BLUE TIGERS AIM TO PROVE POLLS WRONG

  The Heartland Conference released their preseason polls for baseball and softball placing the Blue Tigers at or near the bottom in both.  Lincoln University baseball was pegged for a fifth place finish (40 votes), trailing fourth place Montana State University-Billings by nine votes (31).  The softball Blue Tigers were picked sixth (61 votes) four votes behind fifth place Oklahoma Panhandle State University (57). 

   The Blue Tigers baseball team opens their third season under Jim Dapkus on Feb. 2 at 12:00 p.m. in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis, Minn. against Rockhurst University (Kansas City, Mo.).  The Hawks are No. 34 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper preseason poll.  The Heartland Conference schedule begins for the Blue Tigers on Feb. 16 in San Antonio, Texas against No. 24 St. Mary’s University, a team they have never beaten.  The Rattlers are No. 24 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper preseason poll. The Blue Tigers open the home portion of their schedule on March 9 with Texas-Permian Basin at 12:00 p.m. on Lincoln Field.  The home conference slate starts March 23 with Lincoln University taking on Montana State University-Billings at 12:00 p.m.

   Back-to-back Heartland Conference Champions, Incarnate Word are the preseason favorite after advancing to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional championship game in 2006.   Lincoln University ended the 2006 Heartland Conference race in fourth place (15-24); in back of third place St. Mary’s University (28-12).  Lincoln University, who finished 21-31 in the spring of 2006 has not had a winning season since 2001-02 when they posted a 23-17 record. 

   The Blue Tigers softball team has a tough road ahead of them playing in the top heavy Heartland Conference.  The conference features three teams (Incarnate Word, St. Edward’s, St. Mary’s) who participated in the 2006 NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament.  Those teams made up three of the final four teams in the 2006 South Central Regional Tournament with Incarnate Word losing in the championship game.  Incarnate Word and St. Mary’s tied for the regular season Heartland Conference Championship.  The St. Mary’s Rattlers won the Heartland Conference Postseason Tournament over former conference member Western New Mexico.  It was the sixth consecutive Heartland Conference Postseason Tournament Championship won by the Rattlers.  Lincoln University finished sixth (4-20) in Heartland Conference play in 2006. 

   A favorable schedule has the Blue Tigers playing on the Lincoln Softball Field for six of their first seven doubleheaders.  This advantage (home field) must be seized from the outset when the Blue Tigers of second year head coach Lori Reyes begin the season Feb.

17 at 12:00 p.m. against Northwest Missouri State University on the Jefferson City, Mo.

campus.  Lincoln University starts proving the poll wrong on March 9 when they open Heartland Conference play with Montana State University-Billings at 1:00 p.m. on Lincoln Softball Field.

   If the Blue Tigers win 18 games it will set a season record for victories, surpassing the 17 in the spring of 2000.  A 28 victory season will equal the number of wins amassed by the program in the last four seasons. 

Softball                                                             Baseball

1          Incarnate Word              20                     1          Incarnate Word             16

t2.        St. Edward’s                  25                     2          St. Mary’s                     17

t2.        St. Mary’s                     25                     3          St. Edward’s                  20

4          Mont. State-Billings        43                     4          Mont. State-Billings        31

5          Okla. Panhandle State   57                     5          Lincoln University           40

6          Lincoln University           61                     6          Okla. Panhandle State   44

Softball

Preseason Player of the Year: Melissa Perez (jr., P/1B), University of the Incarnate Word

2006 Heartland Conference Player of the Year

2006 all-Heartland Conference first team, utility player

2006 four-time, Heartland Conference, Pitcher of the Week

2006 one-time, Heartland Conference, Hitter of the Week

2006 Preseason Heartland Conference Utility Player of the Year

2005 Heartland Conference Freshman of the Year

2005 all-Heartland Conference first team, first base

2005 two-time, Heartland Conference, Hitter of the Week

Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Malissa Magee (jr., RHP), St. Mary’s University

2006 Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Year

2006 all-Heartland Conference first team, pitcher

2006 four-time, Heartland Conference, Pitcher of the Week

2006 Preseason Heartland Conference Pitcher Player of the Year

2005 Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Year

2005 all-Heartland Conference first team, pitcher

2005 five-time, Heartland Conference, Pitcher of the Week

Baseball

Preseason Player of the Year: Michael Brzezinski (so., OF), St. Mary’s University

2006 Heartland Conference co-Freshman of the Year

2006 all-Heartland Conference first team, outfield

2006 one-time, Heartland Conference, Hitter of the Week

Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Jeff Jamnik (sr., RHP), University of the Incarnate Word

2006 Heartland Conference co-Pitcher of the Year

2006 all-Heartland Conference first team, pitcher

2006 two-time, Heartland Conference, Pitcher of the Week

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