Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Red Raider baseball ranked

With the start of the college baseball season roughly a month away, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper released its annual preview issue last week.

Defending PSAC tournament champion Shippensburg starts the year ranked 39th in Collegiate Baseball's Fab 40 preseason poll. The Red Raiders went 28-24 last season and, thanks to the conference title, earned a berth in a North Atlantic Regional.

To go with a decent team ranking, junior left-handed pitcher Matt Wright and senior outfielder Justin Garber were tabbed as preseason All-Americans in the North Atlantic Region. Mentioned among Players to Watch is outfielder Tyler Reddick. First baseman Steve McCardell is listed as a Newcomer to Watch in the region.

West Chester, a PSAC East power, is the conference's highest ranked team, checking in at No. 22. Shippensburg's PSAC West rivals, California and Slippery Rock, are ranked 26th and 30th, respectively. Defending PSAC East and North Atlantic Regional champion Kutztown starts the year at No. 37.

The Red Raiders open the 2008 season at Mount Olive (N.C) on Feb. 16 and begin their home slate March 15 against Bloomsburg.

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