Chapman University - Athletics - Press Releases

ATHLETICS > Press Releases > January 17, 2007

Contact:	Doug Aiken
	Sports Information Director
	(714) 997-6900
	daiken@chapman.edu
Release Date:	January 17, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHAPMAN RANKED NO. 2 IN DIVISION III BY COLLEGIATE BASEBALL

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University baseball team will begin the season with a familiar target on its back, yet again ranked among the top-five teams in Division III. The Panthers are ranked No. 2 by Collegiate Baseball in the 2007 preseason poll, their highest preseason ranking ever. The defending back-to-back West Region champions have been ranked in the top five, in three of the past four preseasons.

Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division III Preseason Poll
School	2006 Record
1. Otterbein (Ohio)	34-16
2. Chapman (Calif.)	33-13
3. Montclair State (N.J.)	35-19-2
4. Wisc-Stevens Point	35-18
5. Southern Maine	32-17

Two big reasons for Chapman’s high expectations are the return of senior RHP Devin Drag, as well as senior UTL Tyler Dean. Drag was voted West Region Pitcher of the Year by the Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in 2006 after boasting a Division III-best 0.82 ERA, along with a 10-2 record and eight saves. Dean led the team with six home runs and ranked second with 18 doubles and 35 RBI.

As usual, Chapman’s schedule is packed with top-30 teams, including games against No. 3 Montclair State (N.J.), No. 15 Kean (N.J.), No. 20 Ithaca (N.Y.) and a three-game series against No. 27 George Fox (Ore.). The Panthers will also face Cal Lutheran in a home-and-home series in February. The Kingsmen were the only other Division III team from California receiving votes by Collegiate Baseball.

Chapman, which posted a 33-13 record and finished earned third place at the Division III World Series last May, opens the 2007 season at Whittier on Feb. 2. The Panthers will host the Poets in their home opener on Feb. 3 at Hart Park. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

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