Collegiate Baseball Web site (print edition features more content)

TUCSON, Ariz. – Collegiate Baseball has projected Eastern Illinois baseball and junior righthander Josh Mueller as the top team and pitcher in the Ohio Valley Conference for the upcoming 2010 season.

 

In its Jan. 8 season preview print edition, Collegiate Baseball tabbed the Panthers first in its OVC projected order of finish. Mueller was selected as the projected pitcher of the year.

 

Last month, EIU was the only OVC team to receive votes in CBN's Fabulous 40 preseason national poll. The last two years, the Panthers have won the 2008 OVC Tournament title and the 2009 OVC regular-season crown. Eastern had the highest RPI (63) in the conference last spring.

 

The OVC preseason coaches' poll, along with the league's preseason player and pitcher of the year, are slated to be released in mid-February. The college baseball seasons opens around the country the weekend of Feb. 19-21.

 

Mueller started 13 games as a sophomore in 2009, taking the ball in the opening game of every weekend series or tournament. The Panthers went 11-2 in those games, Mueller finishing the year with an 8-1 mark. He struck out 64 batters in a team-high 78 innings pitched.

 

After earning Second Team All-Mideast Region honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association, Mueller headed to Massachusetts to pitch in the prestigious Cape Cod League this summer. He helped the Wareham Gatemen qualify for the playoffs, finishing the summer with a 2-0 record in his six starts.

 

Eligible to be selected in the 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, in the fall Mueller was highlighted by PGcrosschecker.com as the top college prospect in the state that completes for an Illinois-based university.

 

Collegiate Baseball also highlighted Mike Recchia and Richie Derbak among its players to watch in the OVC this season. Both Panthers were First Team All-OVC selections in 2009.

Eastern opens its new season at Southeastern Louisiana for the third year in a row. The three-game series in Hammond, La., opens Friday, Feb. 19.

CBN OVC Projected Order of Finish 1. Eastern Illinois 2. Tennessee Tech 3. Jacksonville State 4. Murray State 5. Morehead State 6. Southeast Missouri 7. Eastern Kentucky 8. Austin Peay 9. UT Martin

Number of Players Highlighted EIU: 3 Tech: 3 JSU: 7 Murray: 4 Morehead: 4 SEMO: 1 EKU: 3 APSU: 4 UTM: 3