ELMHURST, Ill. �- After winning 30 games and with the bulk of its pitching staff returning, the Centenary baseball team was voted third by The Summit League coaches on Wednesday afternoon.
Centenary looks to upend Oral Roberts' league title run with pitching as it returns all-league performer Boone Whiting. Whiting posted a league-low 1.82 ERA with a 2-2 record and five saves last season. The Gents also welcome back Justin Kraft and Dakota Robinson. Kraft went 9-5 last season with a team-best 67 strikeouts, while Robinson had a 5-3 record. Tim Deering leads the offensive attack after posting a .323 average last season with nine doubles. Steele Lewis (.308) had 72 total bases last season and drove in 35 runs for head coach Ed McCann.
Oral Roberts (49 points) was chosen first and received seven first place votes, while Southern Utah (40 points) was picked second. The Gents picked up 35 points and South Dakota State (30 points) is thought to finish fourth. The Jackrabbits also earned one first place vote.
Western Illinois (29 points) just missed fourth place, while Oakland (17 points), IPFW (13 points) and North Dakota State (11 points) round out the league.
"This is about where I thought we would be picked," said head coach Ed McCann. "One thing is for certain we cannot come out slow in conference play like we did last year. This season is going to be a fight from start to finish."
The Gents begin their season on Feb. 24 against Texas A&M in College Station, and they will open up at home against Northern Iowa on Feb. 27.
