Baylor Bears
35-27
Final '07 Rank: NR

AThe Baylor Bears went 35-27 in 2007, reaching the 35 win plateau for the ninth time in head coach Steve Smith's 13-year tenure; an impressive feat, considering it was the one of the youngest squads in Smith’s tenure as skipper of Baylor’s Green and Gold. Now that one of the most highly touted incoming classes in the nation has had a season to blossom, the Bears will be looking to return to Omaha after a two year absence.

A quartet of sophomores will go along way in determining how many runs Baylor will push across the plate in 2008. Third baseman Raynor Campbell was named to the 2007 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America Team after becoming the first Baylor freshman to lead the team in batting average (.321) since 1993. Outfielder Aaron Miller was the 2007 Perfect Game Crosschecker Preseason Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year after batting a shade under .300 (.296) with a .511 slugging percentage. First baseman Dustin Dickerson finished at .292 and played in all but one game, and Shaver Hansen (.296), whose father was a professional wrestler known as "The Lariat, will return to anchor second base after representing the Rochester Honkers in the Northwoods League All-Star Game during the summer.

A Freshman All-American in 2006, junior shortstop Beemer Weems will factor greatly in how far Baylor goes into the 2008 post season. Weems hit .321 and led the Bears in homeruns (9), doubles (17) and total bases (125) while adding stellar defense and leadership as well his sophomore season. Another returning key offensive component is junior outfielder Ben Booker (.306, 7 3Bs, 11 SBs) who was selected to the Big 12 All-Conference Team as an honorable mention.

Despite such impressive bats returning to Waco, the envy of Baylor may be their pitching staff. Closer Nick Cassavechia (6-2, 3.12, 11 SVs, 72 Ks in 52 IPs) will be back to anchor the bullpen after being the named 2007 Cape Cod League Relief Pitcher of the Year during the off-season. Wade Mackey, whose 3.18 ERA was the lowest of any starter in 2007, will also be back on the hill. Mackey earned the victory in the TCL All-Star Game and will look to be the Friday starter if he can hold off emerging righthander Kendal Volz. Volz, also a freshman in ’07, showed tremendous potential, striking out 65 batters in 68 innings pitched despite a 5.16 ERA. Shawn Tolleson missed his freshman season (and most of his senior high school season) due to Tommy John surgery, and will be looking to fulfill the promise that ranked him 47th in Baseball America's 2007 preseason top 50 freshmen list.

With impressive talent and a loyal fan base which consistently ranks in the top twenty nationally, the Baylor Bears will look to challenge in the fiercely competitive Big 12 Conference in 2008, leaving them battle tested and prepared for regionals and another possible trip to Omaha.