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UNCG tabbed ninth by coaches and 10th by media in preseason poll
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG was picked to finish in a tie for ninth with Wofford by the league's head coaches, while the Spartans were tabbed 10th in the preseason media poll, the Southern Conference office announced on Thursday.
College of Charleston, who is ranked as high as No. 20 in the Baseball America preseason poll, was the consensus No. 1 pick by the head coaches in the league. The Cougars secured 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 picked up 19 of a possible 22 first-place votes in the media poll to claim top honors.
The Spartans, coming off a 20-33 season in 2010, earned 23 votes to finish in a tie with Wofford for ninth place in the coaches poll. UNCG claimed 51 votes in the media poll as the Spartans were tabbed to finish in 10th place.
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. Falling behind UNCG and Wofford was Davidson (18) who 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) and Wofford (72) were picked eighth and ninth, while Davidson (33) finished the standings behind UNCG. The Citadel, Elon and Western Carolina each received a single first-place vote.
The Spartans will kick off their 2011 campaign next Friday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m. against Delaware at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. Admission is free to all 2011 home games this season at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE
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
- UNCG -
