Flashes Picked Second In Split Pre-Season Baseball Poll
2/17/2021 11:05:00 AM | Baseball
KENT, OHIO- The Kent State Golden Flashes received a conference-best five first-place votes and have been picked second in the Mid-American Conference pre-season baseball poll as voted on by the conference coaches.
While the Flashes did capture the most first-place votes in a split poll, their 110 total poll points finished one behind Central Michigan. This season, the Mid-American Conference is shifting away from a post-season tournament. Instead, the MAC has gone with a 40-game regular season and awarding the conference's automatic berth to the regular season champion. Kent State will play the other 10 schools in four-game weekend series that includes two single games and a seven-inning double header.
Kent State brings back the majority of the 2020 squad that was 7-7 when the season came to an abrupt end. Those returnees are headlined by six players who were all-conference back in 2019 including three first-team performers.
Among them is the 2019 Freshman of the Year, Justin Kirby. The outfielder played in 12 games last season but during his award-winning freshman season, Kirby led the MAC with a .690 slugging percentage and belted 25 extra-base hits.
Joining Kirby in the outfield is Ben Carew. Carew was All-MAC in 2019 and was well on his way to a repeat performance in 2020. In 14 games last season, Carew led the MAC and was among the NCAA leaders with eight doubles. He also recorded 20 hits in 14 games and posted a .996 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage).
Michael Turner has seen time behind the plate and at both corner infield positions and was a first-team All-MAC at-large performer in 2019. In 2020, Turner was second on the team in hits and was third on the team with a .359 on-base percentage thanks to a team-high nine walks. Turner also showcased a strong arm behind the plate, throwing out three-of-five would-be base stealers.
On the mound, Kent State returns all three of their weekend starters in Luke Albright, Colin Romel and Ryan Lane. Albright was an all-conference performer in 2019 and made a strong transition into a starter in 2020. Albright was 2-2 in four starts with 1.90 earned-run average, recording 22 strikeouts in 23.2 innings of work.
Romel was 1-1 with a team-best 1.86 earned run average in 19.1 innings last season. Romel closed the season allowing just one earned run over his final 15.1 innings of work and averaged more than a strike out per inning.
Lane was the Sunday starter last season, going 2-1 with a 2.31 earned run average in 23.1 innings. Lane had a dominant performance against Florida Gulf Coast, helping the Golden Flashes to a series victory. Lane tossed eight and a third scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out 10.
The full pre-season poll is below. The Golden Flashes open up the 2021 season at Virginia Tech this weekend in a three-game series starting on Friday afternoon. A full series and season preview will be released on Thursday.
1. Central Michigan (4 first place votes) – 111 points
2. Kent State (5) – 110 points
T3. Miami (1) – 96 points
T3. Ball State – 96 points
5. Northern Illinois (1) – 72 points
6. Western Michigan – 63 points
7. Ohio – 56 points
8. Toledo – 45 points
9. Eastern Michigan – 36 points
10. Bowling Green – 28 points
11. Akron – 13 points
