VIDEO

ARDEN HILLS, Minn.—The Bethel University baseball squad was selected third in the preseason coaches poll Thursday, after a historical 2012 season that witnessed the Royals going to the conference playoffs for the first time in 12 years. Under the direction of head coach Brian Raabe, who enters his second year as Bethel's leader, BU finished with an overall record of 20-20 and an 11-9 mark in league play.
 
With 77 points, the Royals were selected third behind Saint John's and St. Thomas. Bethel returns five starters and seven other players that saw considerable time last season, including 2012 MIAC Most Valuable Player and ABCA/Rawlings All-American Matt Rowley (Sr., Minnetonka, Minn.). Rowley, both an outfielder and a pitcher, led the league in hitting a year ago, while also being a dominant starting pitcher for the Royals throughout the 2012 campaign.
 
Rowley will be surrounded by two other seniors in the outfield, as both David Freed (Sr., North Oaks, Minn.) and Jesse Nickols (Sr., Arden Hills, Minn.) return to BU's defense in 2013. Freed, who pitched and played first base in 2012, will see more time in the outfield along with spot starts at first base. The North Oaks, Minn., native was third in the league in runs scored last year, while right fielder Jesse Nickols tied for the most home runs.
 
Other top returners looking to contribute to the Royals lineup include a slough of infielders including, Ryan Hangartner (Jr., Watertown, Minn.), Mike Whartnaby (Jr., Libertyville, Minn.), Esteban Abbey (Sr., Chicago, Ill.), and Nik Anderson (So., Arden Hills, Minn.). Together, the foursome tallied a combined 72 starts and 221 at bats.
 
Bethel will look to fill big holes at the plate and on defense, as they lose Jay Slick, Buddy Flaherty, Travis Piepho, Mike Sedjo, and several others due to graduation. Slick, a catcher, was a three time All-MIAC player, while Buddy Flaherty finished as one of the best closers in the nation one year ago.
 
Attempting to replace those graduated on the mound are Keaton Schut (Jr., Des Moines, Iowa), Joe Zorn (So., Stillwater, Minn.), and Matt Pryor (So., St. Paul, Minn.), along with several newcomers, while it will be Grant Anderson (So., Andover, Minn.) and Mike Schultz (So., Forest Lake, Minn.), who look to be tasked with the catching duties in 2013.
 
The Royals began their season with “Midnight Madness” the night of February 1, which involved pizza, administrative tasks, and a small dose of practice until early in the morning. BU will play its first game a week from Monday, when they take on Northwestern College in an evening double header. The pair of games against the Eagles is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.