D3baseball.com preseason poll
DULUTH, Minn. – The St. Scholastica baseball team will begin its 2010 season in 35 days and will open as the 22nd-ranked team, according to the D3baseball.com preseason poll that was released today.
The Saints were 15th in last year's preseason poll and climbed to a program-best No. 3-ranking during the year. CSS made its fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009 before falling to eventual national champion University of St. Thomas and then to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in the regional.
The Saints enter the 2010 season with uncertainties in its pitching rotation. With the graduation of Cincinnati Reds farmhand
Adian Kummet (Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd HS) and
Peter Burg (St. Joseph, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral) now an assistant coach on the team, the Saints will need to find some stability at the top of its pitching staff.
Offensively, the Saints return their top five hitters and top seven run producers from last season. Honorable mention D3baseball.com preseason All-American first baseman #Sean Claugherty# (
Sr.-Oakdale, Minn./Tartan) is back. Third team All-Midwest Region selection #Brian Marshik# (
Jr.-Arden Hills, Minn./Mounds View) enters his junior season after leading the team with a .431 batting average. The team's top run producer, #Paul Kolodge# (
Sr.-Cloquet, Minn.) also returns after driving in 54 runs and belting a team-high four home runs last season.
The Saints brought in their largest recruiting class in program history and will be looking for some to contribute right of way, especially in the pitching rotation.
According to the preseason poll, the Saints are scheduled to play just two ranked teams. They will face No. 1 St. Thomas three times and No. 25 St. Olaf College for a doubleheader.
The Saints begin practice Saturday night at midnight in the Burns Wellness Fieldhouse. Their first game is on March 2nd in the Metrodome on Mall of America Field when faces up against Hamline University for a doubleheader. The first game is scheduled to begin at 9:45 p.m.
