Always underrated and over-heated, the MAC powers on with some of the most exciting championship chases in the country. Don’t believe what you see in February and March, it’s May that these guys hit their stride and by that time, they’re giving each other broken egos.

2009 in a Paragraph:
Though the division races were ultra-competitive and the slots for the MAC tourney went down to the wire, the 2009 season wasn’t a smashing success overall for the MAC, with only five teams finishing with winning marks and most teams underachieving for the most part. Kent State started off the season as a Top 25 team, but fell under the weight of expectations early on. The Flashes got banged around pretty soundly in MAC play, finishing 3rd in the East, but they eventually regrouped and ended up beating the field in Chillicothe to win the MAC tourney. Toledo barely scraped into the field of six despite losing six of their last seven games, but got hot in Chillicothe and made a spirited run at the Big Dance.

Conference RPI: 21

2009 Results
Eastern Division:
1- Bowling Green, 18-8
2- Ohio, 18-9
3- Kent State, 17-9
4- Miami, 15-12
5- Akron, 12-15
6- Buffalo, 6-20

Western Divison:
1- Ball State, 14-10
2- Toledo, 14-12
3- Eastern Michigan, 13-14
4- Central Michigan, 12-15
5- Northern Illinois, 10-16
6- Western Michigan, 9-18

2010 in a paragraph:
Across the conference there is a lot of four-year experience returning to campuses, so you have to expect the quality of play will improve in 2010. Though the pitching will be much better – and with the best ERA being 5.54 last year, it MUST – it will still be an offensive-minded conference where if you don’t hit, you’ll get pounded to a moist spot in the dirt. Look for Kent State to continue to have the best team, though they didn’t play like it the entire season in 2009. If they lapse, a number of teams will be more than willing to scratch-and-claw right past them. Veterans Stadium in Chillicothe is a beauty of a venue for the post-season tournament (in an old school cool kind of way) and will be the scene of much carnage once again this May. But that just makes it all that much sweeter for the lucky team that gets the honor of the dogpile.

Ball State is a top contender thanks to the dual threat of 2B/RHP Kolbrin Vitek.

Favorite: Kent State

Contenders: Bowling Green, Miami, Ball State, Eastern Michigan

Darkhorse: Toledo

Can’t-Miss Series of the Year: Bowling Green at Kent State, May 14-16
Close Second: Ball State at Toledo, May 20-22

Best Non-Conference Series: Kent State at Kansas State, March 12-14

Hot Coach: Scott Stricklin, Kent State.

Hot Seat Coach: None

The “You Gotta See” Player: OF Gauntlett Eldemire, Ohio
Close Second: 2B Kolbrin Vitek, Ball State

Three Non-Conference Series MAC Opponents Better Take Seriously:
1- Ball State at Coastal Carolina and UNC-Wilmington, March 7-9
2- Miami at Auburn, March 5-7.
3- Kent State at Wake Forest, Feb. 26-28

Three Bold Predictions:
1- After having none last year, the MAC will see four teams lower their ERA below 5.00.
2- MAC will get seven winning teams for 2010.
3- Guantlett Eldemire will outshine Bryce Bentz when OU goes to Middle Tennessee in week two in a matchup of two of the best “mid-major” players in the country.

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Eastern Division:

- AKRON (19-33, 12-15)
2009 RPI: 226
Starters Returning: 5
Weekend Starters: 2
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 3

All Conference Candidates:
RHP Ben Danziger (3-4, 5.81)
RHP Chris Bassitt (1-2, 3.52, 7svs)
OF Jake Plata (.357-3-28)
1B Brian Kordal (.346-5-44)
SS Kevin Haas (.324-9-21)

The Good News:
Coach Pat Bangtson has a sly grin on because he knows he’s got a host of seniors back to lead this team, including the scorching bats of Plata, Kordal and Haas, along with part-timer Kyle Hallet (.336 in 36 games). The pitching is almost entirely sophs, but has some experience with two weekenders back – Danzinger, the lone junior, and Andrew Brown (2-5, 6.64) – and the saves master in Bassitt. The Zips also return Drew Turocy, who sat out ‘09 from Tommy John surgery, but was 4-3, 5.88 as a frosh in ‘08.

