Mid-American Conference

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Kent State was picked to take home the 2016 MAC Tournament Championship, the Mid-American Conference announced Wednesday. The Golden Flashes are predicted to win the East Division crown, while the defending MAC Regular Season Champion Central Michigan Chippewas were selected to win the West Division. The preseason poll was voted on by the league’s 11 Head Coaches.

The Golden Flashes finished the 2015 season with a 31-22 (18-9 MAC) record. KSU has won either the regular season or tournament championship in 14 of the past 16 years and has a combined total of 16 titles since the 2000 season. Among those returning is Eric Lauer. Lauer, a left-handed pitcher entering his junior season, was named preseason All-America by Baseball America. In 2015 he posted a 1.98 ERA with a 5-4 record, striking out 103 batters while walking just 26 in 86.1 innings.  Lauer was the only player from the MAC to earn preseason All-America recognition, joining 44 other athletes across the country.

The 2015 Tournament Champion Ohio Bobcats followed Kent State in the East Division predictions. Bowling Green was selected to finish in third, while Miami was tabbed to place fourth. Miami and Buffalo rounded out this year’s East Division predictions.

The Chippewas finished last year with a 35-22 overall record (20-7 MAC). Plenty of talent and experience returns, and Head Coach Steve Jaksa will look to a now-veteran corps of starting pitchers in Sean Renzi, Nick Deeg and Pat Leatherman. Renzi exploded on to the scene last year, finishing 5-2 with a 2.33 earned run average and earning First Team All-MAC honors; Deeg, a junior left-hander, went 8-5 with a 3.11 ERA; and Leatherman, a sophomore righty, was 3-0 with a 3.00 when an injury cut short his season.

Ball State was picked to finish second in the West Division and was followed by Western Michigan in third place. Toledo, Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan rounded out the remaining sports in the West.

The MAC baseball season begins on Friday, February 19th, while conference play starts up Friday, March 25th. The season will culminate with the MAC Baseball Tournament, which takes place May 25-29 at All Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, Ohio.

MAC Baseball East Division Predictions

1. Kent State Golden Flashes — 63 points (9 1st place votes)

2. Ohio Bobcats — 55 points (2)

3. Bowling Green Falcons — 43 points

4. Miami RedHawks — 37 points

5. Buffalo Bulls — 22 points

 

6. Eastern Michigan Eagles — 15 points

 

TOURNAMENT CHAMPION VOTES: Kent State (4), Central Michigan (2), Ball State (1), Bowling Green (1), Miami (1), NIU (1), Western Michigan (1)