Expectations high for baseball

   A year removed from falling to Marietta College of Ohio in the Division III World Series in Appleton, Wis., Chapman's talent and strength of schedule look ideal for a return to the badger state.

   The Panthers beat the Pioneers 15-4 last season, forcing a second game where winner took all. Marietta won that handily, beating Chapman 18-5 and winning the school's fifth national championship. Chapman's second place standing is the highest the team has finished since winning the 2003 national championship.

   This year, the contenders look familiar. Marietta was voted preseason No. 1 with 625 points and all 25 first place votes while Chapman is No. 2 with 579 points. Junior pitcher Brian Rauh, who extended his unbeaten streak to 22-0 last season, was voted to the Division III preseason All-American first team for the second time. Rauh didn't mince words about the award.

   "It doesn't mean anything until we get out there and prove ourselves," Rauh said. "But we are very confident we are going to make it back to the World Series."

   The team lost big-slugging catcher Adam Kordich and nimble second baseman Tyler Hadzinsky to graduation, leaving the spots undecided on the roster. Those positions and the rigorous schedule appear to be the biggest obstacles keeping the team from Wisconsin this season.

   "This is the toughest schedule since I've been here," said Head Coach Tom Tereschuk. "We had a young team last year and they got very valuable experience. We have to be considered one of the strongest teams in the country."

   Even with the losses of Kordich, Hadzinsky, pitcher Jordan Sigman and third baseman Bobby Evers, the team is stocked with young talent and poised to do well. Along with Rauh, senior pitcher Ben Levitt and junior pitchers Kevin Osaki, Christian Maietta and Travis McGee return on the mound, giving Chapman what is possibly the best starting rotation in the country in Division III.

   "Our pitching is just as strong, if not stronger, than last season," said senior outfielder Eric Robbins. "Pitching is key, but the biggest thing is filling in second [base] and catcher."

   The Panthers, who went 37-13 en route to the championship game, had last year's strongest schedule. Marietta had the 41st strongest. This year looks to repeat with home series against Northwest powers Linfield College (Ore.), George Fox University (Ore.) and Pacific Lutheran University (Wash.). The Panthers also travel to Texas to play Trinity University during the regular season for the first time under Tereschuk. Chapman had faced the Tigers several times in postseason play.

   "We want to start a home-and-home with Trinity," Tereschuk said. "We think it would be a great way to start our seasons."

   But Tereschuk wasn't looking that far forward yet, focusing on the first game.

   "Preseason means nothing, it is just an indicator," he said. "We first need to do well enough for the postseason."

   Chapman plays its first intercollegiate game Friday, Feb. 3 at 4:30 p.m. at home against Whittier College.