Troy University Athletics
Troy’s Cavill & Janicki Earn Preseason All-Sun Belt Honors, Trojans Picked Third in Coaches Poll
2/4/2026 11:00:00 AM | Baseball
TROY, Ala. - The Sun Belt Conference announced Wednesday that Troy senior Blake Cavill was named the league's Preseason Player of the Year and earned Preseason All-Sun Belt honors at first base, while sophomore Jimmy Janicki was also selected to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team at utility, as voted by the league's coaches.
It marks the second round of preseason all-conference accolades for Cavill and Janicki, as both were previously named to Perfect Game's Preseason All–Sun Belt Team, with Cavill also earning Perfect Game's Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year honor.
"It is a well-deserved preseason honor to have Blake be the Preseason Sun Belt Player of Year," head coach Skylar Meade said. "He is one of the most respected hitters in all of the country, and we expect him to continue to produce at an elite level this spring. In addition, Jimmy being on the preseason All-Conference team shows such a high level of respect for what he has done and inevitably will do for the Trojans this spring."
Cavill was among the most productive players in college baseball last spring, leading all players returning to the Sun Belt this season in OPS (1.078) and wins above replacement (4.13). The Sydney, Australia, native led the Trojans with a .320 batting average and a conference-best .516 on-base percentage, adding 12 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, and 50 RBIs. His 65 walks ranked third nationally, and he was one of just two players in college baseball - alongside Tennessee's Andrew Fischer - to reach base in every game he played last season.
Janicki looks to take on a key role behind the plate in 2026 after a memorable freshman campaign as Troy's primary third baseman. The Downers Grove, Ill., product hit .280 with a pair of home runs and 32 RBIs in his debut season in the cardinal & white, while tying Troy's record for doubles by a freshman with 12. The 6'4", 223-pound right-handed hitter was at his best in Sun Belt games, leading Troy in both batting average (.327) and hits (35) during conference play last year.
Additionally, Troy was picked third in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll. The Trojans are coming off a strong 2025 season, finishing third in conference play at 18-12 and posting a 39-21 overall record, while reaching a program-best No. 14 national ranking by Baseball America.
In addition to Cavill and Janicki, Troy returns significant offensive production from Steven Meier, Sean Darnell and Houston Markham, and bolsters its roster with the nation's No. 19-ranked transfer portal class according to 64Analytics. The haul is highlighted by proven bats Nico Azpilcueta and Aaron Piasecki, along with key pitching additions Tommy Egan, Benjamin Stubbs, and Blake Dean.
Troy opens its 2026 season with a three-game series at Mercer, Feb. 13-15. The first action at Riddle-Pace Field will be a three-game series with Campbell, Feb. 20-22, following the Trojans' midweek trip to No. 3 Mississippi State on Feb. 17.
Preseason Player of the Year
Blake Cavill, 1B, Troy
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
SP: Cameron Flukey, Coastal Carolina
SP: Hayden Johnson, Coastal Carolina
SP: Colby Allen, Southern Miss
RP: Ryan Lynch, Coastal Carolina
C: Tucker Stockman, Southern Miss
1B: Blake Cavill, Troy
2B: Joseph Zamora, App State
SS: Patrick Engskov, Arkansas State
3B: Chase Mora, Texas State
OF: Ashton Quiller, Arkansas State
OF: Dean Mihos, Coastal Carolina
OF: Ben Higdon, Southern Miss
DH: Kameron Miller, App State
UTL: Jimmy Janicki, Troy
Preseason Coaches Poll (First-Place Votes)
1. Coastal Carolina (12) – 194
2. Southern Miss (1) – 182
3. Troy – 166
4. Marshall – 129
5. Louisiana (1) – 126
6. Texas State – 114
T7. Georgia Southern – 104
T7. Old Dominion – 104
9. Arkansas State – 96
10. App State – 78
11. South Alabama – 62
12. Georgia State – 49
13. James Madison – 48
14. ULM – 18
It marks the second round of preseason all-conference accolades for Cavill and Janicki, as both were previously named to Perfect Game's Preseason All–Sun Belt Team, with Cavill also earning Perfect Game's Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year honor.
"It is a well-deserved preseason honor to have Blake be the Preseason Sun Belt Player of Year," head coach Skylar Meade said. "He is one of the most respected hitters in all of the country, and we expect him to continue to produce at an elite level this spring. In addition, Jimmy being on the preseason All-Conference team shows such a high level of respect for what he has done and inevitably will do for the Trojans this spring."
Cavill was among the most productive players in college baseball last spring, leading all players returning to the Sun Belt this season in OPS (1.078) and wins above replacement (4.13). The Sydney, Australia, native led the Trojans with a .320 batting average and a conference-best .516 on-base percentage, adding 12 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, and 50 RBIs. His 65 walks ranked third nationally, and he was one of just two players in college baseball - alongside Tennessee's Andrew Fischer - to reach base in every game he played last season.
Janicki looks to take on a key role behind the plate in 2026 after a memorable freshman campaign as Troy's primary third baseman. The Downers Grove, Ill., product hit .280 with a pair of home runs and 32 RBIs in his debut season in the cardinal & white, while tying Troy's record for doubles by a freshman with 12. The 6'4", 223-pound right-handed hitter was at his best in Sun Belt games, leading Troy in both batting average (.327) and hits (35) during conference play last year.
Additionally, Troy was picked third in the Sun Belt Preseason Coaches Poll. The Trojans are coming off a strong 2025 season, finishing third in conference play at 18-12 and posting a 39-21 overall record, while reaching a program-best No. 14 national ranking by Baseball America.
In addition to Cavill and Janicki, Troy returns significant offensive production from Steven Meier, Sean Darnell and Houston Markham, and bolsters its roster with the nation's No. 19-ranked transfer portal class according to 64Analytics. The haul is highlighted by proven bats Nico Azpilcueta and Aaron Piasecki, along with key pitching additions Tommy Egan, Benjamin Stubbs, and Blake Dean.
Troy opens its 2026 season with a three-game series at Mercer, Feb. 13-15. The first action at Riddle-Pace Field will be a three-game series with Campbell, Feb. 20-22, following the Trojans' midweek trip to No. 3 Mississippi State on Feb. 17.
Preseason Player of the Year
Blake Cavill, 1B, Troy
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Cameron Flukey, RHP, Coastal Carolina
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
SP: Cameron Flukey, Coastal Carolina
SP: Hayden Johnson, Coastal Carolina
SP: Colby Allen, Southern Miss
RP: Ryan Lynch, Coastal Carolina
C: Tucker Stockman, Southern Miss
1B: Blake Cavill, Troy
2B: Joseph Zamora, App State
SS: Patrick Engskov, Arkansas State
3B: Chase Mora, Texas State
OF: Ashton Quiller, Arkansas State
OF: Dean Mihos, Coastal Carolina
OF: Ben Higdon, Southern Miss
DH: Kameron Miller, App State
UTL: Jimmy Janicki, Troy
Preseason Coaches Poll (First-Place Votes)
1. Coastal Carolina (12) – 194
2. Southern Miss (1) – 182
3. Troy – 166
4. Marshall – 129
5. Louisiana (1) – 126
6. Texas State – 114
T7. Georgia Southern – 104
T7. Old Dominion – 104
9. Arkansas State – 96
10. App State – 78
11. South Alabama – 62
12. Georgia State – 49
13. James Madison – 48
14. ULM – 18
Players Mentioned
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