There's an old saying in sports that “you have to be in it to win it.”
Concord's Baseball team is expected in it, when it comes to the 2010 WVIAC championship chase.
The Mountain Lions are expected to contend for both the WVIAC's Southern Division crown and the league's overall championship, according to the annual pre-season poll of the conference's 13 head coaches.
Concord received four first-place votes in the Southern Division, and two first-place votes in the conference championship canvass.
The coaches predict defending WVIAC champion Shepherd will repeat in 2010, and have selected West Virginia State as the Southern Division favorite.
Concord returns ten starters from last year's squad, which finished 27-15, 9-5 in the division, and earned a bid in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional.
Leading the returners are All-American and All-Region player Donovan Huffer and All-Region and All-Regional Tournament honoree Brooks Cullen – arguably among the top two-way players in the conference.
The Mountain Lions also return all-conference players Keith Morrisroe, Trey Smith, Greyson Schramm and Josh Wenger.
The other returning starters include Chastin Akers, James Stehlin, Julio Stehlin and Kyle Webb.
“It's an honor for us to be considered to be in the caliber of teams like Shepherd and West Virginia State,” Concord head coach Kevin Garrett said of the pre-season voting. “It's something our players can be proud of.
The Mountain Lions are scheduled to open the 2010 season with a three-game, non-conference series against Ashland University (OH) at Anderson Field on February 20 and 21. The two teams will play a doubleheader at noon on the 20th, then a single nine-inning game at noon on the 21st.
Concord begins WVIAC play with a four-game series against Salem International on February 27 and 28, with noon doubleheaders slated for both days.
