MVP 07: Holy Cross Crusaders Forum Dynasty

***mattynokes*** · (This post was last modified: 05-11-2014, 10:31 PM by mattynokes.)

Patriot League Preview

Central Valley, PA -- It's that time of the year. All that matters now is conference play. No team really has a strong case to make the 64-team NCAA tournament with an at- bid. It's about winning the regular season, gaining the coveted number one seed, and taking care of business in the three team league tournament. Here's a look at each team:

[Image: Army1.png]

Army Black Knights (11-15) [#102]

Army has the hitters, but has struggled to produce offensively so far. Their pitching has as-advertised and one of the worst in the PL.

Top Players
Fr 2B Patrick Warren: .392 AVG, 9 2B, 16 RBI
Fr SP Chase Crews: 5-2, 2.81 ERA, 9.56 K/9
Jr CF Blair Schell: .347 AVG, 16 R, 4 SB
Fr LF Patrik Kirkland: .268 AVG, 2 HR, 21 BB
Jr CA Erik Street: .284 AVG, 4 HR, 15 RBI

[Image: Bucknell1.png]

Bucknell Bison (14-10) [#63]

Bucknell was the pre-season favorite and they're playing the best so far. They have a league best ERA and a league worst runs scored (83) by 17 runs.

Top Players
Sr LF Kody Nisco: .417 AVG, 8 2B, 11 RBI
So SS Josh Benefield: .317 AVG, 5 HR, 15 RBI
So CL John Cebula: 7 SV, 2.79 ERA, 10.24 K/9
Sr SP Myles Hudson: 5-2, 3.45 ERA, 7.54 K/9
Jr 1B Alex Bottalico: .337 AVG, 3 3B, 10 R

[Image: Crusaders1.png]

Holy Cross Crusaders (14-12) [#76]

Holy Cross does have a league-low .263 team batting average, but more than doubles up any other team in steals. They also have a fine pitching staff with a 3.77 ERA.

Top Players
Fr 1B Owain Cole: .354 AVG, 5 HR, 23 RBI
Fr SP Paul McIntosh: 3-3, 2.41 ERA, 1.05 WHIP
Fr CF Ozzie Collins: .333 AVG, 17 R, 16 SB
Fr CL Will Bronson: 3 SV, 1.98 ERA, 0.95 WHIP
Fr SS Brad Hickox: .309 AVG, 14 R, 9 SB

[Image: Lafeyette1.png]

Lafayette Leopards (10-16) [#112]

Don't sleep on them because of their record. They lead the league in home runs and have a respectable 4.93 team ERA. It's their lack of speed that could keep them out of the post-season.

Top Players
Sr SP Barry Fromm: 5-4, 2.37 ERA, 1.17 WHIP
Jr CL Danny Callahan: 3 SV, 2.87 ERA, 1.02 WHIP
Sr CF Ryan Ruth: .303, 8 HR, 21 RBI
Jr SS Will Hawkins: .353 AVG, 8 2B, 16 RBI
Jr 1B Cory McMahon: .388 AVG, 12 R, 16 BB

[Image: Lehigh1.png]

Lehigh Mountain Hawks (12-14) [#77]

Lehigh has easily sported the best offense in the PL, but has surprisingly been roughed up on the mound with a 6.41 team ERA. If their pitching comes around, they could be the team to beat.

Top Players
So CA Gary Reese: .412 AVG, 8 HR, 38 RBI
Jr DH Jordan Burke: .404 AVG 7 HR, 27 R
Fr LF Greg Kasserbaum: .409 AVG, 12 2B, 20 RBI
Jr CL Grant Smith: 7 SV, 0.00 ERA, 0.78 WHIP
Fr CF Jeff Ormon: .337 AVG, 4 3B, 22 RBI

[Image: Navy1.png]

Navy Midshipmen (10-15) [#116]

Navy has shown some quality defense and has the speed to score runs when on base. But it's the pitching and overall hitting that holds them back.

Top Players
Fr 1B Todd Walker: .350 AVG, 3 HR, 25 RBI
So RF Chad Rinehart: .463 AVG, 10 2B, 19 R
So CL Kirk Savage: 3 SV, 1.59 ERA, 0.71 WHIP
Jr DH Andrew Hiatt: .344 AVG, 14 R, 17 RBI
So RP Kurt Tubbs: 1-2, 3.72 ERA, 9.62 K/9

Projected Finish
1. Bucknell
2. Lehigh
3. Holy Cross
4. Lafayette
5. Army
6. Navy