Coaches Baseball Poll Predicts FIT Sixth In Conference

By  //  January 18, 2013

Panthers Open New Season Feb. 2

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The Sunshine State Conference coaches have voted on the league’s preseason poll and Florida Tech is expected to finish in sixth place this spring.

Greg Berkemeier is the head baseball coach for the Florida Tech Panthers. (Image courtesy of Florida Tech)

The Panthers received 32 points, coming in 10 points ahead of Rollins and six behind Barry.

For the second straight year, Tampa will enter as the favorite to win the conference, receiving all eight possible first place votes to lead the way at 64 points. Nova Southeastern received the only other first place vote, recording 51 points to rank second.

Entering his sixth year as head coach of the Panthers, Greg Berkemeier returns a pair of All-SSC pitchers from last season in seniors Jason Boyer and James Mannara.

Boyer led the Panthers with seven victories in 13 starts last season. His 81 strikeouts were a team best, as well.

Mannara recorded a team-low 1.25 earned run average and picked up five saves on the year. His 1.25 ERA was the lowest in Florida Tech single-season history.

The Panthers will open the season Feb. 2 when Shorter comes to town for a three-game series at Andy Seminick-Les Hall Field.

Sunshine State Conference play will begin Feb. 15 when the Panthers head to Miami Shores to take on Barry.