The Flames of Illinois-Chicago have burned through the Horizon the last two years. But we all know this is one of those “whoever gets hot at the tournament” propositions here. Too bad too. This conference has some wicked regular season title chases.

2009 in a Paragraph:
UI-C won its second straight Horizon title last season, but once again couldn’t seal the deal in the conference tournament, succumbing to Wright State. But don’t give too much props to the Raiders as they were a team that seemed to underachieve most of the season before getting hot at the right time.

Conference RPI: 24

2009 results:
1- Illinois-Chicago, 17-6
2- Wisc.-Milwaukee, 14-9
3- Wright State, 14-12
4- Valparaiso, 12-11
5- Cleveland State, 12-13
6- Youngstown State, 10-14
7- Butler, 6-20

2010 in a Paragraph:
We’ll give the Raiders the slight edge in the favorites department, but when it comes down to it, WSU, UI-C and UWM could be pretty closely matched and will make for one hell of a title chase in the Horizon. The biggest question is will THIS be the year that the HL guys spring some big upsets over the BCS conferences (like I predicted for last year, only to be disappointed). Keep close tabs on Valpo, who is pitching heavy but extremely hitting light. The Crusaders will play a big role in deciding things here.

Favorite: Wright State

Contenders: Illinois-Chicago, Wisc.-Milwaukee

Darkhorse: Valparaiso

Can’t-Miss Series of the Year: UI-C at/vs. WSU, Apr. 16-17 and 24th.

Best Non-Conference Series: Creighton at Illinois-Chicago, March 19-21

Hot Coach: Mike Dee, Illinois-Chicago

Hot Seat Coach: Steve Farley, Butler

The “You Gotta See” Player: OF Casey McGrew, Wright State

Three Non-Conference Series Horizon Opponents Better Take Seriously:
1- WSU at OSU Tournament, March 19-21 (with Oklahoma State and Missouri State)
2- Illinois-Chicago at Alabama, Feb. 26-27
3- Wisc.-Milwaukee at Kansas State, March 19-21

Three Bold Predictions:
1- UI-C will go down and play Bama tough, maybe win one or two, and the local Alabama press will write stories wondering what has gone wrong with Mitch Gaspard and his new tenure.
2- Mike Dee will be a hot name in the coaching rumor mill this coming off-season.
3- With great potential all around, Valpo will lead the loop in ERA again.

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- BUTLER (13-41, 6-20)
2009 RPI: 286
Starters Returning: 6
Weekend Starters: 1
Mid-Week Starters: 2
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 3

All Conference Candidates:
SS Grant Fillipitch (.302-7-30)
P Mike Hernandez (3-3, 7.04)
OF Luke Duncan (.308)

The Good News:
The Bulldogs will look at better horizons with an experienced team that should compete better in 2010. Hernandez and ERA leader Jared Wagoner (0-5, 5.59) are decent arms. C Mike Letzter (.289) is a good vet behind the dish and works with an infield with Fillipitch at short and Kyle Schultz (.268) at 3B, all three-year starters. The Dogs get a nice pair of pickups in RHP Kyle Kramp (45th round pick of San Francisco last June) and OF Corey Moylan (.312-4-34, 12SBs) who transfers in from now-defunct Vermont. That’s light at the end of the tunnel.

The Bad News:
The Bulldogs haven’t had a winning season since 2003 and hit the skids with a last place finish in the Horizon for the second straight year. And everything was a last place finish, including hitting (.268), pitching (7.12) and as mentioned above, the defense (.950). A nose-to-the-grindstone improvement is much-needed. And try not to repeat that 1-16 start from last year, 12 of which saw their opponents score in double-digits.

Schedule Note:
The perfect pitch.
The reason BU got off to that horrid 1-16 start last year was because of games against the likes of Dayton, UNLV, Purdue and Kansas State. This year’s pre-Horizon slate is much more sane, including a week-long trip to Florida to play other snowbirds like Western Michigan, Lehigh, Fairfield, Sacred Heart and Akron.

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- CLEVELAND STATE (21-31, 12-13)
2009 RPI: 254
Starters Returning: 5
Weekend Starters: 1
Mid-Week Starters: 2
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 1

All Conference Candidates:
3B Tyler Wynn (.303-11-55)
OF Alex Johnson (.307-4-32, 11SBs)
OF Ryan Franks (.380)

The Good News:
Another upgrade in home facilities will see the Vikes play the 2010 home schedule at All-Pro Freight Stadium, which is home of the Lake Erie Crushers. Coach Kevin Kocks likes the leadership of Wynn and Johnson and also thinks C Kyle Shaffer (.261), a senior, will be a valuable asset. Johnson’s speed (6 triples) should be utilized even more this season. RHP/OF Travis Miller (1-0, 3.48, 4svs) and RHP Nate Dick (4-1, 4.13) should bring some stability to the team.

