NEW ORLEANS – The University of South Alabama baseball team was picked to win the Sun Belt Conference in a preseason poll voted on by the league's coaches, as announced Wednesday by the conference office.

South Alabama, the 2021 SBC regular-season and tournament champion, received seven of 12 first-place votes in the poll, which was voted on without divisions due to the change in seeding for the postseason tournament moving to 1-10 without divisions. Georgia Southern, picked to finish second, did not receive any first-place votes. Coastal Carolina and Louisiana finished tied for third in the poll; the Chanticleers received three first-place votes, while the Cajuns picked up two first-place votes.

South Alabama head coach Mark Calvi, the 2021 Ron Maestri Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year and Alabama Coaches Association Division I Coach of the Year, returns 22 letterwinners, including five position starters and all five starting pitchers, from last year's team that advanced to the NCAA Gainesville Regional final and finished with a 36-22 record.

USA ranked third nationally in sacrifice bunts (57) in 2021, 13th in WHIP (1.23), 15th in fielding percentage (.980), ERA (3.63) and shutouts (6), and 17th in hits allowed per nine innings (7.62).

Right-hander Miles Smith was named a Preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball this season after earning Southeast all-region honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association last year and earning the Sun Belt Conference Championship's Most Outstanding Player. Right-hander Jeremy Lee also returns from his freshman season in which he was named a Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball, as well as second-team all-SBC, and right-hander JoJo Booker, also a second-team all-SBC selection last season, returns for his senior year after going 8-0 in 2021.

In the bullpen, right-handers Jackson Boyd, Zach Harlan, Collin Brougham and Carson Hall return in addition to 2021 redshirts Michael Cauble and Austin Mills. 

Positionally, starters from last season who return are Santi Montiel (shortstop), Hunter Stokes (second base), Reid Powers (catcher), Cameron Tissue (third base) and Hunter Donaldson (outfield).

South Alabama lost three letterwinners from 2021, left-hander Tyler Samaniego and outfielders Michael Sandle and Ethan Wilson, to the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft in addition to infielder Brennon McNair, who signed a National Letter of Intent with the Jaguars for the 2021-22 academic year out of Magee High School in Magee, Miss. Right-hander Jase Dalton also signed a professional contract with the Chicago Dogs.

The Jaguars will open the 2022 season Fri., Feb. 18, when they host Radford at 6:30 p.m. at Stanky Field.

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

Join the Dugout Club - the baseball-specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. Members enjoy all games from inside the Stadium Club with climate control, private restrooms, private concessions and access to listen to the radio broadcast. All donations to the Dugout Club go directly to support the South Alabama baseball program. For more information on how you can join visit JaguarAthleticFund.com. 
2022 SUN BELT CONFERENCE BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. South Alabama (7) – 139
2. Georgia Southern – 118
T3. Coastal Carolina (3) – 117
T3. Louisiana (2) – 117
5. UTA – 78
6. Troy – 74
7. Texas State – 71
8. Little Rock – 63
9. ULM – 59
10. App State – 38
11. Georgia State – 34
12. Arkansas State - 28