Temple University Athletics
Diamond Owls Noticed In Preseason Previews
2.15.08 | Baseball
Feb. 15, 2008
PHILADELPHIA - With the official start date for NCAA Division I college baseball just a week away, the Temple baseball team has been receiving attention in several national publications. Baseball America picked the Owls to finish sixth in the Atlantic 10, which would be enough to qualify for the six-team conference tournament from May 21-24 at Campbell's Field in Camden, NJ.
The publication also named junior RF Sean Barksdale to its preseason all-conference team and named him the league's third best prospect for the 2008 MLB Draft. Barksdale batted .359 with seven home runs and a team-high 59 RBI to earn all-Atlantic 10 and all-Philadelphia Big 5 honors as a sophomore. He also stole 14 bases and batted .432 with runners in scoring position. Earlier this season, the Glenolden, PA native was named to the Wallace Award Watch List for the nation's top collegiate player.
Junior transfer Mark Ortega was named the Atlantic 10's top newcomer by Baseball America. The shortstop was an AFLAC All-American during his scholastic days at Palm Beach Gardens High School (FL) but saw limited action in two years at Boston College. It is the second time in the past three years that the publication has tabbed a Temple player as the league's top newcomer. Senior Arshwin Asjes earned the honor in 2006 after transferring from Gloucester CC (NJ).
In collegebaseballinsider.com's preseason preview, Barksdale was selected as the league's best pure hitter and most underrated hitter in voting conducted by the A-10's head coaches.
Collegiate Baseball selected Barksdale and seniors Stan Orzechowski and Tom Dolan as "Players to Watch" from the Atlantic 10. Orzechowski was an all-Philadelphia Big 5 selection last season after batting .349 with a team-record 20 doubles. He also had six home runs and 32 RBI.
Dolan also was an all-Philadelphia Big 5 pick after going 6-5 with a 3.96 ERA. The southpaw fanned 70 batters in 86.1 innings and projects as the staff ace this season.
Temple opens its season on Friday, February 22 with a three-game series at Bethune-Cookman.
