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Baseball Pre-Season Poll

East Division | West Division

McMurry favored to win West Division in baseball poll
Indians' Joe Fichera named pre-season Player of the Year

RICHARDSON, Texas -- Defending ASC Baseball Champion McMurry University is the overwhelming favorite to win the American Southwest Conference's West Division baseball championship according to a vote taken by American Southwest Conference Baseball Coaches, Directors of Athletics and Sports Information Directors.

The American Southwest Conference has realigned into a two-division conference with 12 institutions playing baseball. East Texas Baptist will be ineligible for the ASC Championship as it continues to phase out its athletic scholarships through the end of the 1998-99 academic year.

McMurry, who finished the season at 31-13 overall, 18-3 in the ASC, received 12 of the 16 first-place votes for a total of 90 points. University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is picked second with 61 points, followed by Howard Payne's 56 points. Hardin-Simmons University (53), Sul Ross State University (50) and Schreiner College (27) round out the poll.

McMurry senior third baseman Joe Fichera has been selected as the West Division Pre-Season Player of the Year. Fichera led the conference in batting with a .443 average, hits per game (1.79), runs scored per game (1.67) and stolen bases (28). (top of page)

1999 West Division Pre-Season Baseball Poll
(Number of votes for predicted place to finish)
Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 Points
1. McMurry 12 2 2 -- -- -- 90
2. Mary Hardin-Baylor 2 4 4 2 3 1 61
3. Howard Payne 1 3 3 3 4 1 56
4. Hardin-Simmons 1 3 2 7 5 1 53
5. Sul Ross State -- 3 5 3 1 4 50
6. Schreiner College -- -- -- 4 3 9 27

Mississippi College favored for East Division baseball crown
Dallas' Scott Myers selected pre-season Player of the Year

RICHARDSON, Texas -- Mississippi College is a slim favorite to win the American Southwest Conference's East Division baseball title, nudging the University of Dallas by one point according to a vote taken by Conference Baseball Coaches, Directors of Athletics and Sports Information Directors.

The American Southwest Conference has realigned into a two-division conference with 12 institutions playing baseball. East Texas Baptist will be ineligible for the ASC Championship as it continues to phase out its athletic scholarships through the end of the 1998-99 academic year.

Mississippi College, who finished the 1998 season at 15-21 overall, 8-12 in the ASC, received 5 of the 14 first-place votes for a total of 81 points. University of Dallas is picked second with 80 points, followed by the University of the Ozarks' 50 points. Austin College (43), LeTourneau University (36) and East Texas Baptist (31) round out the poll.

University of Dallas' sophomore pitcher Scott Myers has been selected as the East Division Pre-Season Player of the Year. Myers, in his freshman campaign, had 5-3 record with a 4.24 ERA in 57.1 innings pitched.(top of page)

1999 East Division Pre-Season Baseball Poll
(Number of votes for predicted place to finish)
Rank 1 2 3 4 5 6 Points
1. Mississippi College 5 9 1 -- 1 -- 81
2. University of Dallas 7 4 4 -- 1 -- 80
3. University of the Ozarks 1 2 1 7 4 1 50
4. Austin College -- -- 5 5 2 4 43
5. Letourneau University -- -- 3 2 7 4 36
6. East Texas Baptist University * 1 1 2 2 1 4 31

* East Texas Baptist is ineligible for conference championship.