#18 |
BAYLOR
bears
(32-26, 11-16)
final 2008 ranking: NR |
2008 was supposed to be a banner year for Baylor, but
things didn’t quite go according to plan. Despite
a top twenty preseason ranking, Baylor finished the
year outside the polls and failed to receive an invite
to the NCAAs. The young prospects whose talent spurred
the winning forecasts have had a season to develop and
will be looking live up to the hubabaloo that followed
them onto campus. Kendal Volz (3-6, 4.20, 85 K in 70
IP) awed as the closer for the Team USA over the summer;
he and Shawn Tolleson (6-4, 5.06) are top college prospects
for the 2009 draft. Two other Bear pitchers, Craig Fritch
(3-4, 4.80) and Willie Kempf (6-2, 3.69), were alternatives
for Cape Cod All Star teams. Another Baylor player,
second baseman Raynor Campbell (.311, 4, 26) was a top
hitter in the Cape, batting .303 in the pitching friendly
wood bat league. Third baseman Shaver Hansen (.326,
6, 47) led the team in batting average, RBI, runs and
triples last season and could earn himself the Big 12
Player of the Year if things come together in Waco.
|
