PGCROSSCHECKER COLLEGE TEAM SCOUTING REPORT

11. TEXAS CHRISTIAN (39-23, lost in NCAA regionals).

Conference/Projected Finish: Mountain West/1^st (17-5, 1^st in 2006; won conference post-season tournament).

Coach: Jim Schlossnagle (119-69, 3 years).

First Game: Feb. 9 at Central Florida .

OVERVIEW: The Horned Frogs should run away with the Mountain West Conference as they return seven of their top eight hitters, led by junior 3B Matt Carpenter (.349-1-36), senior OF Austin Adams (.347-4-47) and junior C Andrew Walker (.304-9-42). They also welcome back one of the nation’s top starters in junior RHP Jake Arrieta (14-4, 2.35) and top closers in junior RHP Sam Demel (6-6, 4.08, 6 SV). Both Arrieta and Demel starred in summer competition, with Demel saving 12 games in a league-high 25 appearances in the Cape Cod League.

X-Factor: TCU has high hopes that three prominent transfers, junior RHPs Chance Corgan (4-2, 3.83 at Texas A&M), Chris Johnson (John A. Logan, Ill., JC) and Seth Garrison (Grayson County, Texas, JC), will fill the second and third spots in the rotation behind Arrieta, enabling Demel to move from a starter to closer.

TOP FRESHMAN: Monk Kreder, c. A physical, offensive-oriented catcher, Kreder could work his way into the lineup on the basis of his bat, but the presence of Walker will limit his time behind the plate. His impact will be felt more in future years.

TOP SOPHOMORE: Matt McGuirk, of-dh. A 19^th-round draft pick out of high school, McGuirk red-shirted last year after undergoing shoulder surgery. His shoulder was still only 60-70 percent in the fall, but was expected to be close to 100 percent by the start of the season. Even in primarily a DH role this season, his lefthanded power will be a welcome addition to the lineup.

TOP JUNIOR: Jake Arrieta, rhp. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Arrieta made huge strides last spring at TCU after incurring a losing record as a junior college freshman. His fastball was a steady 90-92 mph and his slider and changeup were plus pitches. Even though his control deserted him last summer because he was out of gas after working 111 innings in school, he went 4-0, 0.27 as Team USA’s No. 2 starter.

TOP SENIOR: Austin Adams, of. None of TCU’s seniors has significant draft appeal, but the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Adams (.347-4-27), a four-year starter, will be a steady force in right field. He has more power than his numbers indicate, but he plays in an unfavorable hitters’ park.