2016 Record and Results: 6-36 (4-20 SWAC) Fifth in East Division
Key Returners: Arrington Smith, Alex Bravo
Key Losses: Gabriel Waddell, Drew Wheeler
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils will look to improve on a season that did not go the way that it would like a year ago in 2017.
Head coach Aaron Stevens will welcome many new faces to the team this season. Stevens will need to need to replace the production of some key pieces from a season ago, as the Delta Devils are without four of its top five bats from 2016.
Among those returning is top hitter Arrington Smith. Last season, Smith had a team best .299 batting average, while having 44 hits, and 19 RBIs for the Delta Devils. Alex Bravo will also need to be productive in the lineup for the Delta Devils. Last season, Bravo recorded 27 hits including five doubles.
On the mound, Stevens will look to Smith, the club’s most experienced arm to lead its pitching rotation. Smith made 12 starts for the Delta Devils last season, totaling 52 strikeouts.
Beyond Smith, Stevens will be looking for someone else to step up and serve as a compliment to Smith in the pitching rotation. Pitching was not MVSU’s best asset last season, and another arm to compliment Smith will help the Delta Devils improve in 2017.
MVSU will begin its 2017 slate by taking on North Dakota State on Feb. 17 at Magnolia Field.