KENNESAW, Ga. - In its first year of eligibility for the postseason, the Kennesaw State baseball team has been picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic Sun Conference in a poll of A-Sun coaches. Senior infielder Tyler Stubblefield and junior outfielder Josh Whitaker were each selected to the A-Sun Preseason All-Conference squad.
"Tyler and Josh are well-deserving of this honor. Both of them did well last year, and we're counting on them both on the field and off the field to provide leadership this season," KSU head coach Mike Sansing said. "Based on our graduating class and the draft from last year, I feel that being selected fourth is a fair evaluation of our returning squad. We feel that our recruiting class has helped fill the void left by our seniors and drafted players. They are a talented group, but unproven at this point."
Stubblefield is KSU's leading returning hitter. After being drafted by the Atlanta Braves during the 2009 MLB Draft, the Woodstock, Ga., native opted to return to KSU for his senior season. He hit .300 last year for the Owls while playing and starting in 51 of 52 games. Stubblefield had the most doubles in a season by an Owl since KSU moved to Division I with 20 in 2009.
Whitaker showed flashes of brilliance during the 2009 season until an injury derailed what was becoming a very productive year. The Augusta, Ga., native hit .379 in 66 at bats with four home runs, 25 RBIs, and a .652 slugging percentage. The junior played in just 22 games last season, but will be expected to help carry the offensive load for the Owls in 2010.
Florida Gulf Coast received 10 first-place votes in earning the preseason nod to win the A-Sun regular season. The Eagles, eligible for the postseason for the first time this year as well, received eight votes to with the A-Sun Tournament, which will be contested May 26-29 on the campus of Lipscomb University.
| Rank |
Team |
| 1. |
Florida Gulf Coast (10 first-place votes) |
| 2. |
Jacksonville |
| 3. |
Stetson |
| 4. |
Kennesaw State |
| 5. |
North Florida |
| T-6. |
Mercer |
| T-6. |
Lipscomb |
| 8. |
Belmont |
| 9. |
East Tennessee State |
| 10. |
Campbell |
| 11. |
USC Upstate |
| Predicted Tournament Champion: Florida Gulf Coast (8 votes) |