Baseball tabbed for third in 2016 SLIAC Preseason Poll
St. Louis, Mo. - The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has released the 2016 Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll and the Griffins are tabbed to finish third in the West Division. Spalding and Webster have again grabbed the top spots for their respective divisions. Greenville, last year's Tournament Champions, were picked second in the East Division. Webster has advanced to the NCAA Division III World Series three times in the last four years.
The Griffins were chosen third in the West Division, in the middle of the pack with 24 total points. Last season Fontbonne went 18-20 overall and 13-9 in the SLIAC. The Griffins return 25 players and 10 starters from last year. Returning senior pitchers Tanner Carter and Vince Santarsiero give the Griffins a strong rotation.
Carter picked up four wins last season while finishing with a 3.92 earned-run average over a team-high 64.1 innings pitched. Santarsiero posted a team-best 2.18 ERA with four wins and three saves over 45.1 innings pitched. The Griffins' offense will be anchored by junior infielder Ben Greenway. Greenway, a First Team All-Conference performer last year, hit a league-best .462 while driving in 31 and compiling 15 doubles. He also earned the Red Schoendienst award at Fontbonne, the highest garnered male athlete honor. Ethan Boyer, a junior infielder, also returns after hitting .323 with 15 RBIs and a team-high seven stolen bases. Among the newcomers looking to see time are freshmen Brendon Beck and Jon Hovelmann.