ETBU Baseball Has Drive to Be Better in ASC East

RICHARDSON, Texas (1/30/13)– Under new leadership, the East Texas Baptist University baseball team heads into the 2013 season looking to improve upon their fourth place finish in 2012. New head coach Lee Driggers enters his first season at ETBU but has been in NCAA Division III for 17 years winning four American Southwest Conference championships while at McMurry University.

ETBU finished last year with a 12-24 record and tied for fourth in the ASC at 7-11. In the 2013 ASC Preseason Poll, ETBU has been picked to finish in sixth place with 53 votes. ETBU has two players that are on the "14 Players to Watch” list for the ASC in sophomore outfielder Matty Sullivan and sophomore pitcher Zach Tampke.

Sullivan started 35 games last year and batted .288 with 18 RBI and 16 doubles. Tampke pitched in 29.2 innings and had 16 strikeouts while starting three games and appearing in 11.

Below is the results from the voting for the ASC for the 2013 baseball season:

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2013 ASC PRESEASON BASEBALL POLL

[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches, Sports Information Directors and Media Members]

WEST DIVISION

Team (first-place votes) Points 2012 Record (finish)

1. Concordia Texas (17) 139 37-11, 17-4 ASC (1st)

2. Texas Lutheran (2) 118 27-14, 16-5 ASC (2nd)

3. Hardin-Simmons (2) 116 20-20, 12-9 ASC (T3rd)

4. Mary Hardin-Baylor 77 21-17, 11-10 ASC (5th)

5. Howard Payne 60 14-24, 7-14 ASC (6th)

6. Sul Ross State 50 9-30, 5-16 ASC (7th)

7. Schreiner 38 7-33, 4-17 ASC (8th)

* McMurry (23-24, 12-9 ASC) is no longer member of the conference.



EAST DIVISION

Team (first-place votes) Points 2012 Record (finish)

1. Texas-Tyler (11) 134 33-12, 14-4 ASC (T1st)

2. Texas-Dallas (9) 131 28-15, 14-4 ASC (T1st)

3. Mississippi College (1) 106 21-24, 9-9 ASC (3rd)

4. Louisiana College 71 15-24, 7-11 ASC (T4th)

5. LeTourneau 55 15-23, 7-11 ASC (T4th)

6. East Texas Baptist 53 12-24, 7-11 ASC (T4th)

7. Ozarks 38 15-24, 5-13 ASC (7th)

* Centenary (24-15, 0-0 ASC) is no longer member of the conference.