'Jacks Baseball Lands Two on Preseason Teams
1/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 24, 2007
FRISCO, Texas - The Southland Conference released the 2007 preseason baseball polls and all-conference teams Wednesday morning with the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks chosen to finish fifth in the West Division in both the coaches' and sports information directors' poll. SFA placed two players on the all-conference teams with Steven Hill being named the first-team catcher and David Jeans taking one of the three second-team outfield spots.
With the addition of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Central Arkansas, the conference will be split into East and West Divisions for the first time. The Lumberjacks, who are entering their sophomore season of play, finished in tenth place last season after posting a 15-41 overall record and a 7-23 conference showing.
In the coaches' poll, where Texas-Arlington and Texas State tied as the front-runners, the 'Jacks' collected 24 points, to finish five points above newcomer A&M-Corpus Christi. In the SID's poll, SFA received 21 points to tie for fifth with the Islanders.
Hill, a 6-0 senior from Houston, was chosen after leading the `Jacks in 2006 with a .348 batting average, 72 hits, 43 runs scored and 14 home runs. He was a third-team All-SLC pick last season.
Center, Texas, native Jeans wasn't far behind Hill last season with a .341 batting average. His 61 hits on the season is the second-best at SFA.
The Lumberjacks will open the 2007 season Friday, Feb. 2, against the Red Raiders of Texas Tech in Lubbock.
2007 SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE BASEBALL PRESEASON POLLSCOACHES POLL (1ST PLACE VOTES)
EAST WEST 1. McNeese State (8) 62 1. UT Arlington (5) 57 2. Lamar (3) 58 Texas State (4) 57 3. Northwestern State (1) 40 3. Texas-San Antonio (3) 51 4. Southeastern Louisiana 35 4. Sam Houston State 38 5. Nicholls State 22 5. Stephen F. Austin 24 6. Central Arkansas 18 6. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 19
SIDS POLL (1ST PLACE VOTES)
EAST WEST 1. McNeese State (11) 70 1. UT Arlington (6) 61 2. Lamar 58 2. Texas-San Antonio (5) 58 3. Northwestern State (1) 51 3. Texas State (1) 54 4. Southeastern Louisiana 35 4. Sam Houston State 37 5. Central Arkansas 20 5. Stephen F. Austin 21 6. Nicholls State 18 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 21
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