Catawba No. 1 in Preseason SAC Baseball Coaches’ Poll

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Defending SAC baseball regular-season champion Catawba has been picked by the league's coaches as the favorite to win the title again in 2012, the conference office announced on Wednesday.

The Indians went 41-15 a season ago and earned a selection to the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship.

Catawba will be led by four preseason All-SAC players - all of which are on the First Team. Pitchers Nick Lomascolo and JJ Jankowski, who were both All-Conference selections last season, will combine to form one of the league's top rotations.

They will be joined by preseason All-SAC First Team selections Chris Dula - the 2011 SAC Freshman of the Year -- at third base and Garrett Furr at designated hitter. Both players earned first team All-Conference honors last season as well.

Wingate is second in the 2012 preseason coaches' poll after winning the 2011 Food Lion SAC Tournament title. The Bulldogs lead the SAC with six preseason All-Conference selections, including three on the First Team.

2011 SAC Player of theYear and Tino Martinez Award finalist Dodson McPherson returns to the Wingate outfield, where he will look to build upon a standout season in which he finished top-three in nearly every offensive category in the league.

McPherson was also the Southeast Region Player of the Year and SAC Male Athlete of the Year in 2011.

Wingate first baseman Brian Yeung and second baseman Chris Vazquez were also selected to the preseason All-SAC First Team. Yeung earned 2011 first team All-Conference accolades as well after leading the league in doubles and finishing second in hits, home runs and RBI.

No. 3 in the preseason poll is Tusculum, which placed five student-athletes on the preseason All-SAC Team. Preseason first team All-Conference selections Nate Reid at catcher, Alexi Colon in the outfield and Craig Goodman at starting pitcher will lead the Pioneers.

Tusculum finished tied for third in the 2011 SAC standings with Lincoln Memorial, which was picked fourth in the 2012 preseason coaches' poll. The Railsplitters had four players selected to the preseason All-Conference Second Team.

Newberry is No. 5 in the preseason poll, followed by No. 6 Carson-Newman, No. 7 Mars Hill, No. 8 Anderson and No. 9 Lenoir-Rhyne.

Newberry relief pitcher Tyler Sturkie, Mars Hill shortstop Michael Bueker and L-R outfielder Stephan Arcieri were each selected to the preseason All-SAC First Team.

Brevard rounds out the poll at No. 10. The Tornados had two players named to the preseason All-Conference Second Team.

2012 SAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll

2012 SAC Baseball Preseason All-Conference Team

First Team
C - Nate Reid, Tusculum
P - Nick Lomascolo, Catawba
P - JJ Jankowski, Catawba
P - Craig Goodman, Tusculum
RP - Tyler Sturkie, Newberry
1B - Brian Yeung, Wingate
2B - Chris Vazquez, Wingate
SS - Michael Bueker, Mars Hill
3B - Chris Dula, Catawba
OF - Dodson McPherson, Wingate
OF - Stephan Arcieri, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF - Alexi Colon, Tusculum
DH - Garrett Furr, Catawba

Second Team
C - Mason Guymon, Carson-Newman
P - Austin Johnson, Lincoln Memorial
P - Justin Somers, Wingate
P - Dylan Hochevar, Tusculum
RP - Josh Karr, Wingate
1B - Randy O'Dell, Brevard
2B - Andy Vogel, Newberry
SS* - Joseph Horsely, Lincoln Memorial
SS* - Thomas Padro, Anderson
3B - Matt Henriksen, Tusculum
OF - Cody Baker, Lincoln Memorial
OF - Casey Allison, Wingate
OF^ - Kramer Clark, Brevard
OF^ - Lucas Mohon, Carson-Newman
DH - Gelson Perez, Lincoln Memorial

* Tie for second team SS
^ Tie for final second team OF spot