01/25/06– FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOUTH ALABAMA BASEBALL PICKED TO WIN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

CONTACT: Kevin Sytko

MOBILE, Ala . – The University of South Alabama baseball team has been picked to win the Sun Belt Conference regular season as announced by conference officials Wednesday. South Alabama received 78 total points and six first place votes from the nine head coaches in the conference.

South Alabama has dominated the Sun Belt as a charter member. The Jaguars have taken home 14 regular season crowns, by far more than any other Sun Belt member.

“We are excited about the upcoming season,” said head coach Steve Kittell. “Preseason polls don’t mean a lot, but now we have to earn it on the field.”

The Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette are picked to finish second. The Cajuns went 48-19 in 2005 and reached the NCAA regional in New Orleans. Troy and Florida International are picked to finish third. Middle Tennessee is picked fifth and Arkansas State sixth. New Orleans, Western Kentucky and Arkansas-Little Rock are seventh, eighth and ninth respectively.

The Jags also had two players picked for the Pre-Season All-Sun Belt Conference Team. Senior David Freese was selected for third base and junior right-hander P.J. Walters was selected as a starting pitcher. Earlier in the week, Walters was selected by Baseball America Magazine as the pre-season Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year.

Freese led the Jags last season by hitting .373 and collecting 81 hits. At one point during the 2005 season, Freese posted 16 consecutive multiple-hit games.

Walters is coming off back-to-back 10 win seasons. He earned freshman All-American honors in 2004, by going 10-1. Currently Walters sits in seventh place on South Alabama’s all-time strike out list with 238.

Preseason Coaches Poll:

First place votes in parentheses

1. South Alabama (6) 78 points
2. Louisiana-Lafayette (2) 61 points
T3. Florida International 55 points
T3. Troy 55 points
5. Middle Tennessee (1) 54 points
6. Arkansas State 39 points
7. New Orleans 26 points
8. Western Kentucky 21 points
9. Arkansas-Little Rock 16 points

Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team

Pos. Name (Class, School)
SP Matt Scott (Jr., Middle Tennessee)
SP P.J. Walters (Jr., South Alabama)
RP Frank Gonzalez (Sr., Florida International)
RP Allan Woodward (Sr., Middle Tennessee)
C Jordan Newton (Sr., Western Kentucky)
1B Michael Lopez (Sr., Florida International)
2B Brett Kinning (Sr., Arkansas State)
SS Jeff Beachum (Sr., Middle Tennessee)
3B David Freese (Sr., South Alabama)
OF Brandon Bowser (Jr., New Orleans)
OF Josh Landry (Sr., Louisiana-Lafayette)
OF Nathan Hines (So., Middle Tennessee)
DH Todd Martin (Sr., Middle Tennessee)

Preseason Player of the Year: Brett Kinning, Sr., Arkansas State
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Matt Scott, Jr., Middle Tennessee