The College of Charleston, which finished with a 46-17 record in 2006, is the favorite to win the 2007 Southern Conference championship according to a vote of the league’s coaches. The College of Charleston received 69 total votes including five first-place votes. Coaches were not eligible to vote for their own teams or players.
Following the College of Charleston were Western Carolina (62 total votes and two first-place votes), Elon (61 total votes and one first-place vote), Georgia Southern (49 total votes and one first-place vote) and The Citadel (46 total votes). The second division consists of UNC Greensboro (38 total votes), Furman (33 total votes), Appalachian State (20 total votes), Davidson (15 total votes) and Wofford (12 total votes).
Elon won the 2006 regular-season title and finished with a 45-18 overall mark including a 21-6 record in conference play. The College of Charleston won the Southern Conference Tournament and both squads advanced to the NCAA Regionals.
Four first-team preseason all-conference honorees earned All-Southern Conference recognition in 2006 including third baseman Jonathan Greene (Western Carolina), outfielder Chris Swauger (The Citadel), outfielder Steve Strausbaugh (Western Carolina) and designated hitter Robert Rodebaugh (Elon).
The College of Charleston placed four players on the first-team preseason all-league team while Elon and Western Carolina landed three players each. The Citadel, Davidson and Wofford each had one player honored.
In all, six College of Charleston players earned first-team or second-team recognition. Western Carolina boasted five honorees amd The Citadel and Elon landed four players on the teams while Davidson had three players honored. Georgia Southern and Wofford landed two players on the teams.
The 2007 Southern Conference Baseball Tournament is scheduled for May 22-26 at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park on the campus of The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. All 10 teams qualify for the double-elimination tournament.
Predicted Order of Finish
(Voted by the league’s head coaches. Coaches were not eligible to vote for their own team).
College of Charleston (5) 69
Western Carolina (2) 62
Elon (1) 61
Georgia Southern (1) 49
The Citadel 46
UNC Greensboro 38
Furman 33
Appalachian State 20
Davidson 15
Wofford 12
Preseason All-Southern Conference Baseball Team
First-Team
Position Name (School) Avg. HR RBI
Catcher Alex Garabedian (CofC) .366 6 51
First Base Chris Vasami (Elon) .322 14 57
Second Base Shane Kirkley (Wof) .322 12 40
Shortstop Oliver Marmol (CofC) .314 2 33
Third Base Jonathan Greene (WCU) .338 14 54
Outfield Steven Strausbaugh (WCU) .340 17 64
Outfield Chris Swauger (Cit) .356 7 43
Outfield Gregory Zage (Dav) .320 12 49
Designated Hitter Robert Rodebaugh (Elon) .340 11 60
W-L ERA Sv
Starting Pitcher Nick Chigges (CofC) 11-2 1.40 0
Starting Pitcher Steven Hensley (Elon) 6-5 5.29 0
Starting Pitcher Danny Meszaros (CofC) 9-2 3.22 1
Relief Pitcher Greg Holland (WCU) 4-4 2.51 9
Second-Team
Position Name (School) Avg. HR RBI
Catcher Griffin Benedict (GSU) .303 5 35
First Base Alden Crissey (Dav) .332 7 44
Second Base Chris Campbell (CofC) .319 4 58
Shortstop Mike Gilmartin (Wof) Did not play in 2006
Third Base Adam Weaver (Elon) .329 3 47
Outfield Sonny Meade (Cit) .306 3 50
Outfield Matt Miller (GSU) .351 4 21
Outfield Barrett Shaft (WCU) .354 1 37
Designated Hitter Rob Wilson (Dav) .285 7 37
W-L ERA Sv
Starting Pitcher Wes Wrenn (Cit) 6-2 3.88 0
Starting Pitcher Jeff Beliveau (CofC) 6-4 3.40 0
Starting Pitcher Tyler Sexton (WCU) 8-6 4.04 0
Relief Pitcher Link Saunders (Cit) 5-6 3.21 15