Baseball: Coaches favor Panthers; senior honored by OVC
Poll says Eastern likely to place second in tournament
Kevin Murphy / Sports Editor
Issue date: 2/11/09 Section: Sports
The Eastern baseball team was selected to finish second in the Ohio Valley Conference in a poll conducted by the head baseball coaches.
The Panthers are coming off a season when they won the OVC Tournament and made an NCAA Regional appearance.
Eastern center fielder Brett Nommensen was also selected to be the OVC Preseason Player of the Year. The last Eastern OVC Player of the Year was Pete Pirman in 2002.
"It's a privilege," Nommensen said. "It's a little pressure."
Nommensen said he didn't know about it until Eastern head coach Jim Schmitz announced it at practice the other day. He ALSO said he has personal goals, but he cares about the team more.
"The biggest thing is we have that experience," Nommensen said. "(The freshmen) instilled so much confidence in themselves. I am looking forward to playing with all the same guys from last season."
The Panthers (27-30, 13-13 OVC in 2008) finished only one poll point (61-60) behind defending regular-season champ Jacksonville State, which garnered five first-place votes.
This marks the highest Eastern has been picked in the preseason poll since also being tabbed second in 2003. The Panthers garnered four first-place votes.
"Last year, we were trying to get back to where we were," Schmitz said. "We accomplished to what we wanted to do. Our expectations are high."
Nommensen led the conference with a .518 on-base percentage last season while ranking third with a .402 batting average.
In January, he was named a Preseason All-American by the college baseball Web site, Ping!Baseball.
Last season, Nommensen represented Eastern as a First Team All-OVC outfielder and on the NCAA Lincoln Regional and OVC All-Tournament Teams. He has compiled a .347 career batting average, 200 hits, scored 141 runs, stole 42 bases and walked more than struck out.
Sophomore right-hander Josh Mueller, meanwhile, has also been selected to the Preseason All-OVC Team. Mueller was on the 2008 OVC All-Freshman Team. The Panthers will return eight position players and a large part of the pitching staff for this season. The Panthers open their season in Hammond, La., with a three-game series at Southeastern Louisiana, Feb. 20-22.
Coaches' predictions
Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Predictions by OVC head coaches (number of first place votes)
1. Jacksonville State (5) - 61
2. Eastern Illinois (4) - 60
3. Austin Peay - 48
4. Southeast Missouri - 42
5. Tennessee Tech - 38
6. Murray State - 23
7. Morehead State - 22
8. Eastern Kentucky - 20
9. Tennessee Martin - 10
Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.
The Panthers are coming off a season when they won the OVC Tournament and made an NCAA Regional appearance.
Eastern center fielder Brett Nommensen was also selected to be the OVC Preseason Player of the Year. The last Eastern OVC Player of the Year was Pete Pirman in 2002.
"It's a privilege," Nommensen said. "It's a little pressure."
Nommensen said he didn't know about it until Eastern head coach Jim Schmitz announced it at practice the other day. He ALSO said he has personal goals, but he cares about the team more.
"The biggest thing is we have that experience," Nommensen said. "(The freshmen) instilled so much confidence in themselves. I am looking forward to playing with all the same guys from last season."
The Panthers (27-30, 13-13 OVC in 2008) finished only one poll point (61-60) behind defending regular-season champ Jacksonville State, which garnered five first-place votes.
This marks the highest Eastern has been picked in the preseason poll since also being tabbed second in 2003. The Panthers garnered four first-place votes.
"Last year, we were trying to get back to where we were," Schmitz said. "We accomplished to what we wanted to do. Our expectations are high."
Nommensen led the conference with a .518 on-base percentage last season while ranking third with a .402 batting average.
In January, he was named a Preseason All-American by the college baseball Web site, Ping!Baseball.
Last season, Nommensen represented Eastern as a First Team All-OVC outfielder and on the NCAA Lincoln Regional and OVC All-Tournament Teams. He has compiled a .347 career batting average, 200 hits, scored 141 runs, stole 42 bases and walked more than struck out.
Sophomore right-hander Josh Mueller, meanwhile, has also been selected to the Preseason All-OVC Team. Mueller was on the 2008 OVC All-Freshman Team. The Panthers will return eight position players and a large part of the pitching staff for this season. The Panthers open their season in Hammond, La., with a three-game series at Southeastern Louisiana, Feb. 20-22.
Coaches' predictions
Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Predictions by OVC head coaches (number of first place votes)
1. Jacksonville State (5) - 61
2. Eastern Illinois (4) - 60
3. Austin Peay - 48
4. Southeast Missouri - 42
5. Tennessee Tech - 38
6. Murray State - 23
7. Morehead State - 22
8. Eastern Kentucky - 20
9. Tennessee Martin - 10
Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.
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