Franklin & Marshall Moves to Sixth in May 9 ABCA/Collegiate Baseball Mid-Atlantic Region Poll
by Sports Information
5/10/05
|
LANCASTER, PA – Franklin & Marshall College is ranked sixth in the May 9 American Baseball Coaches Association/Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Region Poll. Tied for eighth in the April 25 poll, it marks the team’s highest ranking since June 9, 1995 when the team was ranked #18 in the national poll and third in the regional poll. The Diplomats won the 2005 Centennial Conference championship over #8 regionally ranked Johns Hopkins University by taking games one and three of the best of three series with runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. In game one, right-hander Ted Serro (Jr., Brooklyn, NY/Xavier) pitched a 1-0 six hit shutout with six strikeouts, while Jeff Rowand (So., York, PA/Dallastown) drove a pinch hit double down the right field to score Stephen Frederick (Jr., Downingtown, PA/Downingtown) with the winning run. In game three, the Diplomats rode the arm of lefthander EJ Leary (Jr., Seymour, CT/Seymour) who did not allow a hit in four and two thirds innings before allowing an RBI double to Paul Long. In the bottom of the ninth inning with the score tied at 3-3, Jon Compitello (Jr., Yardley, PA/George School) led the inning off with a single before being replaced by pinch runner Andy Anderson (Fr., East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick). Frederick worked a pinch-hit walk to put runners on first and second with no outs. After a pop up and a strike out, Tommy Miller (Fr., York, PA/Central York) lined a single to center field to score Anderson with the winning run for the 2005 title. The championship marks the third in school history as Franklin & Marshall last won the Centennial Conference title 10 years ago in 1995 as the Diplomats recorded a 30-6-1 record to win the regular season by three games over McDaniel College and earn the second conference title in school history. In 1978, the Diplomats finished 14-11-1 to win the Middle Atlantic Conference championship. #6 nationally ranked The College of New Jersey leads the regional poll, while Rowan University, Kean University, Alvernia College, DeSales University, Franklin & Marshall and Messiah rank second through seventh and Johns Hopkins, Frostburg State and Rutgers Camden are tied for eighth to round out the poll. Franklin & Marshall (25-14, 15-3 Centennial Conference) will continue the season next week as the NCAA championship field and regional site location will be announced on May 16. ABCA/Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Region Poll
1. New Jersey
2. Rowan
3. Kean
4. Alvernia
5. DeSales
6. Franklin & Marshall
7. Messiah
8. Johns Hopkins, Frostburg, Rutgers-Camden
|
