Ball State University Athletics
Preseason Honors Roll in for Ball State Baseball Team
February 15, 2017 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. – It's just two days from Opening Day for the Ball State baseball team and plenty of publications have weighed in on the 2017 Cardinals. Below are the honors, rankings and predictions involving the Ball State squad.
Both Perfect Game and D1Baseball.com have picked Ball State to take the Mid-American Conference West Division for a second straight year. Last year, the Cardinals went 15-9 in league play and won the MAC West.
Individual honors were mentioned for senior pitcher BJ Butler, senior shortstop Alex Maloney and senior catcher/first baseman Caleb Stayton. Butler, a first team All-MAC selection in 2016, was named a preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball. The right-hander from Mattawan, Michigan, was also rated the No. 119 pitcher in D1Baseball.com's position power rankings.
Maloney, a four-year starter on the infield, was a preseason all-league pick by Perfect Game. The native of Chelsea, Michigan, was rated the No. 48 shortstop in D1Baseball.com's position power rankings. Maloney ranked third on the team in runs scored (48) as well as fourth in batting average (.305), doubles (14) and RBIs (32) as a junior.
Finally, Stayton was tabbed the Preseason MAC Player of the Year by both Perfect Game and D1Baseball.com. Stayton is making the move from first base to catcher this spring. He was ranked the No. 15 catcher in D1Baseball.com's position power rankings. Hailing from Goshen, Indiana, Stayton piled up a league-high 71 RBIs in 2016, which also ranked 10th nationally.
Ball State's 2017 season opener is this Friday, Feb. 17 in Clearwater, Florida, against No. 22 Maryland.
For the most up-to-date information on the Ball State baseball team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateBB and @CoachMaloney.
Both Perfect Game and D1Baseball.com have picked Ball State to take the Mid-American Conference West Division for a second straight year. Last year, the Cardinals went 15-9 in league play and won the MAC West.
Individual honors were mentioned for senior pitcher BJ Butler, senior shortstop Alex Maloney and senior catcher/first baseman Caleb Stayton. Butler, a first team All-MAC selection in 2016, was named a preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball. The right-hander from Mattawan, Michigan, was also rated the No. 119 pitcher in D1Baseball.com's position power rankings.
Maloney, a four-year starter on the infield, was a preseason all-league pick by Perfect Game. The native of Chelsea, Michigan, was rated the No. 48 shortstop in D1Baseball.com's position power rankings. Maloney ranked third on the team in runs scored (48) as well as fourth in batting average (.305), doubles (14) and RBIs (32) as a junior.
Finally, Stayton was tabbed the Preseason MAC Player of the Year by both Perfect Game and D1Baseball.com. Stayton is making the move from first base to catcher this spring. He was ranked the No. 15 catcher in D1Baseball.com's position power rankings. Hailing from Goshen, Indiana, Stayton piled up a league-high 71 RBIs in 2016, which also ranked 10th nationally.
Ball State's 2017 season opener is this Friday, Feb. 17 in Clearwater, Florida, against No. 22 Maryland.
For the most up-to-date information on the Ball State baseball team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateBB and @CoachMaloney.
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