Friday, January 14, 2004  

BLUE HOSE PICKED SIXTH IN SAC PRESEASON POLL
Rodebaugh named to Preseason All-SAC Squad

ROCK HILL, SC - Catawba College, which won the 2004 South Atlantic championship and Food Lion SAC Tournament, is expected to continue its winning ways. The Indians have been picked to win the 2005 championship in a vote by the league's eight head baseball coaches. Presbyterian College is picked sixth.

Catawba received six first-place votes and a total of 57 points. The Indians placed five players on the preseason All-Conference Team, which was also announced. Second baseman Matt Baker and designated hitter Jimbo Davis, who had 13 home runs last year, are returning First Team All-Conference selections and start the year on the Preseason First Team. Pitcher Matt Fairweather, who went 9-3 last year with 69 strikeouts,  shortstop Mark Smith, who hit .321 and 12 home runs last year, and outfielder Thomas Giles, who hit 283 with 11 home runs, were all named to the First Team.

Tusculum College is picked to finish second, receiving one first-place vote and 55 total points.

The Pioneers placed a league-high seven on the Preseason All-Conference Team, including four pitchers. Pitcher Eric Butler, who went 7-5 with a 3.40 ERA last year is a First Team pick. Mat Galens, who was the SAC's Freshman of the Year after going 6-2 with 58 strikeouts, Wes Hill and Kenny Lewis were all named to the Second Team. First baseman Adam Hicks, who led the Pioneers with a .368 batting average last year, and designated hitter George Hanger were also named to the Second Team.

Carson-Newman College received the other first-place vote and 47 total points to finish third in the poll. The Eagles also put five on the preseason squad. Pitcher Chad Gills, a First-Team All-Conference performer last year after going 8-2 with 78 strikeouts, and outfielder Nathan Gravley, who had 25 stolen basses a year ago were named to the preseason All-Conference First Team. Second baseman T.J. Graves, shortstop Jonathan Mary and outfielder Brian Chapman were all named to the preseason All-Conference Second Team.

Wingate, which advanced to the championship game of last year's Food Lion SAC Tournament, is picked to finish fourth. The Bulldogs received 42 points. Wingate third baseman Tim Bowman, who hit .312 last year, is a preseason All-Conference Second Team selection.

Lenoir-Rhyne College received 30 points to finish fifth in the poll. The Bears placed a pair on the Preseason First Team in first baseman Matt Sigmon and outfielder Matt Wiley. Sigmon led the Bears in batting last year, hitting .394. Wiley hit .357 and was perfect in all 16 stolen base attempts.

Presbyterian College, under first-year coach Elton Pollock, were picked to finish in sixth place with 28 points. Blue Hose catcher Robert Rodebaugh, who was second in the league in batting average last year at .409, is a preseason Second Team pick.

Newberry College is picked seventh. The Indians received 19 points.

Mars Hill College received 10 points in the poll. The Lions put three members on the preseason All-Conference team, including catcher Jeff Mayo on the First Team. Outfielders Matt Russell and Lane Strobel were named to the Second Team.

The 2005 baseball season begins Tuesday, February 1 with Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate in action. The season wraps up April 21-24 with the 2005 Food Lion SAC Baseball Tournament, which will be held at Pioneer Park on the campus of Tusculum College in Greeneville, TN and Carson-Newman College's Silver Diamond Complex in Jefferson City, TN.

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