Three Eagles named to Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Baseball Teams

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Three Carson-Newman Eagles have been named to the 2010 Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Baseball Teams, league officials announced Friday.

Senior first baseman Derek Long (Jefferson City, Tenn.) was a selected to the first team, while senior shortstop Mills Rogers (Simpsonville, S.C.) and junior outfielder Evan Patterson (Knoxville, Tenn.) were each named to the second team.

Long is expected to anchor the middle of the Eagles’ lineup. He batted .355 with 12 doubles and two home runs a season ago, while earning first team All-SAC honors.

Rogers startyed all 45 games for C-N last season, finishing the year with as the team-leader with hits (56) and doubles (13). He also had four home runs.

Patterson led the Eagles with a .396 batting average in ’09. The junior also led the team in stolen bases with 24 steals in 26 attempts.

Carson-Newman finished 24-21 a season ago. The Eagles open their 2010 season on Friday at Augusta State University in Augusta, Ga. First pitch on Friday is at 3:00 p.m.

SAC Preseason favorite Tusculum College had six players who were selected on the preseason All-Conference team. Pitcher Taylor Rakes, who went 5-1 with a 3.38 ERA, and relief pitcher Michael Franklin, who had a 2-0 record with three saves, join catcher Sean Cotton on the first team. Cotton had 44 RBIs last season. Also on the first team is a pair of outfielders in Jared Richmond and Nate Grabowski. Grabowski was second in the league in on-base percentage last year and fifth in batting average. Richmond had 11 home runs and led the SAC with six triples. Tusculum second baseman Payden Houser was named to the second team.

Catawba College had four players named to the preseason All-Conference team. Pitcher Trevor Mullins and third baseman Craige Lyerly were both first team, Mullins who posted a 3.76 ERA last season and Lyerly, the returning SAC Player of the Year, had a .444 batting average with 106 hits and 70 runs scored. Pitcher Nathan Furr and outfielder Josh Hohn were both named preseason second team All-Conference.

Lenoir-Rhyne University had four players who were named to the preseason All-Conference team. Second baseman Hank Wofford, who stole 15 bases last season; outfielder Evan Taylor; and designated hitter Rob Knight, who batted .452 with 48 runs last season, were all named to the preseason first team. Catcher Brian Dice was named preseason second team All-Conference.

Wingate University relief pitcher Lee Oxendine; pitcher Tyler Almond, who had a 3.28 ERA last season; outfielder Nick Siega-Riz; and designated hitter Heath Weatherford, who hit 9 homeruns and 18 doubles last season, were all selected to the preseason second team All-Conference.

Newberrry College pitcher Josh McElwee, who led the league with 91 strikeouts last season, was picked as a preseason first team All-Conference.

Mars Hill College shortstop Devin Presnell, who batted .391 with 72 hits and 50 last season, was selected to the preseason first team. Pitcher Justin Hall, who posted a 3.79 ERA and a 6-2 record last season, and first baseman Brandon Savoca, were both named preseason second team.

Lincoln Memorial University had two players named to the preseason All-Conference team. Second baseman Nick Langley and third baseman John Couch, who recorded 17 doubles in 48 games last season, were both named second team All-Conference team.

Brevard College third baseman Matthew Pruitt, who recorded 14 doubles in 34 games last season, was selected to the preseason second team All-Conference team.

The 2010 baseball season begins Monday with Lenoir-Rhyne opening on the road at Pfeiffer. Five more games are on tap Tuesday, with Lenoir-Rhyne, Newberry and Wingate all playing their home opener.

The 2010 Food Lion SAC Baseball Tournament will be April 22-25 at McNair Field in Forest City, N.C. The tournament winner will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.

-C-N- / -SAC-

2010 Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Baseball Teams
First Team
Catcher – Sean Cotton, Tusculum
Relief Pitcher – Michael Franklin, Tusculum
Pitcher – Josh McElwee, Newberry
Pitcher - Taylor Rakes, Tusculum
Pitcher – Trevor Mullins, Catawba
1st Base – Derek Long, Carson-Newman
2nd Base – Hank Wofford, Lenoir-Rhyne
Shortstop- Devin Presnell, Mars Hill
3rd Base – Craige Lyerly, Catawba
Outfield – Jared Richmond, Tusculum
Outfield – Nate Grabowski, Tusculum
Outfield – Evan Taylor, Lenoir-Rhyne
Designated Hitter – Rob Knight, Lenoir-Rhyne

Second Team
Catcher – Brian Dice, Lenoir-Rhyne
Relief Pitcher – Lee Oxendine, Wingate
Pitcher – Tyler Almond, Wingate
Pitcher – Nathan Furr, Catawba
Pitcher –Justin Hall, Mars Hill
1st Base – Brandon Savoca, Mars Hill
2nd Base – Nick Langley, Lincoln Memorial
2nd Base – Payden Houser, Tusculum
Shortstop- Mills Rogers, Carson-Newman
3rd Base – Matthew Pruitt, Brevard
3rd Base – John Couch, Lincoln Memorial
Outfield – Josh Hohn, Catawba
Outfield – Evan Patterson, Carson-Newman
Outfield – Nick Siega-Riz, Wingate
Designated Hitter – Heath Weatherford, Wingate