January 16, 2003

FURMAN BASEBALL PICKED SIXTH BY COACHES, SIDS IN PRESEASON POLL

SPARTANBURG, SC ­ The Furman Paladins are a consensus sixth place selection according to a pair of Southern Conference preseason polls released today.

Defending Southern Conference Tournament champion Georgia Southern has been picked to win the 2003 SoCon baseball regular season title in voting by the league's coaches and sports information directors.

Georgia Southern received six first place votes and 93 total points from the coaches and four first place votes and 91 points from the SIDs. The Citadel was picked second in both polls, followed by the College of Charleston in third.

The coaches and SIDs disagreed on the fourth and fifth place teams. The coaches picked UNC Greensboro fourth and Western Carolina fifth, while the SIDs reversed the order.

The Paladins return five-position players and one starting pitcher off last year's squad that went 26-34 overall and finished in a tie for sixth place during the regular season.

Senior right-handed pitcher Tom Mastny (5-7, 4.42 ERA) will anchor Furman's pitching staff, while a host of newcomers will try to replace former pitchers Jeff Stovall, Danny Rueckel, and Corey Etheridge, who all graduation last year.

In the infield, Derek Norman (.374, 9, HR, 45 RBI) returns behind the plate while second team All-Conference selection, Dominic Frankey (.273, 12 HR, 49 RBI) returns at first base. Clint Hill (.329, 1 HR, 18 RBI) also returns for Furman at second base.

The Paladins return a strong outfield as well with junior Craig Caudill (.370, 16 RBI) playing in left field, and senior Cole Hubka (.321, 3 HR, 29 RBI) in right field.

Furman opens the 2003 season on February 8 with a double-header against High Point.

SoCon Coaches Baseball Poll
Pl Team (1st place votes) Pts
1 Georgia Southern (6) 93
2 The Citadel (2) 84
3 College of Charleston (1) 81
4 UNC Greensboro (2) 79
5 Western Carolina 78
6 Furman 49
7 East Tennessee State 46
8 Davidson 32
9 Wofford 29
10 Appalachian State 18
11 VMI 16

SoCon SID Baseball Poll
Pl Team (1st place votes) Pts
1 Georgia Southern (4) 91
2 The Citadel (2) 85
3 College of Charleston (2) 81
4 Western Carolina (2) 78
5 UNC Greensboro (1) 74
6 Furman 49
7 East Tennessee State 43
8 Wofford 37
9 Davidson 34
10 Appalachian State 22
11 VMI 11