The Bad News:
Another 2-15 start to the season like in ‘09 will send this team into another tailspin. The offense was decent last year (.302), but stole a grand total of just 16 bases (all year? Wow.) They MUST find speed to put some pressure on people. Another senior, C John Turk (.270), is a solid backstop but must hit more like his ‘08 form when he went .313 at the dish. Speaking of hearty averages, the Zips’ opponents hit .311 off the staff last season, so that should be rectified before this program can make strides.

Schedule Note:
The toughest finish in the MAC.
Akron has the unfortunate distinction of having the toughest schedule down the stretch of any team in the conference. In the last three weekends the Zips will play at Eastern Division champion Bowling Green, and then home weekends against runner up Ohio and MAC tourney champ Kent State to end the season. That’s harsh.

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- BOWLING GREEN (28-22, 18-8)
2009 RPI: 145
Starters Returning: 7
Weekend Starters: 2
Mid-Week Starters: 0
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 3

All Conference Candidates:
C Tyler Elkins (.406, 2nd team All MAC)
3B Derek Spencer (.385-15-59, 2nd team All MAC)
OF Jon Berti (.368-5-34)
2B Logan Meisler (.361-4-45, 1st team All MAC)
OF T.J. Blanton (.341-8-29, 12SBs)
RHP Brennan Smith (8-4, 4.41, .240OBA, 1st team All MAC)

The Good News:
Two straight division titles for the Falcons shows this is a program determined to make this a sport of emphasis. Like Akron above, they’ll be a senior-dominated team in the field, led by 3B Spencer, who was drafted in the 45th round by the Royals, but chose to return to school and the steady glove of Meisler (just 8Es). The outfield is fast and experienced with Berti, Blanton and Mark Galvin (.322-3-36). Elkins is a huge factor, as a senior signal-caller behind the dish who will handle a deep staff that’s led by Smith and fellow weekend starter Matt Malewitz (5-3, 5.62). BG also gets back the services of their “set the tone” Friday ace from 2008, Frank Berry, who went 7-1, 4.76, but sat out last season.

The Bad News:
Like most MAC teams, the Falcons must avoid another slow start, like their 2-8 beginning to 2009. They’ve also had to live with that awful 0-2 showing in the MAC tournament last May where they were eliminated by a 17-4 score vs. Miami. They may have won the MAC East, but the pitching was a 2nd-to-last in the conference 7.62 ERA. Not many losses to the roster, but the two players they do say goodbye to were invaluable. SS and team leader Ryan Shay did it all – 13 homers, .387 average, 19 steals – and joins the sayonara trail with Brian Hangbers, who hit .330 with 8 dingers and also was a big time reliever (20apps).

Schedule Note:
They can’t get to Florida soon enough.
Damn! B’Green has a daunting start to the season, playing at both Louisville and Kentucky in a pair of murderous three-game series. But after that, the Falcons fly south to Florida for a week where the competition will ease up significantly, playing fellow snowbirds like Northeastern, Rhode Island, Butler, Sacred Heart, Yale and North Dakota State. The division chase could come down to the May 14-16 series at Kent State.

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- BUFFALO (20-35, 6-20)
2009 RPI: 262
Starters Returning: 6
Weekend Starters: 1
Mid-Week Starters: 2
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 2

All Conference Candidates:
OF Adam Skonieczki (.338)
SS Brad Agustin (.332-5-37, 10SBs)
1B Rob Lawler (.310-5-40)
LHP Jesse Reinstein (1-2, 5.69)

The Good News:
The Bulls showed flashes in ‘09, especially early on. With more experience (all six returning field starters are seniors) this outfit won’t run out of gas the same way as last year. The offense is in good company, hitting .306 last year (6th in the MAC). Three infield starters are stoutly-built and athletic with the steady Agustin, Lawler and 3B Jacob Rosenbeck (.304), who was the MVP of the New England Collegiate League last summer. Beyond Reinstein, RHPs Kevin Crumb (0-1, 4.76, 16apps) and River McWilliams (3-3, 8.74) will both grow as sophomores.

