ROYAL OAK, MICH.-- Trine's baseball team was picked to finish third in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Preseason Poll, which was released by the league Tuesday.
The Thunder were picked third by every coach in the league, giving them 21 points in the poll. Trine is coming off a season in which the team tied the school-record for wins with a 25-20 record. The Thunder placed third in the MIAA last season with a 17-11 mark in league action. The third-place finish was good enough to earn a trip to the MIAA Tournament. The team rallied after dropping the first game to win three-straight, but dropped the championship game to Adrian to fall just short of an NCAA Tournament bid.
The entire starting infield from last season returns, with 3B Andrew DeGood (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton) , SS Adam Sullivan (Fort Wayne, Ind./Elmhurst), 2B Ethan Prebynski (Auburn, Ind./DeKalb) and 1B Jordan Baer (Fort Wayne, Ind./Leo) all back to anchor their respective positions. Returners in the outfield include Kory Shackle (Butler, Ohio/Mount Vernon), who led all returning Thunder players with a .289 batting average last season. Jeff Phillips (Prospect, Ohio/Marion Pleasant) and RJ Flowers (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton) also return after seeing significant playing time.
The Thunder pitching staff will look to replace four key hurlers, including First-Team All-MIAA performer Phil Stakely. Jakeb Briscoe (Kendallville, Ind./East Noble) is Trine's returning leader in ERA, posting a 2.84 mark to go along with a 3-4 record last season. Jeremy Spalding (Toledo, Ohio/Toledo Catholic Central), Edward Tomich (Carmel, Ind./Westfield), Brandon Mylcraine (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) and several newcomers will also be relied on to pitch key innings for the squad this season.
Trine opens the season with their spring break trip to Auburndale, Fla. The Thunder open with a doubleheader against Mount Union Sunday, Mar. 2. The home opener will come Sunday, Mar. 16 when the team faces John Carroll. The Thunder will open MIAA-play Saturday, Mar. 22 at Hope.
May 7, 2014
Baer Named First-Team All-MIAA
May 4, 2014
DeGood Wins Robert L. Greim Award
May 4, 2014
Thunder Close Season with Split
May 2, 2014
Thunder Swept by Kalamazoo
May 2, 2014
Baseball Schedule Change
April 26, 2014
Thunder Rally in Game Two to Earn Split
April 24, 2014
Thunder Swept by Calvin
April 22, 2014
Thunder Drop Non-Conference Game at Indiana Tech
April 19, 2014
Thunder Split with Adrian
April 18, 2014
Thunder Swept by Adrian
April 14, 2014
Baer Named MIAA Player of the Week
April 13, 2014
Thunder Sweep Olivet to Earn Weekend Split
April 12, 2014
Thunder Swept by Olivet
April 10, 2014
Thunder Fall to NAIA-Foe Davenport
April 7, 2014
Baseball Adds Wednesday Afternoon Game
April 6, 2014
Thunder Pitch Well, but Fall Short against Alma
April 5, 2014
Thunder Swept by Alma
April 4, 2014
Baseball Games Moved to Adrian
March 31, 2014
Thunder Fall Short Against Hope
March 30, 2014
Thunder Walk-Off Twice to Sweep Albion
March 30, 2014
Monday's Baseball Games Moved to Trine
March 29, 2014
Thunder Go to Extras to Earn Split at Albion
March 26, 2014
Baseball Games Postponed
March 25, 2014
Baseball Games Moved To Wednesday
March 24, 2014
Thunder Rally Back to Earn Split With Hope
March 23, 2014
Baseball Games Moved to Adrian
March 22, 2014
Baseball Games Postponed
March 20, 2014
Extra-Inning Win Gives Thunder Sweep Over Lourdes
March 18, 2014
Baseball at Lourdes Rescheduled
March 7, 2014
Thunder Walk-Off With Win in Final Spring Break Game
March 4, 2014
Baseball Sweeps Milwaukee School of Engineering
March 3, 2014
Big Innings Lead Cardinals Over Trine
March 2, 2014
Thunder Swept By Mount Union
February 11, 2014
Baseball Picked to Finish Third in MIAA