PGCROSSCHECKER COLLEGE TEAM SCOUTING REPORT

54. ORAL ROBERTS (41-16, lost in NCAA super-regionals).

Conference/Projected Finish: Mid-Continent/1^st (17-2, 1^st in 2006).

Coach: Rob Walton (133-47, 3 years).

First Game: Feb. 10 vs. Missouri Southern.

OVERVIEW: The Golden Eagles have a number of holes to fill from the team that fell a super-regionals series short of a trip to Omaha . Their best player, catcher Andy Bouchie (.376-12-54), left for pro ball but senior 1B Chad Rothford (.332-13-52), senior 2B Jake Kahauielo (.323-4-50) and junior OFs Brendan Duffy (.358-1-40) and Kelly Minissale (.311-4-50) are back from a team that hit .326 overall. Senior RHP Chris Ashman (10-1, 2.17), the team’s top winner, returns to anchor the pitching staff, though the next three winningest hurlers have departed. An influx of junior college transfers, like junior LHP Michael Jarman (7-3, 2.79 at Seward County, Kan. , CC) who had an all-star summer in the Northwoods League last summer, will fill most of the holes, particularly on the pitching staff.

TOP PROSPECT/JUNIOR: Brian Van Kirk, c-of. A 20^th-round draft pick of the Red Sox in 2004, Van Kirk is at his third college in three years. He hit .346-4-22 at Tennessee last season and is expected to fill the shoes left by Bouchie, both behind the plate and in the lineup. Power is his best tool.

TOP FRESHMAN: Jerry Sullivan, rhp. TOP SOPHOMORE: Nick Halovanic, rhp. TOP SENIOR: Chris Ashman, rhp.