PGCROSSCHECKER COLLEGE TEAM SCOUTING REPORT

45. EVANSVILLE (43-22, lost in NCAA regionals).

Conference/Projected Finish: Missouri Valley/3^rd (16-8, 1^st in 2006).

Coach: Dave Seifert (first year; assistant at Evansville in 2006).

First Game: Feb. 9 at Lipscomb (Tenn. ).

OVERVIEW: As part of the price for winning the 2006 Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title and coming within one win of the school record, Evansville lost head coach Dave Schrage to Notre Dame. But the Purple Aces should hardly skip a beat as pitching coach Dave Seifert, who led Parkland (Ill. ) JC to a national title in 2002, takes over the program and inherits a veteran squad—plus two prized freshmen. Seven of nine starters and most of his pitching staff return. Senior 1B Kasey Wahl (.371-7-55) and senior DH Pat Tumilty (.325-13-49) were the team’s top two hitters, while senior RHPs Ben Norton (9-3, 3.23) and Fred Jones (1-1, 2.16), the hardest thrower on the staff at 93 mph, become the top two starters.

X-Factor: Senior RHPs Matt Brinkmann (6-5, 2.97) and Mark Murray (1-2, 2.83) will work as a closer tandem. Brinkmann was effective in a swing role a year ago, walking 20 and striking out 77 in 91 innings, while Murray saved 20 games without giving up an earned run during the summer in an all-star season in the New England Collegiate League.

TOP FRESHMAN: Wade Kapteyn, rhp. RHP-3B Jared Baehl was a higher draft pick (Mariners, 14^th round) and will make more of an immediate impact by starting at third base, but the 6-foot-5 Kapteyn (White Sox, 20^th round) has the higher upside. He could be a premium pick a year from now as a draft-eligible sophomore on the basis of a sinking 88-93 mph fastball.

TOP SOPHOMORE: Jeremy Kuester, lhp-of. Evansville has no sophomores of note, but Kuester will contribute two ways—as a part-time outfielder (.298-0-7) and setup man (2-0, 3.33).

TOP JUNIOR: Tristan Facer, lhp. A junior college All-American at Parkland (Ill. ) JC, Facer adds another quality arm to a deep pitching staff. His fastball is in the 88-92 mph range.

TOP SENIOR: Ben Norton, rhp. Almost all of Evansville ’s top prospects for this year’s draft are seniors, led by Norton, a bulldog competitor who throws a heavy 88-91 mph fastball and solid average slider. He projects as an 8^th-10^th rounder.