Southland Releases 2018 Preseason Poll, 'Jacks Tabbed for Eighth-Place Finish
2/8/2018 1:32:00 PM | Baseball
SFA picked up 144 total votes, Sam Houston State picked to win 2018 SLC regular season title
Complete Southland Conference Release
FRISCO, Texas - Thursday afternoon, the Southland Conference unveiled its 2018 Baseball Preseason poll and when the votes of the league's coaches and sports information personnel were tallied up they envisioned an eighth-place finish in the 13-team league for Stephen F. Austin.
Sam Houston State, the defending Southland Conference Tournament champion, earned 18 of the 26 available first place votes to wind up as the league's pick to hoist the 2018 Southland Conference regular season championship trophy. Southeastern Louisiana came in second with seven first-place votes and 261 total points while defending Southland Conference champion McNeese collected 246 points and the final first-place tally to round out the top three picks in the poll.
Also ahead of the 'Jacks were Central Arkansas (fourth, 202 votes), Houston Baptist (fifth, 185 votes), Lamar (sixth, 172 votes) and New Orleans (seventh, 168 votes).
The 'Jacks finished ahead of five teams in the preseason poll including Nicholls (ninth, 122 points), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (10th, 92 points), Northwestern State (11th, 74 points), Abilene Christian (T12th, 40) and Incarnate Word (T12th, 40).
One season ago, the 'Jacks played their way to a 29-28 record which included a 17-13 showing in Southland Conference games. That league record was good enough to lift the 'Jacks to a sixth-place finish where they locked up a berth for the Southland Conference Tournament for the second-straight season.
Under the direction of 10th-year head coach Johnny Cardenas, SFA aims to build off the success of last season which included a series victory over Piney Woods rival Sam Houston State (an eventual NCAA Super Regional squad) and a thrilling road win at fourth-ranked TCU.
The 'Jacks, however, will have a different look about them after waving goodbye to six regular position players from 2017. Only senior designated hitter Josh Evans - a Preseason All-Southland Conference First Team choice and reigning Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year - junior catcher Jarrod Huber, senior infielder Eric DeJesus and sophomore infielder Josh Campbell return as regulars from the previous season.
On the mound, SFA will also try to work out its starting pitching situation following the departure of Patrick Ledet. Senior Trevor Kiminski is the 'Jacks' lone starter returning to the fold and last season the Brooklyn Park, Minn., product posted a 3-4 record in 14 games started.
Back in the 'Jacks' bullpen is left-handed flamethrower Tyler Starks who enters his junior season in 2018. Starks fanned 50 batters en route to a 3-2 mark last season and the Mesquite, Texas, product wrapped up his season with a 2.39 ERA and four of the 'Jacks' five saves. In all the 'Jacks return seven relief arms from 2017 to their bullpen for 2018.
Many of the team's 22 newcomers will unquestionably play large roles for the 'Jacks once they open their 2018 campaign in a little over one week in Edinburg, Texas.
SFA takes on Central Michigan in the opening game of the Al Ogletree Classic at UTRGV Baseball Stadium. First pitch between the Chippewas and Lumberjacks is slated for 3:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16.
2018 Southland Conference Preseason Baseball Poll
Place. School (first-place votes) | Total Points
1. Sam Houston State (18) | 282
2. Southeastern Louisiana (7) | 261
3. McNeese (1) | 246
4. Central Arkansas | 202
5. Houston Baptist | 185
6. Lamar | 172
7. New Orleans | 168
8. Stephen F. Austin | 144
9. Nicholls | 122
10. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi | 92
11. Northwestern State | 74
T12. Abilene Christian | 40
T12. Incarnate Word | 40
-SFA-
