ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum Pioneers have been picked to finish sixth in the South Atlantic Conference according to the 2022 Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Tusculum outfielder Zane Keener was also named to the Preseason All-Conference second team.
The Pioneers received 110 total points in a vote of the league's 13 head baseball coaches. Defending national champion Wingate is the favorite to win the SAC title as the Bulldogs received 154 points and 10 first place votes.
Defending SAC regular-season champion Catawba was picked second as the Indians collected 144 points and three first place votes.
Newberry was third with 120 points followed by Carson-Newman (118), Lenoir-Rhyne (117), Tusculum (110), Anderson (71), Lincoln Memorial (65), Coker (64), Mars Hill (63), Queens (60), Limestone (59) and UVA Wise (25).
Keener, a 5-9, 180-pound sophomore, started in 30 games last season while batting .263 with 26 total hits including six doubles, one triple and three home runs. He tallied 43 RBI and scored 36 runs while posting a .449 on-base percentage and went 4-of-7 in stolen bases. He reached base safely in 16 consecutive games from Feb. 26-Mar. 14 and finished his rookie campaign with 11 straight games of getting on-base.
The Preseason All-SAC Baseball Team is selected by a vote of the conference's 13 media relations directors.
Tusculum went 30-11 last year including a 25-7 league record as the Pioneers finished runner-up in the SAC standings. TU's 25 SAC wins were the most in conference history.
Tusculum will open the season next weekend on Feb. 4 at Barry University to begin a four-game Florida road swing.
SAC Baseball Coaches' Poll
|
Rk |
Team (1st Place Votes) |
Pts |
|
1 |
Wingate (10) |
154 |
|
2 |
Catawba (3) |
144 |
|
3 |
Newberry |
120 |
|
4 |
Carson-Newman |
118 |
|
5 |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
117 |
|
6 |
TUSCULUM |
110 |
|
7 |
Anderson |
71 |
|
8 |
Lincoln Memorial |
65 |
|
9 |
Coker |
64 |
|
10 |
Mars Hill |
63 |
|
11 |
Queens |
60 |
|
12 |
Limestone |
59 |
|
13 |
UVA Wise |
25 |
Preseason All-SAC Baseball Team
First Team
OF – Jed Bryant, Wingate
OF – Andrew McKay, Wingate
OF – Riley Cheek, Queens
1B – Matt Mackey, Lenoir-Rhyne
2B – Joe Butts, Catawba
SS – Michael Dansky, Wingate
3B – Cameron Mills, Catawba
C – Logan McNeely, Wingate
DH – Dylan Wilkinson, Catawba
SP – Andrew Patrick, Lenoir-Rhyne
SP – Joshua Lanham, Lenoir-Rhyne
SP – Brayden Coe, Carson-Newman
SP – Brody McCullough, Wingate
Second Team
OF – Justin Fox, Anderson
OF – Zane Keener, Tusculum
OF – Reilly Hall, Coker
1B – Kody Hanna, Coker
2B – Wade Cuda, Lenoir-Rhyne
SS – Phil Griffor, Coker
3B – Tyler Lala, Mars Hill
C – Matt Parkinson, Carson-Newman
DH – Gehrig Christopher, Wingate
SP – Matt Bradley, Carson-Newman
SP – Austin Mitchell, Wingate
SP – Greg Brown, Catawba
RP – Robbie Cowie, Catawba
