D3 Central Division Preview

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D3 Central Division Preview

By Jim Dixon, D3sports.com 

St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference:Webster is the king of the SLIAC. The Gorloks are coming off their first World Series appearance and will have an early test when they open with Washington (Mo.). It does not get any easier. Once Webster gets into their conference schedule in mid-March, it will have played three of the top fiur teams, as well as the best of the Central region. Six offensive starters are back, including two 2012 NCAA all-tournament team members, Taylor Stoulp and Kevin Kojs. The Gorloks also return three of four starting pitchers, including SLIAC Newcomer of the Year Isaac Behme. Webster will have a stable of arms to work with as three starters who sat out the 2012 season due to injuries are expected to contribute in 2013. Spalding won the 2012 USCAA World Series last season as it finished their four year probationary period. The SLIAC will be a two-team race for the title now that Spalding is eligible for the playoffs. Coming back for the Golden Eagles is junior Derek Ferch (.388, 27 RBI). Ferch was named a first team All-Region selection at shortstop by the ACBA.Fontbonne, Greenville, and Westminster (Mo.)finished in the middle of the pack in the SLIAC. Key to Westminister's success will be shortstop Dant Hughes (.331, 25 R, 14 SB). Other than Webster, Greenville had the only other member of the SLIAC on the D3baseball.com All-Region honor roll, and Kenny Trager (.324, 12 RBI) is back for his senior season. Blackburn,Eureka, Principia and MacMurray have been consistently at the back end of the standings and their fortunes will have to change dramatically for them to move to the top of the standings.