Darrin Biegert
Sports Information Intern

The Bethany College baseball team was picked to finish seventh in the 2012 annual Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball preseason coaches' poll, announced on November 8 by the league office. The Swedes finished seventh in the 2011 KCAC standings. The spring polls are the coaches' predictions for regular-season finishes among all KCAC schools that field baseball teams. The Swedes accumulated 15 points.

Tabor College was picked first in the poll with 59 points and four first place votes followed by Sterling College and Kansas Wesleyan. Eight of the ten KCAC institutions participate in baseball."It will be interesting to see how our team responds," says Head Baseball Coach Jeremy Cantrell. "They have two choices really—either except it is as fact or continue to work to be a better ballplayer on a daily basis."

The Swedes expect to have a solid pitching staff after a quality fall season, including senior Montana Prim, freshman Clay Cozzirtorto, and junior transfers Morgan Heiman and Chris Drake. Sophomore Nick Lucchessi and junior Taylor Plante also return, having thrown over ten innings last year.

The Swedes return three position players in senior Ben Gas, and juniors Matt Gabrielson and Jake Webster, who all saw action in 40 or more games. Senior Darrin Biegert, junior Adam Hutchison, and junior transfer Travis Key will man the corner infield positions while junior transfer Jose Sermo and Gabrielson will play up the middle. The outfield will include three junior transfers in Roemon Fields, Will Gibson, and Anthony Traverso. Webster will carry the catching load this year along with junior transfer Jose Rodriguez, and the designated hitter top candidates are sophomore Brant Weaver and Gas.

The Swedes haven't seen changes in just the roster; they've also seen improvements to the field over the last three months. In early August, the infield received new dirt, which will allow quicker drying time and a much firmer playing surface. The edges of the field were also cut. Extra efforts are also being made in the classroom and in the weight room. The Swedes are preparing for a program turn around year. "There have been a lot of good things put in place. Now it will come down to the volume of people that buy into the formula for success," adds Cantrell.

The Swedes open play on February 6 with a three-game series against Baccone College in Muskogee, Okla. They travel to Chickasha, Okla., the following weekend for another three-game series against University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma before opening the home portion of their schedule on February 18 against Concordia College with a 12 p.m. first pitch.

1.  TABOR COLLEGE                                     59 points (1^stplace votes - 4)

2.  STERLING COLLEGE                              53 points (1^stplace votes – 2)

3.  KANSAS WESLEYAN COLLEGE            52 points (1^stplace votes – 2)

4.  UNIVERSITY OF SAINT MARY                 37 points

5.  OTTAWA UNIVERSITY                               37 points

6.  FRIENDS UNIVERSITY                             25 points

7.  BETHANY COLLEGE                                15 points

8.  McPHERSON COLLEGE                          10 points

Although USM and OU tied in points, USM had more 4^thplace votes than OU.