Temple University Athletics
Diamond Owls Featured In CollegeBaseballInsider.com A-10 Preview
2.5.09 | Baseball
Feb. 5, 2009
CollegeBaseballInsider.com Atlantic 10 Preview
PHILADELPHIA - CollegeBaseballInsider.com has announced its Atlantic 10 preview and three Owls - seniors Sean Barksdale and Matt Mongiardini and sophomore Byron McKoy - were cited by the league's coaches. Barksdale was voted the A-10's best base-runner, Mongiardini was named as one of the three most underrated pitchers in the league and McKoy was named the best defensive outfielder.
A 2007 First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection, Barksdale was also named the Philadelphia Co-Player of the Year as a sophomore after batting .359 with seven home runs and 59 RBI. He batted .377 over his final 30 games last season to finish with a .307 average with five home runs, 47 RBI and 27 steals. Barksdale takes a 15-game hitting streak into the 2009 season.
An All-Big 5 pick, Mongiardini won six games and has the second lowest ERA (3.59) of any returning starting pitcher in the A-10. The right-hander has received three Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Week citations in his career, good for second all-time at Temple.
McKoy, a second team All-Atlantic 10 selection at DH, led the Owls in batting (.352), slugging (.511), and on-base percentage (.422). He was second on the team with 11 doubles, six home runs and 17 stolen bases. His 64 hits set a new Temple freshman record, previously held by former major leaguer John Marzano, who had 57 hits as a freshman in 1982.
Temple opens its season on Friday, Feb. 20 vs. Wichita State in the Florida Gulf Coast Invitational. First pitch is set for 1 PM.
