ROCK HILL, SC - The Carson-Newman Eagles are picked to finish third in the 2011 South Atlantic Conference race, the league announced Tuesday.
In a vote by the league's head coaches, the Eagles, under sixth-year head coach Tom Griffin, are picked to finish behind Catawba College and Wingate University, respectively.
Carson-Newman senior Austin Bridgewater (Morristown, Tenn.) was named to the preseason first team All-SAC team. He went 5-1 last season with a 4.32 ERA and three complete games for the Eagles.
Catawba College, which won the 2010 Food Lion Tournament title, is the favorite to win the 2011 South Atlantic Conference baseball championship.
Catawba received six first-place votes and 94 total points. The Indians went 40-13 last season and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the third year in a row. The Indians placed six on the preseason
All-Conference team, including returning SAC Pitcher of the Year Nathan Furr. Furr went 6-0 last season with a 4.06 ERA.
Joining Furr on the preseason All-Conference first team from Catawba is relief pitcher Wil Huneycutt. Three more Indians were named to the second team: Pitcher Nick Lomascolo, who led the SAC with a 3.45 ERA last season; designated hitter Garrett Furr, the 2010 SAC Freshman of the Year; and outfielder Ryan Bostian.
Wingate University, the 2010 regular-season champions, are picked to finish second. The Bulldogs, under first-year coach Jeff Gregory, received four first-place votes and 86 total points.
Wingate placed four on the preseason All-Conference team. Brian Yeung at first base, shortstop Chris Vazquez and outfielder Dodson McPherson were named to the first team, while pitcher Chris Nelson was named to the second team. Vazquez hit .382 and was among the conference leaders in total hits and doubles last season.
Carson-Newman College is picked to finish third with 78 points. Pitcher Austin Bridgewater, who went 5-1 with a 4.32 ERA last season, was a preseason All-Conference first team selection.
Tusculum College received 73 points to finish in fourth place in the poll. The Pioneers placed three on the preseason All-Conference team. Catcher Sean Cotton, who was second in the conference with 69 RBIs last season, is joined on the first team by pitcher Tyler Collins and second baseman Payden Houser, who hit .404 last season.
Mars Hill College is predicted to finish fifth. The Lions received 59 points. Outfielder Rusty Smith was named to the preseason All-Conference first team, while catcher Adam Lewis and relief pitcher Tony Hearrell were both named to the second team. Smith hit .352 with 57 RBI, Lewis hit .398 with 55 RBI last season, while Hearrell was 4-1 with six saves.
Lincoln Memorial University received 54 points for sixth place. The Railsplitters placed three on the preseason All-Conference team with third baseman John Couch and outfielder Cody Pack on the first team, while outfielder Cody Baker was named to the second team. Pack was among the conference leaders in home runs and RBIs last season, while Baker was among the leaders with a .407 batting average.
Lenoir-Rhyne University is seventh with 39 points. The Bears return preseason All-Conference first-team designated hitter Brian Dice, who was second in the SAC with a .435 batting average last season while hitting 16 home runs and driving in 59 runs. Shortstop Dalton Hall and outfielder Stephen Andrews were named to the second team.
Anderson University received 29 points for eighth place. The Trojans placed two on the preseason All-Conference second team in first baseman Erick Sanderson and second baseman Ryan Saxon.
Newberry College is ninth with 27 points. The Wolves, under first-year coach Russell Triplett, placed two on the preseason All-Conference second team. Pitcher Josh McElwee, who led the league in strikeouts in 2008 and 2009, is joined by third baseman Chris Love.
Brevard College rounds out the poll with 11 points. The Tornados will be looking to move up in the standings under first-year coach Matt McCay.
The 2011 baseball season starts Tuesday, February 1 four games. Catawba and Mars Hill open on the road, while Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate open at home.
The 2011 Food Lion SAC Baseball Tournament will be April 20-23 in Forest City, N.C. at McNair Field. The top six teams at the end of the regular season will advance to the conference tournament.
