Troy University Athletics
Trojans Tabbed Second In Preseason Poll
2/10/2009 6:00:00 PM | Baseball
NEW ORLEANS, La. ? The Troy University baseball program is just 10 day away from opening the 2009 season and, if the coaches in the Sun Belt Conference are correct, it promises to be a successful year.
The Trojans were picked to finish second in the Sun Belt race in a vote of the league's 11 head coaches. Defending SBC Tournament champion Western Kentucky, with the majority of its starting line-up returning, was the overwhelming preseason favorite. The Hilltoppers' veteran hurler, Matt Ridings, was selected Preseason Pitcher of the Year, while ULM shortstop Ben Soignier was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year.
The Hilltoppers, who finished 33-27 overall last season, including a 16-14 record against Sun Belt foes, return eight position starters among 20 letterwinners, along with nine members of its pitching staff. WKU also played outfielder Chad Cregar on the preseason All-Conference squad.
Picked to finish second in the Sun Belt in 2009, Troy returns 11 pitchers and seven position starters among 22 letterwinners from a team that went 32-26 overall and 16-14 in the SBC last season. Top reliever and preseason All-Sun Belt selection Josh Storm returns for his second year in the bullpen for the Trojans, after making 27 appearances on the mound in 2009, posting a 2.09 ERA and recording a school-record 12 saves. The Florida native ranked second in the league and 14th in the nation in total saves.
Led by two-time All-American Soignier, ULM is predicted to round out the top three teams in the Sun Belt this season. The Warhawks were 34-24 last season, including a first-place finish in the league during the regular season with a 20-10 mark.
New Orleans and Louisiana-Lafayette, both perennial NCAA Tournament contenders, rounded out the top five in the preseason poll.
The 2009 baseball season is set to begin Feb. 20, with all 11 league members set to open non-conference play on that day. The Trojans will open the season in the Caravelle Resort Tournament at Coastal Federal Field in Myrtle Beach, SC, against the Kentucky Wildcats. Troy will also face Southern Illinois (twice) and James Madison during the opening weekend of play.
The Trojans will play their home-opener at Riddle-Pace Field on Friday, Feb. 27, when they open a three-game weekend series against the University of Memphis.
The Sun Belt Conference Tournament will be played in Troy May 20-23. The Sun Belt Conference has sent multiple teams to the NCAA Baseball Tournament each year since 1988. The 20-year stretch of two or more teams each NCAA play is matched by only four other conferences.
| PRESEASON POLL | |
| 1. WKU (9) | 119 points |
| 2. Troy | 100 points |
| 3. ULM | 84 points |
| 4. New Orleans (1) | 79 points |
| 5. Louisiana-Lafayette (1) | 78 points |
| 6. Florida Atlantic | 66 points |
| 7. South Alabama | 64 points |
| 8. Middle Tennessee | 55 points |
| 9. FIU | 42 points |
| 10. Arkansas State | 22 points |
| 11. UALR | 17 points |
| First place votes in parenthesis. |
ALL-SUN BELT CONFERENCE PRESEASON BASEBALL TEAM
| Starting Pitchers | Chase Ware, Arkansas State; Matt Ridings, WKU |
| Relief Pitchers | Justin Robichaux, Louisiana-Lafayette; Josh Storm, Troy |
| Catcher | David Doss, South Alabama |
| First Base | Tyler Townsend, FIU |
| Second Base | Ryan Mollica, FIU |
| Shortstop | Ben Soignier, ULM |
| Third Base | Wade Gaynor, WKU |
| Outfield | Bryce Brentz, Middle Tennessee; Nathan Hines, Middle Tennessee; Chad Cregar, WKU |
| Designated Hitter | Scott Hawkins, Louisiana-Lafayette |
| PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR | Ben Soignier, ULM |
| PRESEASON PITCHER OF THE YEAR | Matt Ridings, WKU |