The Bad News:
The Bulls came back from the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic with an 8-9 mark and some confidence, but fell apart once MAC play began. The pitching issued 294 walks and had an ERA of 8.49, both league highs. I.e.: THERE’S the big problem. The .954 defense is a sore point as well, but as mentioned above, should improve. After going 3-9 in one-run games, a tougher mentality must be fostered… along with a lock-down reliever or two.

Schedule Note:
Let’s hope for no “lake effect snows”
Unlike last season where the Bulls started their MAC schedule with two straight weeks on the road and their first home game not coming until April 5th, this year sees them hosting Eastern Michigan and Toledo in two of the first three weekends of conference play. So, do you think there will actually be baseball played on March 26th in Buffalo? Let’s hope so… C’mon global warming, start kickin’ in!

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- KENT STATE (43-17, 17-9)
2009 RPI: 78
Starters Returning: 6
Weekend Starters: 1
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 4

All Conference Candidates:
OF Ben Klafczynski (.318-6-43)
OF Jared Humphreys (.339-8-61, 23SBs)
OF Anthony Gallas (.324-10-53)
LHP Kyle Hallock (4-3, 4.57)
SS Jimmy Rider (.353-5-46)
INF Travis Shaw (.331-7-32)

The Good News:
First off, there won’t be any pre-season Top 25 rankings for the Flashes, which seemed to trip them up a little bit last season. The offense hit a stunning .324 with 80 home runs and could match those numbers. This year’s outfield will be as good as there is in college baseball, with Klafczynski, Gallas and Humphreys, who all have potential for better numbers. Last year’s talented Freshman class will have a heavy presence this year, including Hallock possibly becoming the staff ace. Three Flashes that were picked by the pros last June are coming to campus, including senior-to-be RHP Robert Sabo (3-1, 6.84) and incoming frosh RHP Addison Dunn and C Jason Bagoly. Sabo and Dunn both have a shot at throwing in the weekend starting rotation. I know his numbers weren’t good in ‘09, but watch the dual talent of Kyle McMillen (.125/2-0, 9.00), whom the coaches are excited about his unlimited ceiling.

The Bad News:
There are multiple losses off last season’s 43-win club. Almost painfully so. The pitching staff was just 5.69 in ERA and has now been decimated with the losses of Brad Stillings, Jon Pokorny and Kyle Smith for their senior years because of the draft. Then, unfortunately, Frosh All American reliever Andrew Chafin (4-1, 1.26, 8svs) was lost to injury. That’s some rotten luck. Greg Rohan, Matt Tremblay and Jason Patton all hit .330 or better, but have now moved on.

Schedule Note:
Tough, but not impossible.
I really like the schedule that Coach Scott Stricklin and Co. has put together before MAC play as they’ll travel to Western Kentucky, then Wake Forest and Kansas State. Also, they’ll play in two round-robin tourneys at Vanderbilt (which also includes Indiana) and Wintrhop. The showdown vs. Bowling Green comes in mid-May this year.

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- MIAMI (30-25, 15-12)
2009 RPI: 127
Starters Returning: 6
Weekend Starters: 2
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 4

All Conference Candidates:
OF Adam Eaton (.350-11-48, 28SBs)
RHP Jordan Jankowski (6-1, 4.95, 5svs)
LHP Tyler Melling (6-3, 5.35)
RHP Jamaal Hollis (3-0, 2.08, 2svs)

The Good News:
The Hawks showed great improvement in 2009, going from ’08’s 18-win season (just eight Ws in MAC play) to 30 last year. MU has now won 30 games for 13 of the last 14 years. Lots of arms return, including a deep bullpen that features Jankowski and Hollis and has coach Dan Simonds saying “We’ve got guys that are capable of shutting people down.” Eaton is a legit candidate for Player of the Year with his power and speed. Keep an eye on the gem of the recruiting class, OF Bryce Redeker, who was a J.C. All American and will team with Eaton and Ryan Curl (.269) to form one of the better outfields in the country.

The Bad News:
A streaky team, the Red Hawks will need to find more consistency this year. For the second year in a row they finished on a cold spell, going 6-7 in May. Four of the top five hitters are gone, including Tommy Nurre, who set the tone with a .406-17-54 numbers. Coach Simonds will have to put some faith in some new faces in the infield to go along with steady SS Brad Gschwind (.308) and his double-play mate Jon Edgington (.276, 14SBs).