The Bad News:
There were a whole mess of reliable arms that took off in the off-season, including staff ace Josh Hungerman, who was also the best power source for the offense. The team defense will need some re-tooling (.959 fielding) and a whole new re-worked arms staff will have to play good from the start.

Schedule Note:
A bunch of losers.
The Vikings will have the luxury of knowing that of their first 17 games, only three of them will pit them against a team that had a winning record in 2009, that being the three-game roadie at Tennessee Tech in the second weekend. Though even still, Tech isn’t expected to be a major force in the Ohio Valley this year, so you could say that CSU’s schedule of non-conference games is perfectly suited to get some early wins.

Nathan Orf is the next in a great line of UI-C players.

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- ILLINOIS-CHICAGO (29-23, 17-6)
2009 RPI: 134
Starters Returning: 5
Weekend Starters: 1
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 3

All Conference Candidates:
C Nate Orf (.429)
LHP Michael Heesch (5-0, 4.02, .266OBA)
LHP Chris Kovacevich (7-4, 3.69)
SS Andy Leonard (.294)
3B Jason Ganek (.333)

The Good News:
Curtis Granderson U. has gone 17-6 in each the last two Horizon seasons, winning a pair of regular season titles along the way. Part-timers Orf (who showed flashes of brilliance), OF John Rosinki (.360) and OF Chris Rutta (.333-6-30) will be relied upon more this season. Kovacevich and Heesch are winners on the hill and should get some support from relievers RHP Matt Salemi (1-0, 4.56) and LHP Eric Wyman (0-2, 5.61). The defense was 2nd-best in the Horizon last season (at .968) but should be even better this year with Leonard and Ganek on the left side and the return of Rafael Garcia (injury-shortened ‘09, but hit .277 in 52 starts as a frosh in ‘08), who will move from SS to 1B, bringing a great glove to the right side.

The Bad News:
UI-C had its troubles, going just 5-7 in games with contenders Wisc-Milwaukee and Wright State, ultimately costing the Flames the Horizon tourney title last May. And this year they’ll have to take them on without four of the top six pitchers from ‘09, including Horizon Pitcher of the Year Adam Worthington and closer Derrick Miramontes. More speed too please. UIC only swiped 52 bases last year, the 2nd lowest total in the league.

Schedule Note:
Tough schedule. Tough Dee.
Coach Mike Dee is a tough-as-nails kind of coach and he expects his team to be that way too. All you have to do is look at their early-season schedule. Last year the Flames opened the season at Texas – the eventual national runner-up. This year, weekends 2-thru-5 will see his Flames travel to Alabama, Western Kentucky, Baylor and Creighton. That’s a pretty tall order and could keep UIC from reaching the 30-win plateau once again.

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- VALPARAISO (28-24, 12-11)
2009 RPI: 239
Starters Returning: 5
Weekend Starters: 2
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 3

All Conference Candidates:
RHP Bryce Shafer (7-3, 3.59, .251OBA)
RHP Jarad Miller (0-2, 2.16, 17svs)
OF Kyle Gaedele (.278)
OF Steven Scoby (.307)

The Good News:
Showing strides here… that’s cool. Year two in the Horizon was much better, finishing with a winning mark in conference AND overall play. That’s good stuff. And everybody knows that a good pitching staff will give you a chance to win any game. The staff posted a great 4.77 team ERA (tops in the Horizon) and has virtually everyone returning from last year’s staff. The best part is that the main returnees are mostly juniors, so experience will be a big facet of the equation. LHP Jon Gulbransen (5-7, 5.33) is the lone returnee with an ERA above 5.00. “Danger” Will Robinson is a ballyhooed pitcher from Fullerton (CA) J.C.

The Bad News:
Crusaders must stay away from another 4-9 start like last year, although with the schedule they’re going to play, that may be hard to avoid. Weak, weak sticks. This team only has one .300+ hitter coming back, and this for a team that only hit .275 to begin with. The infield will have some new faces, and must do better than last year’s .957 outfit.

Schedule Note:
Luck not on their side.
Not only does VU play teams like Oklahoma, South Carolina, McNeese State and Gardner-Webb, but they’ll also have to play Horizon-favorites Wright State and Illinois-Chicago on the road. Not easy.

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- WISCONSIN-MILWAUKEE (28-27, 14-9)
2009 RPI: 202
Starters Returning: 6
Weekend Starters: 1
Mid-Week Starters: 2
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 3

All Conference Candidates:
OF Tim Patzman (.389-11-44)
OF Doug Dekoning (.338-5-28)
3B Paul Hoenecke (.286)
RHP Cameron Amsrud (5-1, 4.94)
C/DH Ben Long (.339, injury-shortened)
SS Cole Kraft (.333)

The Good News:
A good bit of firepower returns to the 2nd place Panthers, fostering hope for a better 2010. Three .330+ hitters come back to what should be a lethal batting order. Hoenecke and Kraft provide coach Scott Doffek with an experienced left side of the infield and behind the plate, Shaun Wegner only made two errors all last season. So defense should be a strong point too. RHP Chad Pierce, an Arkansas transfer, should get a lot of innings.

