Marshall University Athletics
Baseball Projected Ninth in C-USA Preseason Rankings
1/31/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 31, 2012
IRVING, Texas - The Marshall baseball team was predicted for a ninth place standing in 2012 league play, as chosen by Conference USA's head coaches earlier this month.
According to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, the Thundering Herd was selected to finish behind four of the nation's preseason best, including #8 Rice, #28 UCF, #29 Southern Miss, and Tulane (receiving votes).
The Herd introduced one of its largest incoming classes in recent history as a combination of freshmen and transfers accounted for 19 of head coach Jeff Waggoner's roster spots for 2012. Additionally, the loss of six members of the Herd to the Major League Amateur draft left sizeable holes in the Herd line-up, starting rotation, and bullpen. Victor Gomez, Kenny Socorro, and Rhett Stafford were among those who left the Herd lineup. Notable contributions from Gomez included the breaking of seven career records while Socorro and Stafford entered several of Marshall's all-time and season leaders' lists.
This season, Marshall will rely on its newcomers plus key returners such as Isaac Ballou, Aaron Blair, Nathan Gomez, Mike Mason, Thor Meeks, Eric Semeniuk, and Gray Stafford. Ballou enjoyed success during 2011 by becoming one of the all-time triples leaders for Marshall with seven career triples. The upcoming junior also joined Greg Hill as the ninth-ranked base-stealer for the Herd.
Rice, which received eight of the nine first-place votes, boasted four preseason all-conference players and the preseason pitcher of the year in Austin Kubitza. The Owls have won either the regular season or tournament championship in each of its first six years as a member of C-USA.
Ranked second in C-USA's preseason standings was Central Florida, led by utility player D.J. Hicks who was predicted to finish the 2012 season as the conference player of the year.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
D.J. Hicks, UCF (Junior, Designated Hitter/Pitcher)
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Austin Kubitza, Rice (Sophomore, Right-hander)
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Rice (8)
2. UCF (1)
3. East Carolina
4. Southern Miss
5. Houston
6. Tulane
7. Memphis
8. UAB
9. Marshall
(first place votes in parentheses)
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