Feb. 20, 2008
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -
Baseball America has picked Samford to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference its preseason poll, released recently. The publication also named a preseason All-Conference team, with three Samford players being named to the team.
Junior shortstop Michael Marseco, and senior pitchers Trent Hill and Doug Denson were named to the preseason All-Conference team by the publication.
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 was named to the OVC's preseason All-Conference team earlier this week, and he 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.
Denson was second on the team and tied for third in the OVC with five saves. He posted a record of 5-1 and an ERA of 2.27.
Hill posted a record of 6-6 with an ERA of 4.35 last season. He struck out 51 batters and he held opponents to a .271 batting average.
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.
BASEBALL AMERICA PRESEASON OVC POLL
1. Austin Peay
2. Jacksonville State
3. Samford
4. Eastern Kentucky
5. Southeast Missouri
6. Eastern Illinois
7. Murray State
8. Tennessee Tech
9. Morehead State
10. Tenneseee-Martin
BASEBALL AMERICA PRESESON ALL-OVC TEAM
C, Joe Oliver, Eastern Kentucky
1B, Richie Derbak, Eastern Illinois
2B, Bert Smith, Jacksonville State
3B, Tyler Farrar, Austin Peay
SS, Michael Marseco, Samford
OF, Rafael Hill, Austin Peay
OF, Sean Reilly, Tennessee Tech
OF, Clay Whittemore, Jacksonville State
DH, Tyler Barnett, Eastern Kentucky
SP, Christian Friedrich, Eastern Kentucky
SP, Trent Hill, Samford
SP, Ryne Mantooth, Austin Peay
RP, Doug Denson, Samford
Player of the Year: Clay Whittemore, Jacksonville State
Pitcher of the Year: Christian Friedrich, Eastern Kentucky
