Feb. 19, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford baseball team was picked fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference's preseason poll released by the league on Tuesday.

Samford received 55 points in the poll, voted on by the league's head coaches. Jacksonville State was picked to win league with 76 points, while Austin Peay was a close second with 74 points.

Eastern Kentucky came in third with 61 points, while Southeast Missouri was fourth with 59 points. After Samford in fifth, Eastern Illinois (38 pts.) was picked sixth, Murray State (30 pts.) came in seventh, Tennessee Tech (29 pts.) was voted eighth, Morehead State (15 pts.) came in ninth and UT Martin (13 pts.) came in tenth.

Samford junior shortstop Michael Marseco was named to the preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference team. Last season, Marseco led Samford with a .350 batting average and 84 hits. He also had 13 doubles, scored 47 runs and had 33 RBI.

Marseco has been named first-team All-Conference in each of his first two seasons at Samford. As a freshman in 2006, he was also named to the Freshman All-America team by Collegiate Baseball.

Last season, Samford posted a record of 32-28 overall and 14-13 in OVC play. Last season marked the first time in over 40 years that Samford has posted back-to-back winning seasons.

PRESEASON OVC POLL
1. Jacksonville St. (4 first-place votes), 76
2. Austin Peay (5), 74
3. Eastern Kentucky (1), 61
4. Southeast Missouri, 59
5. Samford, 55
6. Eastern Illinois, 38
7. Murray State, 30
8. Tennessee Tech, 29
9. Morehead State, 15
10. UT Martin, 3
(9 points for a 1st-place vote, 8 for 2nd, etc.)

PRESEASON ALL-OVC BASEBALL TEAM
C, Jim Klocke, Southeast Missouri
1B, Matt Wagner, Southeast Missouri
2B, Bert Smith, Jacksonville State
SS, Michael Marseco, Samford
3B, Tyler Farrar, Austin Peay
OF, Clay Whittemore, Jacksonville State
OF, Jake New, Tennessee Tech
OF, Brett Nommensen, Eastern Illinois
OF, Rafael Hill, Austin Peay
DH, Jay Harrington, Jacksonville State
UTIL, Richie Derbak, Eastern Illinois
SP, Christian Friedrich, Eastern Kentucky
SP, Dustin Renfrow, Southeast Missouri
SP, Ryne Mantooth, Austin Peay
RP, Alex Jones, Jacksonville State