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Central Oklahoma
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The University of Central Oklahoma enters
this week at 9-0 and ranked #20 in the Ping!Baseball Top 30.
With wins over #24 Central Missouri and #23 Emporia State,
the Bronchos could earn a spot on the cusp of the top 10 by
the end of the week.  Success
isn't new to the Bronchos, however, as they have won the Lone
Star Conference North six out of the last seven years and
qualified for the NCAA Division II Playoffs seven times. Central
Oklahoma is well on their way to matching or improving on
last years impressive record of 40-18-1.
Coach Wendell Simmons (557-294-1 in 17 years)
returns seven starters, including two of the best players
in the LSC in 1B/P Breck Draper and P/OF Dean McIntyre. Draper
(.395 4 HR 22 RBI) has already shown his versatility on the
field. On Tuesday he drove in five runners while picking up
his second victory of the year on the mound. Offensively,
Draper is joined by and OF Tyler Carroll (.593 2 HR 10 RBI)
and C Miguel Montezuma (.690 2 HR 13 RBI). Outfielders Ryan
Schoonover (.474 1 HR 4 RBI) and Blake Mitchell (.435 4 RBI)
are both seeing their first action with the team and have
been pleasant surprises so far this year for Coach Simmons.
No team has held the Bronchos under seven runs so far this
year.
 On
the mound, Dean McIntyre (2-0 2.60 ERA) returns as the reigning
LSC North Pitcher of the Year. He is joined by Clint Straka
(2-0 0.00 ERA), Joe Noyes (1-0 5.23 ERA) and the aforementioned
Draper (2-0 4.50 ERA) as starters for the Bronchos. Relief,
on the other hand, is still a question mark. With the offensive
explosion that Central Oklahoma has shown this year, relief
pitchers haven't really been tested. However, when it comes
time, Nolan Maher, Zak Wallis, and Ben Gamblin will look to
shut opposing teams down in the later innings.
The outlook's good and the first nine games
have gone as well as Simmons could have hoped for. However,
Central Oklahoma will have their work cut out for them with
teams such as Abilene Christian and Angelo State competing
for LSC title. The Bronchos will also have one more non-conference
game with #23 Emporia State and a tough one with #3 Ouachita
Baptist that should keep them on their toes. Overall, Central
Oklahoma is looks to be on the path of making their eighth
appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
PREVIOUS DII SPOTLIGHTS
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