Flashes Picked to Top the MAC for Fifth-Straight Year
2/11/2015 10:13:00 AM | Baseball
For the fifth-straight season, Kent State was selected as the preseason favorite in the Mid-American Conference, as voted on by all twelve head coaches and released Wednesday by the conference.
The Golden Flashes edged out Ball State with 68 points while the Cardinals totaled 67. Both teams received eight first place votes while Kent State was chosen as the Tournament favorite with three votes.
The nationally-ranked Golden Flashes, who hold a No. 30 ranking entering the season, have won either the MAC regular season or tournament title in 14 of the last 15 years. The last time they were not selected as the preseason favorite was in 2010 – they won the tournament that season for the second-straight year to advance to NCAA Regionals.  Both D1Baseball and Baseball America picked Kent State to be in the field of 64 at the start of the postseason.
Kent State returns two starters in its weekend rotation in Eric Lauer and Nick Jensen-Clagg and add in sophomore top-prospect Andy Ravel to round out a deadly starting trio. The bullpen will be bolstered this year by veterans Josh Pierce, John Birkbeck, Dan Kopcak, Tim Faix and Eli Martin with the additions of impressive newcomers including Zach Willeman, who was chosen as the MAC Preseason Freshman of the Year by numerous publications.
On offense, Alex Miklos and Zarley Zalewski will once again anchor the Kent State lineup. Returners Sawyer Polen, Zach Beckner, Tommy Monnot, Jeff Revesz, Curtis Olvey, Conner Simonetti and newcomers Luke Burch, Dylan Rosa and Tim DalPorto will all contribute both at the plate and in the field defensively.
The season begins this Friday when the Golden Flashes travel to Winthrop for four games. MAC play begins the weekend of March 20th when Kent State travels to Toledo.
East Division
Kent State — 68 (8 First Place Votes)
Miami — 59 (3)
Akron — 41
Bowling Green — 38 (1)
Buffalo — 27
Ohio —19
West Division
Ball State — 67 (8 First Place Votes)
Central Michigan — 55 (2)
Western Michigan — 46 (1)
Toledo — 43 (1)
Eastern Michigan — 23
Northern Illinois — 18
Tournament Champion: Kent State 3, Central Michigan 2, Ball State 2, Miami 2, Bowling Green 1, Toledo 1, Western Michigan 1
