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BAY CITY, Mich. — The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference baseball coaches selected Saginaw Valley State University to finish fourth with 88 points in the 2013 GLIAC Baseball Preseason Poll. The league's head coaches participated in the balloting, but were not allowed to vote for their team.
Grand Valley State University garnered 117 points and seven first-place votes and are picked to win the 2013 GLIAC crown.Wayne State University was picked to finish second with 104 points and four first-place votes. Ashland University placed third in the poll with 97 points and one first-place vote.
The Cardinals will start their season this Saturday (Feb. 23) with a double-header starting at 2:00 PM versus Bluefield State in Greer, S.C.. Game two is against Mansfield at 4:00 PM.
2013 SVSU Baseball Preview
Saginaw Valley State Cardinals
Head Coach: Walt Head (31st Season)
2013 Preaseason Pick: 4th
2012 Record: (26-26, 20-16 GLIAC)
2013 Prospectus / Quick Facts
OVERVIEW: The 2013 SVSU Baseball squad will look to improve on the 26-26 mark from last season as they welcome a talented group of freshman to complement their experienced seniors. The Cardinals led the GLIAC in fielding percentage last season and the SVSU defensive unit welcomes back some reliable players in the field and on the mound, while some younger bats give the Cardinal offense the chance to improve on last year's performance.
INFIELD: The SVSU middle infielders features a group of underclassmen who play sound defense and are able to turn double plays in their sleep. Shortstop Chris Perkovich (Canton, Mich.) is one of the best and most reliable shortstops in the league and is joined by highly-skilled freshmen Dylin Eschenburg (Shelby Township, Mich. / Eisenhower) and Jason Hanson (Harbor Beach, Mich.) at second base. Senior Andy Orr (Utica, Mich.) returns to the hot corner after batting .343 last season and looks to be a leader for the Cardinals both in the field and at the plate.
OUTFIELD: Senior Kyle O'Boyle (Midland, Mich. / Bullock Creek) returns from an injury-plagued 2012 to give the Cardinals a veteran offensive threat with his power and experience. Brad Schalk (Sterling Heights, Mich. / Bishop Foley) will be roaming around as the hard-working center fielder looks to repeat and even improve on a fine freshman season where he was reliable in 27 starts late in the year. There will be intense competition all year long for playing time in left field between a scrappy junior in Michael Craig (Milan, Mich.) and a talented group of freshman.
PITCHING: Senior Carson Beauchaine (Fraser, Mich.) is having a great preseason and is throwing hard as SVSU will look for him to set the tone as their ace in the rotation. Starter Eric Hummel (Menominee, Mich.) and reliever Mike Schaaf (Saginaw, Mich. / Arthur Hill) will bring more senior experience on the mound. The 2012 Cardinal pitching staff boasted one of the top rotations in the league as they were led by Mike Saunders who was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 24th Round of last year's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
COACHING: Walt Head (844-606-6) is back for his 31st season as the skipper of the Cardinals and looks forward to making a run at another GLIAC title. Fourth-year assistant coach Kevin Schwedler returns along with newcomers Karl Kling and Mike Baker.