Jan. 31, 2008

Tucson, Ariz. - Grand Valley State will enter the 2008 season ranked No. 13 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's rankings. The Lakers, who closed last season with a final record of 45-9, ended last season with a 1-0 loss in the North Central Regional Title game. They will begin their season in Florence, Ky. against Northern Kentucky on Feb. 23.

Grand Valley State returns six of last year's 10 starting position players, headlined by outfielder Pat Radde. Radde hit .401 in 52 games last season. He totaled 41 runs and 40 runs batted in with 67 hits and 10 doubles. First baseman/pitcher Casey Robrahn is also back for another season. Last season, Robrahn hit .375 with two homers and 40 runs batted in.

Toeing the rubber again this year will be last season's Daktronics Regional Pitcher of the Year Nick Beach. Beach went 8-2 in 13 appearances last season. He struck out 73 batters in 83.1 innings and finished the season with an earned-run average of 1.40. Grand Valley returns 32 of its 46 pitching victories this season.