Mules picked No. 1 by Baseball America, St. Louis native a preseason All-American

     The Central Missouri State University Mules Baseball team has received some respect from Baseball America, as the magazine has picked the Mules No. 1 in its preseason poll.

Florida Southern (35-22 in 2004) is tabbed as the No. 2 team, while 2004 national champion Delta State University (54-11) is picked to finish third.

In addition, sophomore pitcher Mike Phelps was chosen to the Baseball America preseason All-America team. A graduate of Hazelwood West High School, Phelps was MIAA Freshman of the Year in 2004 and posted a mark of 9-0 with two saves, a 2.40 earned run average, and 75 strikeouts in 60 innings pitched.

Also recognized as players to watch were junior closer Nick Webber (Lee’s Summit, Mo.) and senior second baseman Will Bradley (Canberra, Australia). Webber was an honorable mention All-MIAA pick who went 2-3 with eight saves, a 1.54 ERA, and 49 strikeouts in 35 innings over 23 appearances. Bradley was first-team All-MIAA and All-Region after batting .399 with five home runs, 52 runs batted in, 22 stolen bases, and an NCAA-II leading and CMSU record 13 triples.

The Mules open the 2005 season February 4 when they travel to Houston, Texas for a doubleheader against Texas A&M University-Kingsville. They then face 2003 NCAA Division I National Champion Rice University on February 5 in a single nine-inning affair.