AMCC BB Preseason Poll

2007 BASEBALL
PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

FROSTBURG STATE IS COACHES' CHOICE
TO WIN BASEBALL CROWN

With six of 10 first place votes, defending champion Frostburg State University is expected to claim its third Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference baseball title in four years in 2007. The AMCC coaches voted Pitt-Bradford, a three-time champion, to finish second, followed by Penn State Behrend. The winner of the AMCC tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.

For the second year in a row, Penn State Altoona shortstop Tony Petulla (Osceoa Mills, PA/Philipsburg-Osceola HS) is the coaches' selection as Preseason Player of the Year. The senior was named Co-Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006, and was an ABCA Mid-Atlantic Region Third Team All-American shortstop last year. Petulla was the league leader in batting average (.406), RBI (43) and runs scored (37) in 2006. He also collected 56 hits, including 6 triples and 4 homeruns.

Frostburg State University junior John Micklus (LaPlata, MD/McDonough HS) extends the tradition of excellence on the mound for the Bobcats as the AMCC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. The southpaw put together a 7-3 record in 2006 with a 2.32 ERA to help FSU to the NCAA Division III tournament. In 55 innings he struck out 74, and limited opponents to a .228 on-base average. He also recorded 10 pick-offs, and was named to the All-AMCC honorable mention team.

AMCC BASEBALL POLL
Preseason Rankings*

1 - Frostburg State (1)
2 - Pitt-Bradford (2)
3 - Penn State Behrend (4)
4 - La Roche (3)
5 - Penn State Altoona (6)
6 - Pitt-Greensburg (7)
7 - Medaille (5)
8 - Lake Erie (8)
9 - Mount Aloysius (9)
10 - Hilbert (10)

* Number in parentheses is order of regular season finish in 2006

Preseason Player of the Year
TONY PETULLA
Penn State Altoona

Preseason Pitcher of the Year
JOHN MICKLUS
Frostburg State University

FROSTBURG STATE UNIVERSITY Head Coach Chris McKnight (8th year) 2006: 14-4 AMCC, 29-13 overall
JR LHP John Micklus (La Plata, MD/McDonough HS)...7-3 record in 2006 with a 2.32 ERA...in 55 innings he struck out 74...limited opponents to .228 on-base average...also recorded 10 pick-offs...All-AMCC honorable mention. JR 1B Allen Peake (Fredericksburg, VA/Stafford HS)...Almost perfect defensively, with a .988 fielding percentage...hit .251 with 35 hits, 8 doubles, 7 home runs and 29 RBI.
HILBERT COLLEGE Head Coach Robert Gladwell (1st year) 2006: 1-17 AMCC, 3-36 overall
SO RHP Steve Morasco (Memphis, NY/Jordan-Elbridge HS)...Ranked 11^th in Div. III for strikeouts per 9 innings last season...averaged 11.4 strikeouts per game.
LA ROCHE COLLEGE Head Coach Chase Rowe (1st year) 2006: 13-5 AMCC, 28-16 overall
SR C Nick Wendell (Everett, PA/Bedford HS)...Hit .295 with 2 RBI and 2 home runs in 2006. JR RHP Kurt Krejocic (Homer City, PA/Homer Center HS)...Made 25 appearances last season...finished with a 4-2 record and .02 ERA.
LAKE ERIE COLLEGE Head Coach Ken Krsolovic (4th Year) 2006: 6-12 AMCC, 16-24 overall
JR OF Rocky Pfisterer (Akron, OH/Akron Green HS)...Set school season records in 2006 with 52 hits, 16 doubles, 4 triples and 34 RBI...team MVP...All-AMCC honorable mention selection. SR 2B Steve Walczak (Painesville, OH/Riverside HS)...Second team All-AMCC in 2006...LEC Gold Glove honoree...hit 3.3 and scored a school record 35 runs.
MEDAILLE COLLEGE Head Coach Ron Nero (3rd Year) 2006: 8-10 AMCC, 13-29 overall
SR RHP Kevin Maluchnik (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls HS)...Second team All-AMCC pitcher in 2006. JR 2B Nick Andreassi (Greece, NY/Greece-Arcadia HS)...No information provided.
MOUNT ALOYSIUS COLLEGE Head Coach Kevin Kime (1st year) 2006: 6-12 AMCC, 11-23 overall
SR P Ryan Clouse (Martinsburg, PA/Martinsburg HS)...8^th in AMCC in strikeouts last season with 51...slated to be #1 in the Mounties' rotation. SR OF Steve Paskowski (Indiana, PA/Indiana HS)...hit .322 in 2006, with a .326 career average.
PENN STATE ALTOONA Head Coach Joe Piotti (11th year) 2006: 8-10 AMCC, 19-21 overall
SR SS Tony Petulla (Osceola Mills, PA/Philipsburg-Osceola HS)...2005 and 2006 AMCC Co-Player of the Year...league leader in batting average (.406), RBI (43) and runs scored (37)...also collected 56 hits, including 6 triples and 4 homeruns...ABCA Mid-Atlantic Region Third Team All-American shortstop. SO OF Jeremy Vogel (Altoona, PA/Altoona HS)...Hit .352 last season with a .462 on-base percentage, second best in the AMCC...only made one error defensively.
PENN STATE BEHREND Head Coach Paul Benim (12th year) 2006: 12-6 AMCC, 28-17-1 overall
SR INF Mike Stetz (Johnstown, PA/Bishop McCourt HS)...Batted .293 and led team in runs scored with 38 and stolen bases with 19 … selected as the program’s Golden Glove winner…named second team All-AMCC at shortstop … led league in assists … 2005 First-Team All-AMCC and All-ECAC Southern Region Team and voted team MVP … Academic All-Conference as rookie. SR 1B Tony Kordecki (New Brighton, PA/New Brighton HS)...Missed all of 2006 with an injury … led team in doubles and extra-base hits as a junior … 2005 AMCC All-Conference player after batting .339 with 11 doubles and 23 RBIs … led league in triples … ranked in top 30 for career RBIs … earned mound win in 2003 AMCC Championship game versus Frostburg.
PITT-BRADFORD Head Coach Bret Butler (9th year) 2006: 14-4 AMCC, 24-15 overall
SR C Dom Morelli (DuBois, PA/DuBois Area HS)...First team All-AMCC selection last season...hit .404 with 13 doubles, 5 home runs and 39 RBI. SR CF Corey Smock (Grays Mills, PA/Maplewood HS)...A second team all-conference team member in 2006...stats included a .344 batting average, 9 doubles and 3 home runs.
PITT-GREENSBURG Head Coach Joe Hill (4th year) 2006: 8-10 AMCC, 15-24 overall
SR OF Derek Compo (Moon Twp., PA/Moon Area HS)...First team All-AMCC DH in 2006..hit .389 with a .655 slugging percentage and .442 on base percentage...also contributed 5 home runs and 34 RBI. SR SS Todd Deloplaine (Pittsburgh, PA/North Catholic HS)...Honorable mention All-AMCC shortstop... hit .413 with a .497 OBA...also went 18-21 in stolen base attempts.