NEW ORLEANS – University of South Alabama baseball third baseman Jake Overstreet was named Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference, while the Jaguars were predicted to finish seventh in the league, as announced by the conference office Friday morning.

Overstreet was the lone Jaguar to receive preseason honors, which are based largely on the previous year. Last season, Overstreet drove in 74 runs, which tied for the most in the SBC and marked the second-highest single-season total in South Alabama history – only six shy of Luis Gonzalez’s all-time mark of 80 RBI set in 1988.

Overstreet finished tied for 23rd in the nation in RBI last season, and batted .346 with 11 home runs, along with 74 RBI, and hit safely in 44 of 59 games played. He recorded 22 multiple-hit games, and drove in two or more runs in 21 contests. For his efforts last year, Overstreet was named second-team all-South Central Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association. The Thomasville, Ala., native has made 153 consecutive starts at third base entering the season and will open his senior campaign on a six-game hitting streak.

“We’re excited for Jake [Overstreet],” South Alabama head coach Steve Kittrell said. “Preseason honors are based on the previous year, and he had a tremendous season last year. We are all excited with the start of a new season approaching, and look forward to fighting for the conference title. We were in contention until the very end last year, but this year we have to finish and get the job done.”

Florida International shortstop Garrett Wittels was named the preseason Player of the Year, while Arkansas State’s Jacob Lee was selected as preseason Pitcher of the Year.

South Alabama received 41 points in the preseason poll, which is voted on by the league’s coaches, as did Middle Tennessee. The Jaguars were picked to finish eighth in last season’s preseason poll. Florida Atlantic, last season’s regular season co-champion, was selected as the preseason favorite to win the Sun Belt after receiving six of 10 first-place votes. FIU was picked to finish second and received one first-place vote, while Louisiana-Lafayette was picked third but received two first-place votes. Louisiana-Monroe received the other first-place vote, but was picked to finish ninth in the league.

USA opens the 2011 season Fri., Feb. 18, when it hosts UT-Martin at 6 p.m. at Stanky Field.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

-USA-

2011 SBC Coaches Poll (First-place votes)
1. Florida Atlantic (6)               95 pts        
2. FIU (1)                                 85 pts
3. Louisiana-Lafayette (2)       82 pts
4. WKU                                    64 pts
5. Troy                                    52 pts
6. Arkansas State                   48 pts
7. South Alabama                 41 pts
7. Middle Tennessee              41 pts
9. Louisiana-Monroe (1)         26 pts
10. UALR                                16 pts

2011 Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference Team
SP   Jacob Lee (Arkansas State, Jr.)
SP   T.J. Geith (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr.)
SP   Tyler Ray (Troy, Jr.)
RP   Andy Mee (Florida Atlantic, Sr.)
RP   Rye Davis (Western Kentucky, Jr.)
C      Matt Rice (Western Kentucky, Sr.)
1B    Dan Scheffler (Florida Atlantic, Sr.)
2B    Raymond Church (Florida Atlantic, Sr.)
        Jordan Poirrier (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr.)
SS    Adam Bryant (Troy, Sr.)
3B    Jake Overstreet (South Alabama, Sr.)
OF    Todd Baumgartner (Arkansas State, Sr.)
OF    Andy Mee (Florida Atlantic, Sr.)
OF    Kes Carter (Western Kentucky, Jr.)
DH    Mike Martinez (Florida International, Jr.)

Preseason Player of the Year
Garrett Wittels (Florida International, Jr.)

Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Jacob Lee (Arkansas State, Jr., SP)