MOBILE, Ala.  – University of South Alabama baseball’s Nick Zaharion and Jordan Patterson were recently named preseason all-Sun Belt Conference by Perfect Game USA.

Patterson heads into his junior season after being named second-team all-SBC last season in which he hit .323 with 15 doubles, eight homers, a triple, 44 RBI, 41 runs scored and two stolen bases in 56 games. He ranked 14th in the SBC in batting average, and posted a team-leading .512 slugging percentage which ranked ninth in the conference. He also finished ninth in the league in on-base percentage (.426), and tied for ninth in home runs and doubles.  He led USA with 21 multi-hit and 13 multi-RBI games, and hit safely in 42 of 56 games. On the mound, the Mobile native posted a 3.60 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 10 innings pitched.

Zaharion was one of three outfielders selected to the team, while Patterson was honored as a utility player. Zaharion, a senior from Stuart, Fla., batted .285 with eight doubles, seven home runs, two triples, and 36 runs scored, and tied for the team lead with 44 RBI in 54 games. He recorded 16 multi-hit and nine multi-RBI games, and reached base in a team-best 24 consecutive contests. He was also selected as the SBC Player of the Week (3/20-3/25/12) after hitting .474 with two doubles, three homers, nine RBI and six runs in four games.

Perfect Game USA also predicted South Alabama will finish fourth in the SBC this season, and that Florida Atlantic will win the league championship.

South Alabama will open the 2013 season Fri., Feb. 15, when it hosts Stephen F. Austin at 6:30 p.m. to kick off a three-game weekend set. For the full article from Perfect Game USA, click here.

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).



Perfect Game USA Preseason All-SBC Team

C – Aramis Garcia, So., Florida International
1B – Mark Nelson, Sr., Florida Atlantic
2B – Johnny Thomas, Sr., Middle Tennessee
3B – Logan Pierce, Sr., Troy
SS – Dustin Jones, Jr., Arkansas State
OF – Danny Collins, Jr., Troy
OF – Nick Zaharion, Sr., South Alabama
OF – Jo-El Bennett, So., Troy
DH – Trent Miller, Jr., Middle Tennessee
UT – Jordan Patterson, Jr., South Alabama
SP – Chance Cleveland, Sr., UALR
SP – Mike Ellis, Jr., Florida International
SP – Austin Gomber, So., Florida Atlantic
RP – John Koch, Sr., Arkansas State

Player of the Year – Danny Colllins, OF, Troy
Pitcher of the Year – Mike Ellis, RHP, Florida International
Top Freshman – Edwin Rios, IF, Florida International
Top Transfer – Tyler Alexander, OF/LHP, Florida International


Perfect Game USA SBC Predicted Order of Finish
1. Florida Atlantic
2. Florida International
3. Middle Tennessee
4. South Alabama
5. Arkansas State
6. Louisiana-Lafayette
7. Western Kentucky
8. Troy
9. Louisiana-Monroe
10. UALR