Jason Beverlin acknowledges that he has a tough act to follow as Bethune-Cookman's new head baseball coach.

 Beverlin is facing the challenge that comes with replacing the man who won 12 MEAC championships in 13 seasons.

"Anytime you come into a situation like I have, where there is a rich tradition and the program has been extremely successful,  you want to embrace that tradition ,'' he says, "and you look to continue that tradition and success while at the same time starting to put your style into the program to make it your own.''

Beverlin's fellow baseball coaches and sports information directors in the MEAC apparently believe he is equal to the task, picking the Wildcats to win their seventh consecutive MEAC title in their preseason poll. The MEAC has a two-division alignment this season now that North Carolina Central and Savannah State are eligible for the championship.

Delaware State was picked to win the Northern Division title with Norfolk State tabbed second, followed by Maryland Eastern Shore and Coppin State.

North Carolina A&T was picked to finish second to Bethune-Cookman in the Southern Division, followed by Savannah State, Florida A&M and North Carolina Central.

Bethune-Cookman is currently atop the Southern Division with a 4-2 record after posting 18-0 conference marks each of the previous two seasons.

The Wildcats dropped a doubleheader to Florida A&M that ended their 46-game conference winning streak and in the process lost a series to a MEAC opponent for the first time since 2005. Still, Beverlin says the Wildcats have a leg up on successfully defending their crown.

Beverlin inherited a deep pitching staff that includes 2011 MEAC Pitcher of the Year Scott Garner, 2012 preseason MEAC Pitcher of the Gabriel Hernandez and 2011 All-MEAC first-teamer Jordan Dailey.

"For us to be as successful as we want to be as team, it's going to come down to how well the pitching staff does,'' Beverlin says. "They are very eager to learn, and that has really paid off for them. The more they learn, the better they will get. That's exciting. Each and every one of them has shown me something with the way they battle and compete.''

Beverlin's emphasis on pitching is no surprise. He is a former pitcher himself, and he played professionally with the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians after the Oakland A's picked him in the fourth round of the Major League Baseball Draft.

"Any coach, you have to go with the style of play that you're comfortable with and recruit according to that style of play,'' he says.  "I'm very pitching and defense oriented. That's what we center our team around. Teams left standing are those that pitch and play defense.''

The Wildcats are second in the MEAC in pitching with a team earned run average of 4.49 after 20 games, and they are No. 1 in team defense with a .955 team fielding percentage while committing just 34 errors - the second-fewest in the conference. Rayan Gonzales leads the MEAC in victories with a 4-0 record.

 

The Wildcats 'offense relies more on line drives, hitting the ball in the gap, moving runners up even though they lead the conference with nine home runs.

"Our hitting has been inconsistent,'' Beverlin says. "We're getting better and manufacturing runs. We've got a little ways to go, but it's coming.''

Delaware State, the regular season runner-up to Bethune-Cookman last year, has gotten off to a 3-0 start in conference play after sweeping Norfolk State.

The Hornets have a veteran roster that includes All-American second baseman Scott Davis, 2011 All-MEAC second team centerfielder Troy Drummond and four starting pitchers in Jordan Elliott, Elliott Gardner, Matt McClain and Ryan Haas. Redshirt sophomore Chad Sturgeon, who already has five saves, has solidified the bullpen.

"I'm pleased,'' says Delaware State coach JP Blandin. "We're in a good spot right now. "We played well against Norfolk State. We pitched well, swung it well and played good defense. It's important to get off to good start. We're where we hoped to be.''

Delaware State posts a 12-9-1 overall record so far this season. The Hornets' non-conference wins include a pair of victories against in-state rival Delaware.

The Hornets are the top offensive team in the conference. They are batting .277 as a team and have scored a conference-high 146 runs. They are also No. 1 in drawing walks (79) and being hit by pitches (65).

"We're dedicated and committed to getting on base and getting into scoring position,'' Blandin says. "We're playing an unselfish brand of ball, team ball. We'll do anything to get guys on base and them in.''

Drummond leads the conference in runs scored with 22, and Haas, who bats cleanup and plays first base when he isn't pitching, is No. 1 in runs batted in with 20.

"The whole goal is to play solid baseball and be at your best in the (MEAC) tournament,'' Blandin says, "and try to learn from every game you play.''