Howard Payne baseball was pre-season picked to finish fifth in the American Southwest Conference West Division standings; it was announced by the ASC office on Tuesday (Jan. 29) after a vote of each division’s head coaches, sports information directors and media members.
Howard Payne, who finished 14-24 overall and 7-14 in the ASC West Division (6th) last season, was predicted to finish fifth in the West with 60 points. Senior Yellow Jacket outfielder Carlton Brown and junior right handed pitcher Corey Howie were both named to the 14 players to watch in the ASC West Division.
The 2013 ASC season – the 17th in league history – begins as early as February 1st. The eight-team conference tournament’s first round, which is played in a best-of-three series format at sites of the top two seeds from each division, is set for April 26-27. The four victorious teams will advance to the double-elimination championship round, set for May 3-5 at the home field of the top remaining seed from the East Division. The ASC champion receives an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship.
2013 ASC PRESEASON BASEBALL POLL
[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches, Sports Information Directors and Media Members]
WEST DIVISION
Team (first-place votes) Points 2012 Record (finish)
1. Concordia Texas (17) 139 37-11, 17-4 ASC (1st)
2. Texas Lutheran (2) 118 27-14, 16-5 ASC (2nd)
3. Hardin-Simmons (2) 116 20-20, 12-9 ASC (T3rd)
4. Mary Hardin-Baylor 77 21-17, 11-10 ASC (5th)
5. Howard Payne 60 14-24, 7-14 ASC (6th)
6. Sul Ross State 50 9-30, 5-16 ASC (7th)
7. Schreiner 38 7-33, 4-17 ASC (8th)
* McMurry (23-24, 12-9 ASC) is no longer member of the conference.
EAST DIVISION
Team (first-place votes) Points 2012 Record (finish)
1. Texas-Tyler (11) 134 33-12, 14-4 ASC (T1st)
2. Texas-Dallas (9) 131 28-15, 14-4 ASC (T1st)
3. Mississippi College (1) 106 21-24, 9-9 ASC (3rd)
4. Louisiana College 71 15-24, 7-11 ASC (T4th)
5. LeTourneau 55 15-23, 7-11 ASC (T4th)
6. East Texas Baptist 53 12-24, 7-11 ASC (T4th)
7. Ozarks 38 15-24, 5-13 ASC (7th)
* Centenary (24-15, 0-0 ASC) is no longer member of the conference.
2013 ASC PRESEASON WATCH LISTS
[One position player and pitcher nominated by each ASC head coach]
14 To Watch in the West Division:
Position Players
Carlton Brown, OF, Sr., Howard Payne
Dakota Dill, OF, Sr., Sul Ross State
Chris Florack, OF, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Ryan Hill, C, Jr., Texas Lutheran
Brent Schaekel, OF, Jr., Concordia Texas
Chris Whitehead, 1B, Sr., Schreiner
Marcus Uechi, SS/2B, Jr., Hardin-Simmons
Pitchers
Tyler Brunnemann, RHP, Sr., Hardin-Simmons
Ray Gutierrez, RHP, So., Sul Ross State
Corey Howie, RHP, Jr., Howard Payne
Sean Kistler, RHP, Sr., Texas Lutheran
Austin Rupert, RHP, Sr., Concordia Texas
Chance Ryan, RHP, Sr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
Matt Valley, RHP, Sr., Schreiner
14 To Watch in the East Division:
Position Players
Cole Bagbey, OF, Sr., Louisiana College
Chris Bertram, OF/DH, Jr., LeTourneau
Nick Brill, 2B, Sr., Ozarks
T.J. Martin, 3B, Sr., Texas-Tyler
Josh Perez, 2B, Sr., Mississippi College
Matty Sullivan, OF, So., East Texas Baptist
Jake Wyand, 1B/OF, Sr., Texas-Dallas
Pitchers
Jack Barkley, RHP, Jr., Texas-Tyler
Ian Bryan, RHP, Sr., Ozarks
Kirby Cantalamessa, RHP, Sr., LeTourneau
Derek Dallas, RHP, Sr., Texas-Dallas
Ryan Glover, LHP, Sr., Mississippi College
Zach Tampke, RHP, So., East Texas Baptist
Seth Webster, RHP, Sr., Louisiana College
