Baseball picked for third in the West Division in SLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll

St. Louis, Mo. - Fontbonne University baseball has been tabbed to finish third in the West Division this year in the Coaches Preseason Poll. Webster University was picked first with 45 points while the East Division looks to be a tight race for the top two spots as well. 

Fontbonne garnered 28 points in the poll, just one point behind Westminster College who made it the NCAA Regionals last year. This year Fontbonne returns SLIAC Newcomer of the Year Austin Earnest to the mound. The rookie threw 63 strikeouts last year across 51 innings and is the Griffins' top returning pitcher. Last year Fontbonne aces through 309 strikeouts on the year, setting a new single-season record. Fontbonne lost pitcher Vinnie Santarsiero this year as he opted to play professionally. 

Last year the Griffins finished 15-25 overall and 8-14 in conference. They return 21 including six starters with 15 new members on the team. Fontbonne gains three new pitchers with vast experiences in Levi Earnest, Luke Summers and Cole Lankford while Brendan Beck will be back in action on the mound as well. Top returners include Ben Greenway, Ethan Boyer, Ryan Schocker and Jonathan Hoevelmann. Both Boyer and Hoevelmann led the team with seven stolen bases last year while Greenway batted a team-leading .358 on the year and garnered All-Region honors. Boyer, Greenway and Schocker were All-SLIAC honorees. 

The Griffins also have added Michael Golich to their roster. He played at Webster University his freshman year, garnering all-conference accolades. Returning to play at Fontbonne is heavy hitter Jesse Schott who was named All-Region his freshman year.

Fontbonne opens their 2017 season down in Mississippi playing Millsaps and LaGrange beginning February 17th. The Griffins then stop by Rhodes College on the drive back home before hosting Wisconsin-Platteville and Buena Vista Feb. 24-25. 

2017 Preseason Poll

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