over a four year career. Chovanec has started 115 games over the last two seasons, ending up on the All-GSC First Team each season while also awarded second team Daktronics All-South Region. With 53 stolen bases over his career, Chovanec is sixth in school history and is only 27 away from passing all-time leader Michael Niemann at 79.
ROOM TO ROAM
The two corner outfield positions to flank Chovanec are open for competition. Leading contenders heading into the season are
Hunter Twitty in Left Field and
Dex Herrington manning Right Field. Twitty appeared in two games last season for the Statesmen, and 13 over his career, and will be looking to see his first significant playing experience as he outplayed several newcomers to get the nod in Left Field.
On the opposite side of the outfield, Herrington will look to continue the hot-streak that saw him hit .400 in reserve action last season over 18 games (2 starts). Herrington scored thrice and drove in two over 15 at-bats. While playing at NW Mississippi CC, Herrington hit over .340 in each of his two seasons before joining DSU.
Also in the mix for paying time in the outfield will be JC transfer
Will Robertson. Robertson hit .420 while driving in 55 RBI and scoring 47 runs, including five home runs, while at NE Mississippi CC. Robertson will also see some time pitching out of the bullpen.
SPEED KILLS
The Statesmen set a new team record with 117 stolen bases in 2013. No one can question the impact speed makes on the bases, so look for the Statesmen to continue the trend this year.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Defense has always been a staple for the Statesmen. A year ago, DSU recorded a .964 fielding percentage in 2,082 chances. The Statesmen also turned 51 double plays and had 11 players record 1.000 fielding percentages.
LEAL & PICKARD TO ANCHOR PLATE
The Statesmen have two quality stoppers behind the plate in senior
Carlos Leal, and sophomore
Ben Pickard. A 2014 All-GSC First Team pick, Leal returns after being named to the 2013 Daktronics All-South Region Second Team and All-Gulf South Conference First Team in 2013.
In his first season as a Statesman the East Central CC transfer hit .310 and scored 29 runs with 27 RBI while batting in the middle of the line-up. Leal collected 45 hits while walking 18 times boasting an on-base percentage of .386. He fielded at a .988 clip with 39 assists.
Pickard played in 20 games during the 2013 campaign with 13 starts as a freshman. He collected 12 hits in 46 at bats (.261 avg.) with a double and two home runs plating 10 RBIs and scoring seven runs. Pickard had a 1.000 fielding percentage with 76 putouts and five assists.
LANGSTON & VELEZ GIVE STATESMEN 1-2 PUNCH AT 1B
Seniors
Brent Langston and
Ricky Velez will man the bag at first for the Statesmen in 2014. Langston returns following a stellar junior campaign which saw him named to the 2013 All-Gulf South Conference Tournament Team.
The 6-2, 230-pound Langston had 44 starts in 48 games for the Statesmen collecting 44 hits (.288 avg.) with five doubles and three homeruns. Langston had a .382 on base percentage with 33 RBIs and 25 runs scored while boasting a.989 fielding percentage with 354 putouts and 21 assists.
Velez played in 19 games with four starts in 2013. The East Central CC transfer had six hits in 23 at bats (.261 avg.) with a double and a homerun. He had 10 total bases for a .435 slugging percentage with six RBIs and five runs scored. Velez was error-free in the field with 55 putouts and four assists.
WORLD CHAMPION STATESMEN
Eli Whiteside, a former All-American catcher at DSU, became the first player in Delta State University history to win two MLB World Series Championships with the San Francisco Giants (2010 | 2012). Barry Lyons, a back-up catcher for New York, became the first Statesmen to win a World Series title with the New York Mets in 1986.
