MNU has never had a great baseball team, but they swept the #1 team in the nation, Oklahoma City, over the weekend. A sign of good things to come for the Pioneers this season?
_________________ BASKETBALL: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 HAAC Pick Em' Champ! 2009 NAIA DI National Pick Em' Champ!
Last years team was pretty good. They finishes 32-17 and 19-9 in the conference. They were not projected to finish that well and overachieved. A lot of the key pieces return this year and the team did get picked as the overwhelming #1 in the HAAC coaches poll. They will win the HAAC this year, with a challenge from Culver-Stockton, and probably finish with a better record. That sweep of OKC wasn't as surprising as you might think. The HAAC is getting a bad rap in baseball as in every sport, but MNU can compete at a high level. Not national title contenders, but expect to see them in the top 25 this season
I heard on the radio that anything less than a conference title would be a disappointment.
Thats about right. And from watching the team this weekend, they look great. They don't commit errors, they have tremendous speed on the basepaths, they play smallball and bunt to advance runners, they aggresively steal bases, and they have just enough power in the lineup to keep teams honest. I think this years team is miles ahead of the squad last year. Pitching is better as well I think.
Joined: Thu Oct 23, 2003 5:09 am Posts: 11440 Location: Olathe
Last season was definitely a "break out" year for MNU baseball - a program that historically never seemed to be able to get enough traction to push consistently for HAAC titles. But, the talent - seems to be there, as well as the coaching, to start yielding consecutive seasons of top notch ball. It's taken Coach Thompson all 6 of his years to get the Pioneers where they are, but that was to be expected, IMO. It's not easy to recruit a good core of top notch players to a financially challenged - sans the 7.5M unconditional gift - school like MNU.
good call on the challenge from Culver..8 and the season is not exactly a challenge. MNU once again self destructed this year.. be careful you are 0-2, one more and you are out. YES I know my vikes are even worse than culver..you dont have to tell me that.
Joined: Sun Mar 07, 2010 10:35 am Posts: 782 Location: STL
Twitter: @kmnubooth
VIK4Life wrote:
good call on the challenge from Culver..8 and the season is not exactly a challenge. MNU once again self destructed this year.. be careful you are 0-2, one more and you are out. YES I know my vikes are even worse than culver..you dont have to tell me that.
'the hell you talking about?
_________________ "My curiosity is killing me just like a cat would be killed byyy the curioSITY YEAH YEAH YEAH" -- Macho Man Randy Savage
Joined: Sun Mar 07, 2010 10:35 am Posts: 782 Location: STL
Twitter: @kmnubooth
BTDubs, Ben Alison has a 3 HR, 11 RBI series against Graceland on Saturday. Hits his 13, 14, 15th HR's of the year to set the MNU Single-Season Record.
_________________ "My curiosity is killing me just like a cat would be killed byyy the curioSITY YEAH YEAH YEAH" -- Macho Man Randy Savage
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