MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama baseball team will begin its quest for a second consecutive Sun Belt Conference title when it opens spring practice Friday afternoon with a 5:30 p.m. intrasquad game at Stanky Field.

USA returns 24 letterwinners from last year's SBC championship squad, including 2015 SBC Pitcher of the Year and All-American Kevin Hill and first-team all-SBC and Rawlings Gold Glove Award winning outfielder Cole Billingsley. Hill was selected by College Sports Madness as the SBC Preseason Pitcher of the Year on Thursday, and was also named to the publication's preseason all-conference first team along with Billingsley.

"I have been really pleased with the team's progression," Calvi said. "I saw it this fall. We have a lot of returners, so it's not like we have to spend a lot of time on things that we do already. We have been able to put a couple of new wrinkles in there offensively, because we have so many returners. Almost everyone on the infield is back from last year. They understand how we want it played, where everyone is supposed to be, the speed at which it is supposed to be played and our intentions with what we want defensively. I have been really happy with the progression we have made defensively. And this is the time of year where you have to pitch and play defense because the bats may be a little behind early on; it's cold and the hitters haven't seen a lot of live pitching. The team that pitches it the best and plays the best defense early on in the year has a chance to win its share of ball games. From that standpoint, I have been very pleased. 

"Offensively, we have some returners as well. There are some question marks in the lineup, but there are a fair amount of returners in there. This offense has a chance to potentially be dangerous. We have some guys who can run, and I think we can hit more doubles this year. I think we have a chance to do a little bit more of everything than we did last year. As far as our practices go, these guys don't take days off when they are on the field. These kids come and work hard every single day they practice. They are in the cages before and after practice, and I see guys in there on the weekend on their own and there are pitchers out there getting their work in; I've been very pleased with the leadership shown thus far in this team. Hopefully, that is a good indication of things to come this year – it usually is."

The Jags finished 37-20 last year and 19-9 in SBC play. Fourteen pitchers return on a staff that led the league in ERA (3.22), strikeouts (474), runs allowed (221), earned runs allowed (188) and home runs allowed (22). USA also ranked second in innings pitched (526), wins (37) and fewest hits allowed (472).

Six position players return from an offense that led the Sun Belt in batting average (.285), on-base percentage (.376) and sacrifice flies (28) in 2015, and finished second in the league in runs scored (228), hits (570) and stolen bases (80). USA also led the conference with a .978 fielding percentage, which ranked tied for 10th nationally and broke the program's previous record of .972.

South Alabama will open the 2016 season Fri., Feb. 19, when it hosts Evansville at 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.

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