ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The Anderson University baseball team was picked to finish seventh at the end of the season by the league's coaches in the 2024 South Atlantic Conference Preseason Poll announced by the league on Tuesday, January 23. In addition, two members of the Trojans squad were able to pick up Preseason All-Conference nods with junior Luke Poole (Greenwood, S.C.) and senior Carlos Hernandez (Maracay, Venezuela) were both named to the Second-Team.

The 2023 SAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions, Newberry finished the year with a 43-15 record advancing to the NCAA Southeast Regional and have been picked to finish first in the league.

Wingate was voted in at No. 2 with one first-place vote and 124 total points, while Lenoir-Rhyne earned the No. 3 spot with 123 points and three first-place votes.

Catawba placed fourth in the poll with 115 points, followed by Lincoln Memorial at No. 5 with 99 points and Carson-Newman at No. 6 with 93 points. 

Anderson earned the No. 7 slot with 81 points and one first-place vote, while Tusculum earned 66 points in eighth and Coker placed ninth with 46 points. Limestone came in at No. 10 with 44 points, followed by Mars Hill at No. 11 with 43 points.

Rounding out the poll were Emory & Henry and UVA Wise at a tie for No. 12 with 22 points each.

The Trojans kick off their season on Friday, February 2 as they head to Beaufort, S.C. to take on USC Beaufort in three-game series.

2024 Baseball Preseason Poll

All-SAC First Team

OF – Blake Bean, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF –Dylan Driver, Catawba
OF – Donovan Ford, Newberry
1B – Tyler McPeak, Lenoir-Rhyne
2B – Cole Laskowski, Lenoir-Rhyne
SS – Ben Scartz, Tusculum
3B – Jonathan Velez, Newberry
C – Rhett Jolly, Newberry
DH – Sal Carricato, Lenoir-Rhyne
SP – Tyler Chinpire, Newberry
SP – Bennett Roemer, Newberry
SP – Austin Fine, Catawba
RP – Jake Wright, Carson-Newman

All-SAC Second Team

OF – Sean Barnett, Wingate
OF – Jermie Greene Jr., Emory & Henry
OF – Luke Poole, Anderson
1B – Cole Harness, UVA Wise
2B – Jomar Lugo, Newberry
SS – Levi Perrell, Catawba
3B – Andrew McKay, Wingate
C – Carlos Hernandez, Anderson
DH – Kody Hanna, Coker
SP – Joshua Lanham, Lenoir-Rhyne
SP – Luke Absher, Tusculum
SP – Marty Neal, Limestone
RP – David Brian Ellison, Lincoln Memorial

All-SAC Third Team

OF – Kade Faircloth, Newberry
OF – Zane Keener, Tusculum
OF – Jacob Lebron, Newberry
1B – Brett Adams, Wingate
2B – Mitch Petzelt, Lincoln Memorial
SS – Peter Adams, Limestone
3B – Kasten Harvey, Lincoln Memorial
C – Bryce Stober, Lenoir-Rhyne
DH – Carson Boles, Lincoln Memorial
SP – Ethan Bobo, Lincoln Memorial
SP – Josh Dotson, Wingate
SP - Mason Gwyn, Catawba
RP – Jake Contino, Limestone