Keene State College ranked 25th in national baseball poll

KEENE, N.H. - Set to begin its indoor spring practice in a few weeks, the Keene State College baseball team has been ranked 25th in the inaugural 2008 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA)-D3baseball.com preseason Division III Poll, announced on Wednesday.

The Owls, who received 117 points in the poll, return seven starting position players and five key pitchers from last year's 32-15 team which set a program record for wins and earned its initial berth to the NCAA tournament where they advanced to the championship game of the New England region.

Little East Conference Coach of the Year Ken Howe welcomes back 21 letter-winners including LEC all-stars Jamie Chevalier (Amherst, N.H.), Beau Darak (Londonderry, N.H.), Joe Rousseau (Nashua, N.H.), and Jamie Morin (Goffstown, N.H.).

Chevalier, a sophomore second baseman, led the Owls in hitting (.365), scored 33 runs, belted three home runs, and had 23 RBIs. A sophomore first baseman, Darak finished the season with a team high six home runs to go with 32 RBIs and a .300 batting average. Rousseau, a junior third baseman, batted .261 with a home run and 31 RBIs. A junior pitcher, Morin posted a 4-3 record with a 3.63 ERA. Other top returnees for the Owls include shortstop Ryan Jones (Nashua, N.H.), outfielders Ben Fournier (Center Harbor, N.H.), Jeff Perkins (Dunbarton, N.H.) and Greg Ford (Nashua, N.H.), who also is the Owls' top closer. Phil Mabey (Williamstown, Mass.) and Ben Sonberg (Bow, N.H.) are expected to be key members of KSC's pitching staff.

Cortland (N.Y.) State is the No. 1 ranked team in the pre-season poll. LEC rival, Eastern Conn. (ranked seventh) is also in the poll.

The Owls begin their 2008 season during spring week break (March 15-22) when they travel to Phoenix, Arizona.