FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference baseball coaches and media have each selected College of Charleston as the preseason favorite to win the league championship in 2011.
The Cougars received all 10 possible first-place votes and 100 points in the coaches’ balloting, as coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams. CofC also grabbed 19 of 22 first-place votes and 239 points in the media poll. Coach Monte Lee’s team returns six of nine starters in the field as well as a pair of weekend starting pitchers from the 2010 team that was 44-19 overall and finished second in the NCAA Myrtle Beach Regional.
Elon and Georgia Southern tied for second in the coaches’ poll while defending regular season and tournament champion The Citadel grabbed the second spot in the media prediction.
In the coaches’ poll, Elon and Georgia Southern tied for second with 81 points. Following the pair in fourth was Western Carolina, which collected 79 points overall along with the remaining first-place nod. The Citadel (68 points) was tabbed to finish fifth, followed by Appalachian State (58), Samford (44) and Furman (35) in the sixth through eighth spots, respectively. UNCG (23) and Wofford (23) tied for ninth while Davidson (18) was forecast to finish 11th.
In the media balloting, The Citadel (196 points) grabbed the second slot, trailed by Elon (193) in third. Georgia Southern (180), Western Carolina (173), Appalachian State (128) and Samford (102) filled slots four through seven while Furman (85), Wofford (72), UNCG (51) and Davidson (33) finished the standings. The Citadel, Elon and Western Carolina each received a single first-place vote.
The 2011 Southern Conference baseball season begins on Friday, February 18 with all 11 league teams in action. The 2011 Southern Conference Baseball Championship will be held from May 25-29 at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park in Charleston, S.C.
2011 SoCon Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
Place School (First) Points
1. College of Charleston (10) 100
2t. Elon 81
2t. Georgia Southern 81
4. Western Carolina (1) 79
5. The Citadel 68
6. Appalachian State 58
7. Samford 44
8. Furman 35
9t. UNCG 23
9t. Wofford 23
11. Davidson 18
2011 SoCon Baseball Preseason Media Poll
Place School (First) Points
1. College of Charleston (19) 239
2. The Citadel (1) 196
3. Elon (1) 193
4. Georgia Southern 180
5. Western Carolina (1) 173
6. Appalachian State 128
7. Samford 102
8. Furman 85
9. Wofford 72
10. UNCG 51
11. Davidson 33
