College Baseball Poll - Collegiate Baseball Newspaper

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Thursday, Dec. 17, 1998

WICHITA ST. NO. 1 IN COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER (www.baseballnews.com) POLL

TUCSON, Ariz. — Wichita State is the pre-season favorite to win the 1999 College World Series, according to Collegiate Baseball’s annual pre-season survey of NCAA Division I baseball coaches across the USA.

The Shockers, which finished with a gaudy 56-7 record last season but stumbled in the Midwest Regional with a 1-2 record, return six position player starters from a squad which put up some incredible offensive numbers.

Wichita State led the nation with a .369 team batting average, was No. 1 in scoring (12.06 runs per game), No. 1 in doubles hit (202), No. 1 in slugging percentage (.644), and fourth in total number of home runs hit (124). The team also swiped 134 bases in 164 attempts to rank 12th in the nation for total number of base thefts. Despite stealing 134 bases, the Shockers allowed opponents only 31 stolen bases in 52 attempts during 63 games.

The Shockers will also enter the 1999 season with one of the top pitching staffs in the nation.

RHP Ben Christensen (9-0, 4.24 ERA) returns as does LHP Nate Robertson (injured last season but No. 1 pitcher last summer for El Dorado Broncos, potential high draft pick), RHP Eric Bryan (8-3, 3.68 ERA), RHP Brandon Sloan (6-1, 5.15 ERA), RHP Greg Bauer (4-2, 4.69 ERA), RHP Jason Krafft (redshirt due to injury last season, but was 10-3, 3.55 ERA in 1997), plus All-American closer Marc Bluma (11 SV, 5-0, 1.74 ERA).

Last season the team ERA was a superb 3.92 which ranked ninth in the nation. The strikeout to walk ratio was equally impressive with 414 strikeouts and only 157 walks.

Defensively, the Shockers are again loaded.

"Koyie Hill is the best third baseman we have ever had in our program," said Shocker Head Coach Gene Stephenson.

"Kevin Hooper is the best we have ever had at second base defensively. We plan on moving Jeff Ryan from the outfield to shortstop this year. He played shortstop a couple of years ago for us and did a fine job. Pat Magness is a solid first baseman. And our catcher Brian Preston does a fine job day in and day out. So our infield looks to be sound defensively."

When you factor in that the Shockers have two of the top coaches in college baseball history with Gene Stephenson and pitching coach Brent Kemnitz, that is another plus for the Shockers this season. Both of these fine coaches have been together at Wichita State for 21 consecutive seasons and rang up a 1,165-346-3 record in the process with one national championship in 1989 and two second place finishes in 1991 and 1993.

The "Collegiate Baseball" Newspaper poll is the oldest college baseball poll. Its birth took place during the 1957 college baseball season. (Top 40 Agate Follows)