Newberry Earns Top Spot in 2024 South Atlantic Conference Baseball Preseason Poll; Preseason All-Conference Teams Announced

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The Newberry Wolves have been picked as the 2024 South Atlantic Conference baseball preseason favorite, the league office announced today. The Wolves received nine first-place votes from the conference's head baseball coaches and 136 total points. 

The 2023 SAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions, Newberry finished the year with a 43-15 record advancing to the NCAA Southeast Regional.

Wingate was voted in at No. 2 with one first-place vote and 124 total points, while Lenoir-Rhyne earned the No. 3 spot with 123 points and three first-place votes.

Catawba placed fourth in the poll with 115 points, followed by Lincoln Memorial at No. 5 with 99 points and Carson-Newman at No. 6 with 93 points. 

Anderson earned the No. 7 slot with 81 points and one first-place vote, while Tusculum earned 66 points in eighth and Coker placed ninth with 46 points. Limestone came in at No. 10 with 44 points, followed by Mars Hill at No. 11 with 43 points.

Rounding out the poll were Emory & Henry and UVA Wise at a tie for No. 12 with 22 points each.

In addition to the preseason coaches' poll, the SAC announced its 2024 Preseason All-Conference teams. Newberry's Tyler Chinpire and Bennett Roemer, along with Catawba's Austin Fine were named first team starting pitchers. Carson-Newman's Jake Wright was named the first team reliever and Lenoir-Rhyne's Sal Carricato was named to the first team as the designated hitter.

Newberry backstop Rhett Jolly earned first team honors at catcher and Lenoir-Rhyne's Tyler McPeak was named first team first baseman. Cole Laskowski of Lenoir-Rhyne was named first team at second base, with Newberry's Jonathan Velez earning first team honors at third base and Tusculum's Ben Scartz was named the first team shortstop.

Rounding out the first team selections are Lenoir-Rhyne's Blake Bean, Catawba's Dylan Driver, and Newberry's Donovan Ford in the outfield.

First pitch for the 2024 season will take place on Thursday, February 1. For a full schedule of games visit www.thesac.com.

2024 Baseball Preseason Poll

All-SAC First Team

OF – Blake Bean, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF –Dylan Driver, Catawba
OF – Donovan Ford, Newberry
1B – Tyler McPeak, Lenoir-Rhyne
2B – Cole Laskowski, Lenoir-Rhyne
SS – Ben Scartz, Tusculum
3B – Jonathan Velez, Newberry
C – Rhett Jolly, Newberry
DH – Sal Carricato, Lenoir-Rhyne
SP – Tyler Chinpire, Newberry
SP – Bennett Roemer, Newberry
SP – Austin Fine, Catawba
RP – Jake Wright, Carson-Newman

All-SAC Second Team

OF – Sean Barnett, Wingate
OF – Jermie Greene Jr., Emory & Henry
OF – Luke Poole, Anderson
1B – Cole Harness, UVA Wise
2B – Jomar Lugo, Newberry
SS – Levi Perrell, Catawba
3B – Andrew McKay, Wingate
C – Carlos Hernandez, Anderson
DH – Kody Hanna, Coker
SP – Joshua Lanham, Lenoir-Rhyne
SP – Luke Absher, Tusculum
SP – Marty Neal, Limestone
RP – David Brian Ellison, Lincoln Memorial

All-SAC Third Team

OF – Kade Faircloth, Newberry
OF – Zane Keener, Tusculum
OF – Jacob Lebron, Newberry
1B – Brett Adams, Wingate
2B – Mitch Petzelt, Lincoln Memorial
SS – Peter Adams, Limestone
3B – Kasten Harvey, Lincoln Memorial
C – Bryce Stober, Lenoir-Rhyne
DH – Carson Boles, Lincoln Memorial
SP – Ethan Bobo, Lincoln Memorial
SP – Josh Dotson, Wingate
SP - Mason Gwyn, Catawba
RP – Jake Contino, Limestone

-#MakeSACYours-