ADA – For the second-straight season, the East Central University baseball team will be participating in the Air Hog D2 Classic at The Ballpark in Grand Prairie, Texas. The four-day event is hosted by Southern Arkansas and will pit the Tigers against Lubbock Christian, Newman, Washburn and Oklahoma Christian, Feb. 2-5.
ECU will open the season against Lubbock Christian, Thursday, Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. The Tigers will then face Newman, Friday, Feb. 3 (4 p.m.), Washburn, Saturday, Feb. 4 (10 a.m.) and Oklahoma Christian, Sunday, Feb. 5 (1 p.m.).
ECU starts the season after going 17-30 overall in 2016 and 15-18 in the Great American Conference. The Tigers made their first trip to the GAC postseason in 2016, advancing to the first round of the GAC Tournament Championship.
A total of 20 players are returning from last year's roster, with seven of those starters and five pitchers. ECU also added 11 newcomers (two pitchers) to the roster.
The Tigers top returners in the field are seniors
Kaleb Matthews and
Jake MeKeel. Matthews, a 2016 All-GAC Second Team pick, recorded 31 runs, 41 hits, 32 RBIs and a .980 fielding percentage. MeKeel added 20 runs, 40 hits, 34 RBIs and a .971 fielding percentage.
Junior
Shae Edmonds and
Brandon Dusenberry lead the pitching staff returners. Edmonds threw four complete games, with 42 strikeouts and a 5-5 record. Dusenberry added 57 strikeouts and threw two complete games.
Lubbock Christian finished the 2016 season with a 37-19 overall record and a 20-7 mark in the Heartland. The Chaparrals were picked to finished second in the Heartland Preseason Poll and have two players that were named to the Preseason All-America Collegiate Baseball list.
Brandon Rix earned a .375 batting average in 2016, with 69 hits, 37 runs and 28 RBIs. Ricky Contreras, the 2016 Heartland Freshman of the Year, finished with a 2.11 ERA, 7-2 record, 81 innings of work, 76 strikeouts and a .220 opponent batting average.
Newman went 28-20 a year ago, including a 14-13 mark in the Heartland. This season the Jets have been picked to finish sixth in the league's preseason poll. Nick Griffin is the top returner with a .314 average, 32 runs, 49 hits, 32 RBIs and a .949 fielding percentage. Joe Carmady is the top returner on the mound, with a 3-2 record, 14 appearances, 22 innings of work and 19 Ks.
Washburn went 34-20 in 2016, with a 26-13 mark in the MIAA. The Ichabods return 19 players and lose 18 from a year ago, where the Tigers played them in the opening game of the classic (L, 9-12).
Nick Silva is a NCBWA Preseason All-Central Region pick and was named the MIAA Player of the Year and to the All-MIAA, MCBWA, D2CCA and ABCA All-Central Region First Teams. Silva earned 14 starts, a 9-0 record and 63 Ks. Riley Krane adds a .319 batting average, 52 runs, 76 hits, 53 RBIs and a .945 fielding percentage.
Oklahoma Christian went 30-22 overall and 17-10 in the Heartland in 2016 and has been picked to finish fourth in 2017. Both Jake Moore and Dalton Rentz were named to the NCAA D2 Collegiate Baseball Players to Watch List. Rentz is new to the team, while Moore went 6-1 on the mound, with 5 saves, a 1.53 ERA, .153 opponent batting average and 47 Ks.
Jake Baxter is the top returner at the plate, with a .314 average, 34 R, 60 hits, 52 RBIs and a .982 fielding percentage.