2011 SAC BASEBALL COACHES POLL
Poll 1st Points
1. Catawba 6 94
2. Wingate 4 86
3. Carson-Newman 78
4. Tusculum 73
5. Mars Hill 59
6. Lincoln Memorial 54
7. Lenoir-Rhyne 39
8. Anderson 29
9. Newberry 27
10. Brevard 11
2011 SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE BASEBALL TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
Catcher - Sean Cotten - Tusculum College
Pitcher - Nathan Furr - Catawba College
Pitcher - Austin Bridgewater - Carson-Newman College
Pitcher - Tyler Collins - Tusculum College
Relief Pitcher - Wil Huneycutt - Catawba College
1st base - Brian Yeung - Wingate University
2nd base - Payden Houser - Tusculum College
Shortstop - Chris Vazquez - Wingate University
3rd base - John Couch - Lincoln Memorial University
Outfield - Cody Pack - Lincoln Memorial University
Outfield - Rusty Smith - Mars Hill College
Outfield - Dodson McPherson-Wingate University
Designated Hitter - Brian Dice - Lenoir-Rhyne University
SECOND TEAM
Catcher - Adam Lewis - Mars Hill College
Pitcher - Nick Lomascolo - Catawba College
Pitcher - Josh McElwee - Newberry College
Pitcher - Chris Nelson - Wingate University
Relief Pitcher - Tony Hearrell, Mars Hill
1st base - Erick Sanderson - Anderson University
2nd base - Ryan Saxon - Anderson University
Shortstop - Dalton Hall - Lenoir-Rhyne University
3rd base - Chris Love - Newberry College
Outfield - Cody Baker - Lincoln Memorial University
Outfield - Stephen Andrews - Lenoir-Rhyne University
Outfield - Ryan Bostian - Catawba College
Designated Hitter - Garrett Furr - Catawba College
May 26, 2011
Former Eagle Steve Cishek called up by Marlins
May 23, 2011
Carson-Newman's Nix receives ABCA Gold Glove honors
April 27, 2011
Dalton's solo blast lifts Eagles to 6-5 win at King College
April 26, 2011
Eagle seniors lead way in 8-2 win over No. 27 Limestone
April 21, 2011
Eagles' SAC Tournament ends with loss to Catawba
April 16, 2011
Eagles split with Lincoln Memorial to close out SAC play
April 15, 2011
Eagles Rally Behind 18 Hits, Beat LMU 14-12
April 6, 2011
Pfeiffer homers four times in 15-3 win over Eagles
April 2, 2011
Eagles split twinbill with Bulldogs to claim series
March 29, 2011
Dalton's grand slam not enough as Eagles fall to Lander, 8-4
March 28, 2011
Thigpen's shutout closes out sweep of Mars Hill, 6-5 and 2-0
March 18, 2011
Eagles drop series opener to Lenoir-Rhyne, 4-2
March 16, 2011
Eagles come up short against 10th-ranked North Georgia, 6-5
March 15, 2011
Eagles fall to 10th-ranked North Georgia, 7-4
March 14, 2011
Carson-Newman's Dalton named SAC Player of the Week
March 11, 2011
Dalton, Bridgewater lift Eagles to 14-1 victory at Brevard
March 7, 2011
Time change for Tuesday's baseball game with Bloomsburg
March 4, 2011
Eagles drop series opener to Tusculum, 5-3
March 2, 2011
Eagles suffer 3-0 setback to King College
March 1, 2011
Carson-Newman's Thigpen named SAC Pitcher of the Week
February 26, 2011
Thigpen Fires One-Hitter as Eagles Sweep Anderson, 7-4 and 2-1
February 25, 2011
Dalton’s grand slam fuels Eagle rally in 8-6 win over Anderson
February 22, 2011
Big eighth inning rallies Lander past Eagles, 13-6
February 19, 2011
Newberry sweeps Eagles on Saturday afternoon, 4-3 and 7-4
February 16, 2011
Eagles fall at Pfeiffer, 6-1
February 13, 2011
Late Sacrifice Fly Lifts Lander Past Eagles, 2-1
February 12, 2011
Eagles fall to No. 5 Mount Olive, 15-3
February 11, 2011
GVSU rallies off of Eagle miscues for win, 6-4
February 6, 2011
Eagles split doubleheader at Augusta State
February 5, 2011
Eagles open 2011 season with split at Augusta State
February 4, 2011
Carson-Newman’s 2011 Baseball Season Opener Postponed Until Saturday
February 3, 2011
Eagles Open 2011 Season on Friday at Augusta State
November 29, 2010
Eagle Baseball Signs Four in Fall Signing Period
September 27, 2010
Former Eagle Cishek perfect in Major League debut
August 20, 2010
Eagles in the Pros
August 16, 2010
Eagles Add LSU Transfer Koeneman for 2011 Season
July 1, 2010
Carson-Newman Signs 12 for 2011 Baseball Season