Schedule Note:
A confidence-builder or a confidence-crusher?
MU will have another interesting early season slate, having started off at Clemson (for a single game) and then playing weekend sets at Louisiana-Lafayette, Auburn and Jacksonville State, among other challenges. This could go either way here. I could see the Hawks playing well (at least pitching well) and building to a great season… or, dare I say, getting their hats handed to them and crushing their confidence. Miami U. fans are hoping for the former.

Gauntlett Eldemire: Cool name. Great talent.

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- OHIO (29-24, 18-9)
2009 RPI: 193
Starters Returning: 5
Weekend Starters: 1
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 2

All Conference Candidates:
OF Gauntlett Eldemire (.313-21-56, 11SBs)
1B Jerod Yakubick (.342-5-37)
DH Robert Maddox (.320-13-55)
RHP Bryce Butt (6-6, 4.80, 5svs, .247OBA)
RHP Michael Dillon (2-0, 4.02)

The Good News:
First winning season since 2003 is a great start to resurrecting the program. Gotta love that. And props to coach Joe Carbone, who became just the second-ever coach to win 600 games, which he accomplished last April. Eldemire is a true stud and one of the more exciting players I saw all last year. Yakubick and Maddox provide some pop and will give Eldemire some support. The staff returns weekend starter and control specialist Rex Ingham (6-3, 7.86) and lets just call Bryce Butt, Bryce Butt-kicker, as he he is the best pitcher on the team and has the versatility for many roles.

The Bad News:
Losing talents like Marc Krauss (2nd round draftee), Hayden Johnston (a .393 htter) and Chris Rigo (the Friday starter) would drop any team down a step or two on the MAC ladder. The arms corps took on some heavy losses, and that from a staff that was 6.70 in ERA and issued 271 walks on the season to begin with. More offense and more pressure need to be developed since, beyond Eldemire the team had only 32 stolen bases on the year.

Schedule Note:
Tennessee two-step.
Ohio will have some tough skating early as they have difficult road assignments in visits to Vanderbilt and to Sun Belt favorite Middle Tennessee State. That’s six difficult games right there. But even before that, a season-opening weekend at Southern Conference favorite Elon will be no picnic either. MAC series vs. division rivals Bowling Green and Kent State will come in back-to-back weekends in late April.

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Western Division:

- BALL STATE (26-25, 14-10)
2009 RPI: 209
Starters Returning: 7
Weekend Starters: 2
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 4

All Conference Candidates:
2B/RHP Kolbrin Vitek (.389-13-67, 17SBs/4-3, 5.65)
1B Ian Nielsen (.352-9-53)
C Zach Dygert (.350-9-58)
RHP Brad Piatt (5-2, 5.34)
RHP Morgan Coombs (3-5, 4.72, 6svs)
RHP Perci Garner (1-0, 4.95, 1sv)

The Good News:
This team is loaded for a bigger impact in 2010. Five .300+ hitters return to the order and two weekend starters on the mound make their way back to campus. And might I add, what a great summer these guys had. What I mean by that is Vitek and Garner ranked as the Nos. 1 and 2 prospects in the Great Lakes League. Additionally, Nate Koontz (.273 in part-time role) rated as the No. 9 prospect in the New York Collegiate League. Dygert is a sweet backstop and was drafted in the 48th round by Washington last June. With its deep staff, BSU could repeat the MAC-best ERA of 5.54.

The Bad News:
BSU hit rock bottom at the wrong time last season, getting punk’d by giving up 34 runs in two MAC tourney losses. That’s a tough memory to live with for eight months. The Cards stole a MAC-best 115 bases last year but are missing speed merchants like Jeremy Hazelbaker (.429, 29SBs) and Nate Fields (.308, 32SBs) at the top of the order. For as good as the pitching was, the defense behind the mound was horrible, a MAC-worst .944. 2B Vitek and SS T.J. Baumet (.269-12-35, 10SBs) need to play steadier.

