Information Provided By Franklin Pierce Sports Information


RINDGE, N.H. (January 30, 2009) – Senior pitcher Mike Adams (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) of the Franklin Pierce University baseball team has been selected by Baseball America as the Division II Preseason Pitcher of the Year in the magazine’s College Preview, released on Thursday. In addition, Adams is among three starting pitchers in Division II chosen as “Players to Watch” for the upcoming season by Baseball America.

The magazine also predicted the top five teams of 2009, led by 2006 and 2007 national champion Tampa. California, San Diego was picked second, while defending national champion Mount Olive was selected third. Central Missouri and Florida Southern rounded out the five picks. Robbie Shields of Florida Southern was chosen as the Division II Preseason Player of the Year.

Adams is coming off a banner season in 2008, in which he picked up Northeast Region Pitcher of the Year honors from both Daktronics and ABCA/Rawlings in addition to collecting Pitcher of the Year honors from the Northeast-10 Conference as well. He was also selected First-Team All-Northeast Region and First-Team All-Northeast-10 Conference. In 2008, Adams led the Northeast-10 in innings pitched (112) and wins (11) and ranked second in the conference in earned-run average (1.36), opponents’ batting average (.183) and strikeouts (113).

Adams and the Ravens are three-time defending NCAA Division II Regional champions and two-time defending Northeast-10 Conference champions. Franklin Pierce opens the season ranked No. 14 in the Collegiate Baseball Preseason poll.

Last season’s squad (43-15, 20-10 NE-10) advanced to the final round of the NCAA Division II Baseball Championships for the fourth time in program history while topping 40 wins for the third consecutive year.

Franklin Pierce opens the 2009 season on Saturday, Feb. 21, when it travels to Dowling for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Golden Lions Field in Shirley, N.Y.