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April 27, 2005 ORLANDO, FL - The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (6-39, 1-17) begins play as the number seven seed in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday, April 28, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. as they take on the number two seeded Bethune-Cookman College Wildcats (19-23, 11-6). The most important thing for the Wildcats and the rest of the MEAC is that they cannot overlook any team in the tournament, and that is especially true when you look at the Fighting Hawks. As the bottom seed and a squad that was only able to record one conference win in 18 games, UMES does not appear to be a threat for anyone to knock off in the early rounds. However, in post-season tournaments, the Fighting Hawks are just the team to make some big waves as every game is do or die. In previous match-ups with conference opponents, the Fighting Hawks had to deal with pitching problems, largely based on injury or just lack of arms. But in do or die situations, there is no tomorrow unless you win, so Head Coach Bobby Rodriguez will be able to throw any pitcher he feels he needs to give his team the best chance at success. The hitting should be no problem, with senior Brandon McCabe, Joel Maher, and junior Craig Munch returning to the line-up to lead the way. McCabe is having an all-star type season as he leads the team with a .349 batting average, a .424 on-base percentage and a .586 slugging percentage, while pacing the team with his 53 hits, 16 doubles, six homeruns, 30 RBI's, 89 total bases, and five hit by pitches. After missing some time due to illness, Munch brings his.325 batting average, 15 runs and 30 RBI's back to the lineup. Munch is a great spray hitter as he collected four doubles, four triples, and four homeruns on the season. Maher is another player having an career-season, as he has provided coach Rodriguez with the prototypical lead-off threat. While batting just under .300 (.297), his team-high 22 walks give him a very respectable .388 on-base percentage. Maher leads the team with 31 runs scored, which is 11 more than anyone else on the team. More important than his impact in the top of the line-up is his play in centerfield. Maher has recorded seven outfield assists on the season, and other than McCabe's 317 putouts at first base, his 123 putouts where most of anyone on the team. The key to the Fighting Hawks success this weekend in Orlando will be on the pitching staff shoulders. Jason Janeski, Ken Richardson and Brad Powell will be three of the main weapons that UMES will put on the mound, as they have found success of recent against some big out-of-conference opponents. In his last start against West Virginia, Powell went four and a third innings. In the first four innings, he allowed only one hit, but in the fifth a small muscle pull allowed the Mountaineers to get two runners in the scoring position and knock Powell from the game. Both runs he allowed scored after he was removed from the game. Supplying some late-inning heroics out of the bullpen will be Dusty Webster, Daniel Sterling, Pete Mayta and Rob Benak.
In 18 games this season, of which the only victory came over #3 Coppin State, the Fighting Hawks played in three one-run games and eight games in which they lost by four or less runs. If all things go as planned and the Fighting Hawks play up to their potential, it is not a stretch at all to say that UMES could come home as the MEAC champions.
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