Schedule Note:
Look for a rocky start.
I hate to say it Cards fans, but things won’t be smooth sailing until at least late March. Non-conference games against Arkansas, UAB, Coastal Carolina, UNC-Wilmington, Michigan, Louisville and Notre Dame won’t be easy in their first 20 games.

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- CENTRAL MICHIGAN (28-30, 12-15)
2009 RPI: 213
Starters Returning: 7
Weekend Starters: 1
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 5

All Conference Candidates:
1B Nate Theunissen (.307-9-47)
OF Matt Faiman (.333-4-28, 10SBs)
OF Billy Anderson (.332-4-29, 19SBs)
LHP Trent Howard (5-2, 4.71, .265OBA)

The Good News:
The team gelled down the stretch last season and hopes to keep it going in 2010. A pair of sophomores will lead the offense and pitching in Theunissen and Howard, pointing to a good future. Fellow soph Harvey Martin (1-0, 2.16, 3svs) should grow into his own as well. The six top hitters return for 2010 and a seventh – Andrew Thomas (.373, 10SBs), another sophomore – will step up to full time duty this season. C Dale Cornstubble (.282-5-30) handles the mound staff well.

The Bad News:
Like many of the MAC teams, CMU took a while to get to its feet last season, starting out 3-8. The Chippewas say goodbye to a pair of weekend starters on the mound, Dan Taylor and Steve Teno, who combined for 160 strikeouts and 171 innings of work last season. The Chips hit just .288 (10th in the conference) and also tied Ball State for the worst defense in the MAC at a rock-bottom .945. Not to be Mr. Obvious here, but these things must change.

Schedule Note:
Going far and wide again.
The Chippewas will start the season out in Bakersfield, California to take on Cal, St. Mary’s and Cal State Bakersfield. The following weekend they’ll go to play three at Central Florida and also play in the Russ Matt Tournament vs. Long Island, Yale and Indiana. They will have the luxury of a favorable MAC slate, featuring five home weekends and four roadies. The final seven games of the season vs. WMU, Michigan State and EMU will all come at home.

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- EASTERN MICHIGAN (25-35, 13-14)
2009 RPI: 207
Starters Returning: 6
Weekend Starters: 3
Mid-Week Starters: 2
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 4

All Conference Candidates:
C/DH Matt Skirving (.348-16-64)
3B Zack Leonard (.333-7-35)
1B Todd Graves (.292-11-32)
C/DH Andrew Marshall (.279-18-51)

The Good News:
Some great experience returns on the mound, including all three weekend starters in Jordan Glover (3-5, 6.31), Corey Chaffins (5-3, 7.83) and Kendall Lewis (5-4, 5.80) and a wealth of others. Offensively, this team will bash, as 64 home runs from last year’s total of 100 returns to give the Eagles the most intimidating order in the MAC.

The Bad News:
The Eagles can’t get off to another horrible 4-22 start. Intimidating or not, EMU needs some improvement at the dish, hitting .287, 11th in the MAC, while also striking out 445 times on the season. Ouch. The team ERA of 6.61 wasn’t so crash-hot either. Mass improvements are needed if the Eagles are ever going to get back into MAC relevance.

Schedule Note:
Good to be home.
The Eagles won’t play at Oestrike Stadium until April 2nd, but will play at home against most of their stronger MAC opponents in Bowling Green, Kent State and Toledo. The trip to Central Michigan on the last weekend of the season could decide the Western Division.

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- NORTHERN ILLINOIS (19-34, 10-16)
2009 RPI: 252
Starters Returning: 4
Weekend Starters: 3
Mid-Week Starters: 3
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 3

All Conference Candidates:
OF Jordin Hood (.382-10-46, 14SBs)
SS Alex Jones (.327-3-33, 10SBs)
3B Troy White (.288)
1B Dave Reynolds (.361-8-46/0-4, 9.80, 3svs)
LHP Chuck Lukanen (7-6, 5.65)
RHP Andy Deain (2-0, 4.64)
LHP Tom Zelasko (2-4, 3.26, 4svs)

The Good News:
With a lot of arms back in the corps, some stability should emerge this season. There’s a lot of versatility to this team as witnessed by the wide range Jordin Hood has, as one of the best players in the MAC. Reynolds provides some power as well, but also is a great glove (just 4Es last year) and should improve as a reliever. Zelasko was a pleasant surprise in ‘09 and brings a crafty approach and valuable arm.