The Bad News:
It’s been a while since UW-M has won the Horizon (2002) and last year was their first time the Panthers came close, finishing in second place. The 4-15 pre-conference start took a while to overcome. But it was a senior-heavy team in ‘09. The pitching staff was decimated, as Kyle Schmidt (3-4, 5.13) is the lone weekend returnee. Ace saves leader Craig Meier (8svs) also hit the bricks.

Schedule Note:
An easier ASU to start with.
Last year, UWM went to Arizona State to start the season and got their ears boxed in four straight blowout losses. This year, Coach Doffek fixed that by making the opener at Arkansas State instead, a much more winnable series. But just to make sure they don’t too big for their britches, Doffek will take his Panthers to Arkansas and Kansas State for weekend play before the Horizon portion of the slate kicks in. Yikes.

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- WRIGHT STATE (33-30, 14-12)
2009 RPI: 140
Starters Returning: 7
Weekend Starters: 2
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 3

All Conference Candidates:
3B Quentin Cate (.352-12-57)
SS R.J. Gundolff (.347, 10SBs)
2B Aaron Fields (.314)
RHP Alex Kaminsky (6-2, 2.66)
RHP Michael Schum (5-7, 1.95, 13svs)
OF Casey McGrew (.340-7-52)

The Good News:
WSU is now in the middle of a four-year run with 30+ wins in a season, including an appearance in the Big Dance last June. They also owned wins over Tulane, Kent State, UNC Wilmington, Georgia and Dayton, showing they can play with anyone. Lots of senior leaders on hand, including three senior infielders – which is reassuring to any coach – with Cate, Gundolff and Fields. The sophomore class is tremendous with Frosh All American Schaum, the ace reliever, OF Tristan Moore (named the No. 9 ranked pro prospect in the Great Lakes League) and OF Ryan Ashe (.330) and LHP Jordan Marker (3-0, 4.99). BA’s Aaron Fitt had the incoming class of Raiders as the best in the conference, citing RHP Max Friedman and LHP Cody Kopilchack as stars to watch with their low-90s heat. SS Justin Kopale is also worthy of mention as he should further stabilize the infield immediately. This program has a helluva future, I’m telling ya’.

The Bad News:
Not a lot to hate about the upcoming season Raiders fans – well, as long as they don’t stumble out to a sad-sack 1-9 start like they did last season. They will miss leading hitter Jeff Mercer and Saturday starter Rylan Ostrosky. Also, though this may become a “good news” thing, the Raiders have to hope that LHP Jon Durket (7-2, 3.24 in ‘08) comes back 100% after sitting all but 14 innings of the ‘09 season.

Schedule Note:
Tougher than a two-dollar steak.
As if last season’s opening with Texas A&M and Tulane back-to-back wasn’t tough enough, this season the Raiders will play three games at Clemson, two at Virginia, two at Oklahoma State and one at Vanderbilt. Oh, and they’ll also play their final three regular season games at Marshall – winnable, sure, but still a tough task. The upside is they’ll have their stretch run in Horizon play mostly at home, with visits from Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Cleveland State and Youngstown State. That’s a good boost to the post-season.

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- YOUNGSTOWN STATE (16-35, 10-14)
2009 RPI: 264
Starters Returning: 6
Weekend Starters: 3
Mid-Week Starters: 1
Key Relievers (20+inns.): 3

All Conference Candidates:
RHP Aaron Swenson (3-6, 6.10)
RHP Phil Klein (5-2, 4.62)
OF/RHP Eric Marzec (.289-6-27/1-4, 5.29, 2svs, .242OBA)
IF Jacke Healey (.293-8-36)
OF Joe Iacobucci (.287)

The Good News:
If healthy – that’s a big “if” too – this team could be a major player in the Horizon. Lots of people on the mend, but if Swenson, returning from a nagging back injury, and Klein stay away from the infirmary, YSU could have the best 1-2 punch in the league.
A healthy Eric Marzec will be a big key, as he’ll play RF, bat cleanup and be the Penguins closer, after missing half of last season with a broken wrist. Also, there won’t be that confidence-crushing opener at Georgia like last season.

The Bad News:
Like the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz, the Penguins are melting… melting… melting, going from 23 wins in ‘08 to just 16 last year, marking their third straight losing season too. Leading hitter John Koehnlein and team leader David Leon will both need to be replaced. The arms corps will be young, so expect some bumps. The .954 defense has to improve for the won-loss ledger to do the same.

Schedule Note:
Penguins like cold weather.
After starting the season with three at New Orleans, the Penguins will play at Cincinnati, in Chillicothe, Ohio vs. Walsh, at Pittsburgh and a tournament at Villanova. All this takes place in February and March, people. YSU fans, bring your mittens.