1/22/2010 - BASEBALL Beavers picked 11th in NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

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ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Bemidji State baseball team is ranked 11th in the 2010 edition of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll, receiving 51 points. The Beavers went 17-36 overall and 8-22 in NSIC play last season, finishing in 11th place. Senior Josh Silvernagel (SS/RHP, Bismark, N.D.) and junior Ryan Sander (RHP/1B, St. James, Minn.) were named BSU’s players to watch.

Minnesota State University, Mankato was chosen as the favorite after winning the NSIC Tournament last season, garnering 151 points and seven first-place votes. Wayne State University was second with five first-place votes and 148 points after earning the NSIC regular season crown last year. Southwest Minnesota State University had 120 points, to sit in third, Winona State University was fourth with 118 points and St. Cloud State University tallied the final first place vote and had 114 points to round out the top five Senior outfielder Joe Wendte from Wayne State was named NSIC Preseason Player of the Year. SMSU senior righthander Adam Schrader was voted NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

Silvernagel played in 50 of the 53 games last season, starting them all. In 160 at bats (second on the team) he had 47 hits for a .294 batting average. He was the team-leader with 130 assists, 12 stolen bases and 13 times he was hit by a pitch. He finished second in runs scored with 26 and was third on the squad in total bases with 56. On the mound, Silvernagel went 3-1 in six appearances and two starts, posting a 6.14 earned run average. He had nine strikeouts in 14.2 innings pitched.

Sander had the fourth-best batting average on the team in 2009 with a .330 mark. In 88 at bats he had 29 hits, 16 RBI and 13 runs. He played the field in 27 games, starting 26, posting a .961 fielding percentage with 87 put-outs. On the rubber, Sander posted a 5.36 ERA, with a 2-5 win/loss record. He appeared in nine contests, starting eight, hurling three complete games. In 47.0 innings pitched he had 18 strikeouts with 10 walks.

The Beavers begin competition Feb. 5 with a nonconference doubleheader versus University of Minnesota, Crookston at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn. starting at 7 p.m. BSU opens NSIC play and its home portion of the schedule March 20 against Wayne State, with the twin bill starting at 12 p.m. at the BSU Baseball Field.

2010 NSIC Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll
No. Team Points
1. Minnesota State (7) 151
2. Wayne State (5) 148
3. Southwest Minnesota State 120
4. Winona State 118
5. St. Cloud State (1) 114
6. Augustana 106
7. Upper Iowa 92
8. Concordia-St. Paul 82
9. Minnesota Duluth 76
10. University of Mary 53
11. Bemidji State 51
12. Minnesota, Crookston 30
13. Northern State 29

( ) First Place Votes

Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

--bsu--