The Bad News:
First off, the schedule is a killer, but more on that below. With all that pitching coming back, keep in mind they had a team ERA of 7.29 and the also defended at .952, both 10th in the MAC last season. Improvement in imperative, particularly from Deain, who comes back from an injury-shortened season (but was All-MAC in ‘08 with 4-0, 10 saves) and RHP Brian Smith, who has 10 career wins but hasn’t pitched since – get this – 2006. He also hit .289 in ‘06 as a part-time starter.

Schedule Note:
Two words: Death. March.
This won’t be easy for the Huskies. They’ll open the season with a 19-game road swing that will have them playing teams like Arizona State, Cal Poly and UC Santa Barbara, amongst others. Not the kind of slate that will inspire confidence.

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- TOLEDO (24-30, 14-12)
2009 RPI: 210
Starters Returning: 8
Weekend Starters: 2
Mid-Week Starters: 2
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 2

All Conference Candidates:
RHP Matt Kuna (5-2, 4.23)
SS Jared Hoying (.293-11-50)
2B Tim Krofcheck (.303)
C Aaron Dudley (.315)
OF Chris Dudics (.386)

The Good News:
Look beyond the won-loss mark. There wasn’t a lot of expectations for the Rockets last season, but they finished second in the West and made it all the way to the MAC tourney championship round. Nice season. Talk about having strength up the middle, the Rockets feature C Dudley, SS Hoying, 2B Krofcheck and OF Dudics. That’s going to win them some games. OF Jim Vahalik (.296-9-35) and OF Dan Sherwood (.266-11-32) will provide some needed power. Coach Cory Mee was pleased with frosh speedster Tyler Grogg, who supplies an energetic spark, and RHP Michael Hamann, who was a 24th round pick by Cleveland last summer.

The Bad News:
Yep, despite the improving steps they took last season, UT still doesn’t have a winning team in the new millennium. Dammit! The obvious deficiency is the lack of high-quality pitching. The Rockets have a lot of experience back, but it needs to improve. Weekend starter Mike Inselmann (3-7, 8.37) and relievers Matt Suschak (2-2, 8.54) and Dan Gatins (1-2, 9.12) will be leaned on for better numbers.

Schedule Note:
Revenge comes early.
The Rockets will start out with the team that beat them for the MAC title when they host Kent State in the first weekend of conference play. UT will also play 17 of their final 24 games at home.

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- WESTERN MICHIGAN (14-35, 9-18)
2009 RPI: 257
Starters Returning: 5
Weekend Starters: 3
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 5

All Conference Candidates:
C Chris Lewis (.318-70-39)
3B Kyle Galbraith (.304-13-35)
RHP Tim Mowry (2-2, 5.00, 4svs)
RHP Derek Mosher (1-1, 5.09, .267OBA)

The Good News:
With this much pitching coming back you have to excuse coach Randy Ford if he seems REALLY relieved that last season is done. The all-righty rotation of Eric Heckaman (3-3, 6.41), Brian Stroud (3-9, 6.75) and Billy Morrison (2-9, 8.50) should put up much better numbers. Seniors Mowry and Mosher are solid and reliable flingers from the ‘pen. This staff issued only 193 walks all last season, showing they’ve got good control potential. Four of the top five hitters in the lineup return to guide the offense out of the bottom of the MAC.

The Bad News:
Obviously, the team ERA of 7.30 is nothing to crow about, so improvement is necessary. Keep an eye on Billy Morrison, who turned down Seattle as a 9th round pick in 2008, but needs to realize his potential. The .954 defense was pretty paltry as well but does return Galbraith and 2B Grant Simotes (.273-4-23) to help smooth things out. The Broncos only stole 23 bases in total last year

Schedule Note:
Not-so-sweet 17.
The Broncos will play only 17 home games this season at legendary Hyames Field, which was the original home of the College World Series. That includes just four home series in MAC play and five that are on the road. They’ll also play pre-conference games at Dallas Baptist, down in Winter Haven, Florida, Tulsa and Terre Haute, Indiana. Be sure to put Travelocity on your speed dial.