Rakar, Talley tabbed as Player and Pitcher of the Year
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Southern Conference baseball coaches have selected a preseason all-conference team, headlined by Preseason Player of the Year Cole Rakar of College of Charleston and Preseason Pitcher of the Year Matt Talley of The Citadel
Ten of the 11 SoCon baseball teams have at least one representative on the team led by College of Charleston's six selections and four each for The Citadel and Western Carolina.
As a junior, Rakar led the Southern Conference in runs (76), hits (102) and doubles (26) while finishing in the top 20 nationally in each category. His .378 batting average was third-highest in the league. The Mt. Pleasant, S.C., native had a team-high 31 multi-hit games, including six three-hit and six four-hit efforts. He ended the season on a nine-game hitting streak and was honored in 2010 as a first team All-SoCon selection as well as earning NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional All-Tournament Team honors.
A 6'6" left-hander, Talley fashioned an 8-3 record with a 3.71 ERA in 16 starts a season ago. He held opponents to a .251 batting average on the season and led all returning pitchers in the SoCon with 85 strikeouts in 2010. Talley had a 20.1 scoreless innings streak that stretched from April 17 to May 1, and he recorded a pair of complete game shutouts in SoCon action. Talley was named to the All-Tournament team at the NCAA Regional in Columbia after limiting Virginia Tech to two runs in seven innings as the Bulldogs topped the Hokies, 7-2, in the tournament opener.
Other pitchers joining Talley on the first team are Western Carolina's Matt Benedict and College of Charleston reliever Casey Lucchese. In addition to Lucchese and Rakar, the Cougars also placed catcher Rob Kral, first baseman Jose Rodriguez and third baseman Matt Leeds, the 2010 SoCon Player of the Year, on the first team.
Western Carolina's Ross Heffley was selected as the first team second baseman, joining teammate Matt Johns who earned the first team nod in the outfield. Other first team selections include Elon shortstop Neal Pritchard, Georgia Southern outfielder Shawn Payne and Wofford designated hitter Mac Doyle.
Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.
The 2011 Southern Conference baseball season begins on Friday, February 18 with all 11 league teams in action. The 2011 Southern Conference Baseball Championship will be held from May 25-29 at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park in Charleston, S.C.
2011 SoCon Baseball Preseason All-Conference Team
Player of the Year - Cole Rakar, Sr., OF, College of Charleston
Pitcher of the Year - Matt Talley, Sr., LHP, The Citadel
First Team
SP Matt Talley, The Citadel
SP Matt Benedict, Western Carolina
RP Casey Lucchese, College of Charleston
C Rob Kral, College of Charleston
1B Jose Rodriguez, College of Charleston
2B Ross Heffley, Western Carolina
SS Neal Pritchard, Elon
3B Matt Leeds, College of Charleston
OF Cole Rakar, College of Charleston
OF Shawn Payne, Georgia Southern
OF Matt Johns, Western Carolina
DH Mac Doyle, Wofford
Second Team
SP Lex Rutledge, Samford
SP David Peterson, College of Charleston
RP Brandon Johnson, Western Carolina
C Jeremy Dowdy, Appalachian State
1B Danny Weiss, Davidson
1B (tie) Justin Mackert, The Citadel
2B Will Muzika, Furman
SS Eric Phillips, Georgia Southern
3B Andrew Barna, Davidson
OF Nick Orvin, The Citadel
OF James Foster, Wofford
OF Will Owens, Furman
DH Brad Felder, The Citadel