By ISU Sports Information
NORMAL – The Illinois State baseball team was pegged for a sixth-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference, while returning Redbirds Jacob Hendren and Joe Kelch were named to the preseason all-conference team, the league announced Wednesday.
The preseason poll and all-conference team were voted on by league coaches. Missouri State was picked to win the league, with five of eight first-place votes, and the Bears landed three players on the preseason all-conference team, tied for tops in the league with Wichita State.
Missouri State received 60 voter points to edge out Dallas Baptist for preseason favorite status. The Patriots received two first-place votes and 56 voter points. Wichita State received the remaining first-place vote, and was pegged for a third-place finish with 47 voter points.
The preseason poll was rounded out by: Bradley (35 voter points), Indiana State (28), Illinois State (27), Evansville (22) and Southern Illinois (13).
Hendren earned the preseason all-conference recognition after a breakout 2015 season, in which he earned MVC Newcomer of the Year honors. The left-handed pitcher went 10-2 to tie Illinois State’s single-season wins record, while tossing a school-record 106 innings. He registered a 2.80 ERA and 99 strikeouts, against only 24 walks, and pitched three complete games, including one shutout. In addition to All-MVC First-Team honors, Hendren was named a Louisville Slugger Third-Team All-American.
Kelch was selected as the second baseman on the preseason all-conference team after slashing .338/.401/.482 in 2015. He led the Redbirds in batting average and tallied 12 extra-base hits, including four home runs. He played the entire season without committing an error in the field, and his 24 RBIs last season were the second most among players returning to the lineup this spring.
Joining Hendren and Kelch on the preseason all-conference team were: 1B Ryan Tinkham (Wichita State), 3B Jake Burger (Missouri State), SS Camden Duzenack (Dallas Baptist), C Gunnar Troutwine (Wichita State), UT Andy Young (Indiana State), DH Ian Kristan (Bradley), OF Spencer Johnson (Missouri State), OF Josh Jyawook (Evansville), OF Justin Wall (Dallas Baptist), SP Sam Tewes (Wichita State), RP Matt Dennis (Bradley) and RP Bryan Young (Missouri State).
Illinois State opens the 2016 campaign in Nashville, Tennessee, with a three-game series at Belmont, Feb. 19-21. The team will play a four-game series at Oregon the following weekend, Feb. 25-28, before playing eight games in nine days in Florida, March 4-12. Illinois State’s home opener is set for March 18 against Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
The 2015 Redbirds posted a 27-27 overall record, including a 9-12 mark in MVC play.
