It will be a close race between College of Charleston and Western Carolina, according to a vote of the Southern Conference Sports Media Association (SCSMA).
The organization’s preseason poll tabs College of Charleston favorite to win the Southern Conference baseball title in 2008 with 10 first-place votes and 170 total votes. But the Catamounts were right behind, receiving eight first-place votes and 168 total votes. The two teams tied for the SoCon’s regular-season title in 2007.
In a tight race, the SCSMA tabbed Elon (122 votes) for third place followed by The Citadel (118), Georgia Southern (114) and Appalachian State (110). UNC Greensboro is the pick for seventh place with 76 votes ahead of defending tournament champion Wofford (52), Furman (40) and Davidson (18).
Western Carolina had five players named to the SCSMA’s Preseason All-Southern Conference team including two members on the first-team and three earning second-team honors. Georgia Southern landed four players (one first-team and three second-team) followed by Appalachian State (two first-team and one second-team) and Wofford (one first-team and two second-team). Davidson (two first-team), Elon (two first-team), The Citadel (one first-team and one second-team) and UNC Greensboro (two second-team) each had two players named to the preseason all-conference team, respectively. League favorite College of Charleston had one player named to the first-team.
SCSMA Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
1. College of Charleston (10) 170
2. Western Carolina (8) 168
3. Elon 122
4. The Citadel 118
5. Georgia Southern 114
6. Appalachian State 110
7. UNC Greensboro 76
8. Wofford 52
9. Furman 40
10. Davidson 18
First-place votes in parenthesis.
SCSMA All-Southern Conference Baseball Team
First Team
Catcher Blake Murphy (WCU)
First Base Jeremiah Parker (GSU)
Second Base Zach Kayne (DAV)
Shortstop Michael Gilmartin (WOF)
Third Base Isaac Harrow (ASU)
Outfield Chris Dove (Elon)
Outfield Michael Harrington (COFC)
Outfield Sonny Meade (CIT)
Designated Hitter Andrew Franco (ASU)
Starting Pitcher Drew Saberhagen (WCU)
Starting Pitcher Steven Hensley (Elon)
Relief Pitcher Matt Webb (DAV)
Second Team
Catcher Richard Jones (CIT)
First Base Ricky Orton (UNCG)
Second Base Shane Kirkley (WOF)
Shortstop Matt Gaski (UNCG)
Third Base AJ Wirnsberger (GSU)
Outfield Barrett Shaft (WCU)
Outfield David Rubinstein (ASU)
Outfield Chris Shehan (GSU)
Designated Hitter Kyle Blackburn (GSU)
Starting Pitcher Ben Austin (WOF)
Starting Pitcher Tyler Sexton (WCU)
Relief Pitcher Chris Masters (WCU)