Temple University Athletics
Preseason Polls Put Diamond Owls In Postseason
1.9.09 | Baseball
Jan. 9, 2009
PHILADELPHIA - The Temple baseball team has been picked to finish sixth in the Atlantic 10 in voting conducted by the league's head coaches, announced today by the league office. The Owls were also picked to finish fourth in the A-10 by Collegiate Baseball. The top six teams will qualify for the 2009 Atlantic 10 Championships, held May 20-23 at Fifth Third Field, home of the Dayton Dragons, the single-A affiliate of the Cincinati Reds.
Coming off consecutive 40-win seasons and conference titles, Charlotte was picked to win the Atlantic 10. The 49ers became the first A-10 program since Virginia Tech in 1999-00 to win consecutive league titles a year ago and seek to become the first team in Conference annals to win three straight crowns.
After winning a program-best 19 games in league action and finishing runner-up at the 2008 Championship, Xavier has been picked second, followed by Rhode Island, Richmond and Dayton.
Temple has been tabbed for sixth, followed by George Washington, Duquesne, Fordham, St. Bonaventure, Massachusetts, Saint Louis, Saint Joseph's and La Salle.
The Owls reached the postseason for the first time since 2002 last spring after compiling a 16-11 mark in the Atlantic 10 (27-29 overall). The 16 conference wins set a new school record and the 27 overall victories were the most by TU since 1999.
Collegiate Baseball also cited three Owls - senior OF Sean Barksdale, senior RHP Matt Mongiardini and sophomore OF Byron McKoy - as "Players to Watch."
Barksdale batted .307 with five home runs, 47 RBI and 27 steals as a junior in 2008. He was a first team all-Atlantic 10 selection and Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Year as a sophomore in 2007 (.359, 7 HR, 59 RBI).
Mongiardini led the team in wins (six), ERA (3.59), and innings (80.1) and was second on the team in strikeouts (42) to earn all-Philadelphia Big 5 honors. He was also a two-time Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week.
McKoy, a second team All-Atlantic 10 selection and the Philadelphia Big 5 Rookie of the Year, batted a team-best .352 with six home runs and 31 RBI as a freshman. He set a Temple record for hits by a freshman (64) and also stole 17 bases.
The Cherry and White open its 82nd season of varsity competition on February 20 against Wichita State at the Florida Gulf Coast Classic in Fort Myers. First pitch is set for 1 PM.
2009 Predicted Order of Finish (2008 A-10lOverall record in parentheses)
1. Charlotte (19-8/43-16)
2. Xavier (19-8/27-31)
3. Rhode Island (15-11/31-27-1)
4. Richmond (10-16/20-31-2)
5. Dayton (13-14/31-25)
6. Temple (16-11/27-29)
7. George Washington (11-16/26-29)
8. Duquesne (16-10/26-29-1)
9. Fordham (13-14/29-24-1)
10. St. Bonaventure (15-12/29-24)
11. Massachusetts (11-16/18-27)
12. Saint Louis (9-17/24-29)
13. Saint Joseph's (9-18/18-34)
14. La Salle (11-16/16-36)
