Annville, PA (February 24, 2009) – The DeSales University baseball team was voted as the pre-season favorite in the 2009 Freedom Conference pre-season poll announced this afternoon by the conference office and voted on by the nine Freedom Conference coaches.
The Bulldogs received 67 points and five first place votes. Alvernia University took second place with 65 points and two first place votes, while Mahattanville College finished in third place with 62 points and two first place votes King's was voted fourth receiving 48 points. Wilkes and Delaware Valley tied for fifth both with 43 points, FDU-Florham was seventh with 32 points, Misericorida University was eighth with 25 points, and Eastern University was voted ninth with 20 points.
Head Coach Tim Neiman begins his 20th season as the Bulldogs skipper having guided DSU to its 10th conference championship and ninth appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season. The Freedom Conference title was the first in the last three years last season after the Bulldogs had won six straight championships from 2000-05.
The Bulldogs return a strong group of players from last year's team including two pitchers who received All-Freedom Conference First-Team honors including senior Chris Brian (Oak Ridge, NJ/Jefferson Township) and junior Joe Walsh (Green Brook, NJ/Watchung Hills). Brian posted a 5-1 record last season in 46.2 innings pitched with a 4.44 ERA with 43 strikeouts, while Walsh finished last season with a team-high nine saves, a 4.19 ERA, and 31 strikeouts in 34.1 innings pitched.
Also returning for DeSales are four players who were named to the All-Freedom Conference Second-Team, seniors Greg Treat (Concord, NH/Concord) and Zac Hess (Harleysville, PA/LaSalle) and juniors Doc Neiman (Center Valley, PA/Southern Lehigh) and Andrew Feher (Riegelsville, PA/Palisades). Hess, who was also named to the ABCA Rawlings Mid-Atlantic All-Region Third-Team, finished last season with a .325 batting average, a team-high eight homeruns, 37 runs scored, 11 doubles, and 37 RBI's. Treat, who was named the Freedom Conference Playoffs Most Valuable Player, batted .324 batting, added 34 runs scored and 25 RBIs. He also had a team-high 113 assists in the field last season. Neiman finished the season batting .315 with eight doubles and 23 RBIs, while Feher totaled a .353 batting average with 33 runs scored and 10 doubles.
The Bulldogs are scheduled to open their 2009 season when they travel to Neumann College tomorrow to play at 3:00 pm. DSU will then travel to San Antonio, TX for Spring Break and open the Freedom Conference schedule on March 24 when they play Delaware Valley College at home.
Freedom Conference Pre-Season Poll
1 - DeSales – 67 points (5)
2 - Alvernia University – 65 (2)
3 - Manhattanville College – 62 (2)
4 - King's College – 48
5t - Wilkes University – 43
5t - Delaware Valley College – 43
7 - FDU-Florham – 32
8 - Misericordia University – 25
9 - Eastern University - 20
