Wingate Picked as South Atlantic Conference Baseball Preseason Favorite, Preseason All-Conference Teams Announced

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The Wingate Bulldogs have been picked as the 2023 South Atlantic Conference baseball preseason favorite, the league office announced today. The Bulldogs received 12 first place votes from the conference's head baseball coaches and 144 total points.

Lenoir-Rhyne was voted in at No. 2 with 125 total points, while Newberry earned the No. 3 spot with 123 points and one first-place vote.

Catawba placed fourth in the poll with 118 points, followed by Carson-Newman at No. 5 with 93 points and Lincoln Memorial at No. 6 with 89 points.

Anderson earned the No. 7 slot with 68 points, while Mars Hill earned 66 points in eighth and Tusculum placed ninth with 62 points. Coker came in at No. 10 with 53 points, followed by Limestone at No. 11 with 37 points.

Rounding out the poll is UVA Wise at No. 12 with 22 points and Emory & Henry at No. 13 with 14 points.

In addition to the preseason coaches' poll, the SAC announced its 2023 Preseason All-Conference teams. Lenoir-Rhyne's Andrew Patrick and Joshua Lanham, along with Wingate's Austin Mitchell were named first team starting pitchers. Wingate's Sam Brodersen was named the first team reliever and Wingate's Brett Adams was named to the first team as the designated hitter.

Anderson backstop Carlos Hernandez earned first team honors at catcher and Newberry's Henry Gibson was named first team first baseman. Seaver King of Wingate was named first team at second base, with Mars Hill's Zach Weaver earning first team honors at third base and Newberry's Braylin Marine was named the first team shortstop.

Rounding out the first team selections are Wingate's Andrew Motsinger, Lenoir-Rhyne's Wade Cuda, and Tusculum's Zane Keener in the outfield.

First pitch for the 2023 season will take place on Wednesday, February 1. For a full schedule of games visit www.thesac.com.

2023 SAC Baseball Preseason Poll

All-SAC First Team

OF – Wade Cuda, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – Andrew Motsinger, Wingate
OF – Zane Keener, Tusculum
1B – Henry Gibson, Newberry
2B – Seaver King, Wingate
SS – Braylin Marine, Newberry
3B – Zach Weaver, Mars Hill
C – Carlos Hernandez, Anderson
DH – Brett Adams, Wingate
SP – Austin Mitchell, Wingate
SP – Joshua Lanham, Lenoir-Rhyne
SP – Andrew Patrick, Lenoir-Rhyne
RP – Sam Brodersen, Wingate

All-SAC Second Team

OF – David Bell, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – Jacob Lebron, Newberry
OF – Ricky Clark, Wingate
1B – Mitch Farris, Wingate
2B – Cole Laskowski, Lenoir-Rhyne
SS – Michael Dansky, Wingate
3B – Isaiah Williams-Rhem, Wingate

C – Harrison Travis, Carson-Newman

DH – Carson Boles, Lincoln Memorial

SP – Josh Dotson, Wingate

SP – Ethan Lebron, Newberry

SP – Patrick Queener, Lincoln Memorial

RP – Robbie Cowie, Catawba

All-SAC Third Team

OF – DJ Dickson, UVA Wise

OF – Justin Fox, Anderson

OF – Wes Reynolds, Tusculum

1B – Ryan Kurth, Lincoln Memorial

2B – Jomar Lugo, Newberry

SS – Cameron Bowen, Lincoln Memorial

3B – Jonathan Velez, Newberry

C – Bryce Stober, Lenoir-Rhyne

SP – Tyler Chinpire, Newberry

SP – Joseph Cottone, Anderson

SP - Joe LaFiora, Newberry

RP – Corey Avant, Wingate

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