ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Emory & Henry College Baseball Team has been picked to finish T-12th in the South Atlantic Conference this year by the league's head coaches. The poll was released by the SAC office on Tuesday.
RELATED – SAC Preseason Poll & Preseason All-Conference Teams
Last year, Emory & Henry posted a 12-35 overall record with a 3-20 record in South Atlantic Conference play in its maiden voyage in the conference. The season included a three-game road sweep of Anderson (S.C.) and a road series win over No. 14 nationally-ranked Wingate University. E&H returns several starters from last year's squad, and welcomes 16 new players including five transfers and 11 freshmen, all of whom will be looked upon to make an immediate impact on the team.
Newberry College, the reigning SAC Regular Season and Tournament Champion is first in the poll with nine of 13 first-place votes. Wingate University sits in second with one first-place vote while Lenoir-Rhyne University received three first-place nods in third. Catawba College is fourth and Lincoln Memorial University rounds out the top five.
In addition, the SAC has announced its Preseason All-Conference teams with fifth-year outfielder Jermie Greene, Jr. (Troutman, N.C.) earning a second-team selection. Greene, Jr. posted a batting average of .416 over 101 at-bats during the 2023 season to lead E&H. He slugged six home runs and 22 RBI while scoring 24 runs over 28 games played. Greene, Jr. recorded a staggering .522 batting average during South Atlantic Conference play and finished the season on an 11-game hitting streak. He was named SAC Baseball Player of the Week and NCBWA Southeast Region Player of the Week on April 18.
Emory & Henry is scheduled to open the season on Saturday, February 3 when they make the trip south for a three-game series against the Hurricanes of Georgia Southwestern University.
--E&H--
2024 SAC Baseball Preseason Poll
|
Rank |
|
School (FPV) |
|
Points |
|
1. |
|
Newberry (9) |
|
136 |
|
2. |
|
Wingate (1) |
|
124 |
|
3. |
|
Lenoir-Rhyne (3) |
|
123 |
|
4. |
|
Catawba |
|
115 |
|
5. |
|
Lincoln Memorial |
|
99 |
|
6. |
|
Carson-Newman |
|
93 |
|
7. |
|
Anderson (S.C.) |
|
81 |
|
8. |
|
Tusculum |
|
66 |
|
9. |
|
Coker |
|
46 |
|
10. |
|
Limestone |
|
44 |
|
11. |
|
Mars Hill |
|
43 |
|
T-12. |
|
UVA Wise |
|
22 |
|
T-12. |
|
Emory & Henry |
|
22 |
2024 Preseason All-SAC Baseball Teams
First Team
OF – Blake Bean, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF –Dylan Driver, Catawba
OF – Donovan Ford, Newberry
1B – Tyler McPeak, Lenoir-Rhyne
2B – Cole Laskowski, Lenoir-Rhyne
SS – Ben Scartz, Tusculum
3B – Jonathan Velez, Newberry
C – Rhett Jolly, Newberry
DH – Sal Carricato, Lenoir-Rhyne
SP – Tyler Chinpire, Newberry
SP – Bennett Roemer, Newberry
SP – Austin Fine, Catawba
RP – Jake Wright, Carson-Newman
Second Team
OF – Sean Barnett, Wingate
OF – Jermie Greene Jr., Emory & Henry
OF – Luke Poole, Anderson
1B – Cole Harness, UVA Wise
2B – Jomar Lugo, Newberry
SS – Levi Perrell, Catawba
3B – Andrew McKay, Wingate
C – Carlos Hernandez, Anderson
DH – Kody Hanna, Coker
SP – Joshua Lanham, Lenoir-Rhyne
SP – Luke Absher, Tusculum
SP – Marty Neal, Limestone
RP – David Brian Ellison, Lincoln Memorial
Third Team
OF – Kade Faircloth, Newberry
OF – Zane Keener, Tusculum
OF – Jacob Lebron, Newberry
1B – Brett Adams, Wingate
2B – Mitch Petzelt, Lincoln Memorial
SS – Peter Adams, Limestone
3B – Kasten Harvey, Lincoln Memorial
C – Bryce Stober, Lenoir-Rhyne
DH – Carson Boles, Lincoln Memorial
SP – Ethan Bobo, Lincoln Memorial
SP – Josh Dotson, Wingate
SP - Mason Gwyn, Catawba
RP – Jake Contino, Limestone