BUIES CREEK, N.C.-- Coming off its first winning season since 2001, the Campbell baseball team has been picked to finish tenth in the Atlantic Sun Preseason Coaches Poll; which was released by the conference office this morning.  The eleven head coaches of the A-Sun voted in the poll, which picked Florida Gulf Coast as the preseason and tournament champion.

Campbell returns 19 players off of the 2009 squad that finished the season 27-24.  The 2009 season also saw Campbell lead the NCAA in many individual and team offensive categories including Chris Bangi leading the nation in hit by pitch with 30.  Zach Johnson paced the nation in doubles hit in a season with 29; Johnson also posted 0.57 doubles per contest which was second best in the nation behind Ryan Hamme, now playing in the Chicago White Sox farm system.  Chris Bangi placed third in the nation in on base percentage with a .538 mark. 

In team categories Campbell placed in the top 15 in the NCAA in hit by pitch (2nd), scoring (3rd), doubles per game (3rd), batting average (7th), stolen bases per game (7th), sacrifice flies (11th), doubles (12th), and stolen bases (13th).

The offensive onslaught continued in the A-Sun ranks as the Fighting Camels had players in the top ten individually in the categories of batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage, runs scored, hits, runs batted in, doubles, total bases, walks, hit by pitch, sacrifice flies, stolen bases, and steal attempts.  

The Fighting Camels placed in the top three in the conference in batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage, runs scored, hits, runs batted in, doubles, hit by pitch, sacrifice flies, stolen bases and steal attempts.

The poll was led by FGCU, who posted ten first place votes, eight votes for winning the A-Sun Tournament, placed four on the Preseason All-Conference Team, as well as sweeping the Preseason Player and Pitcher of the Year honors with Zach Maxfield being awarded Player of the Year and Chris Sale being the unanimous selection for Pitcher of the Year.  The Eagles have been ranked as high as 25th in national preseason polls.

Jacksonville, the defending A-Sun champs, were picked to finish second followed by Stetson and Kennesaw State.  In the final season of legendary coach Dusty Rhodes’ career at the helm of the UNF baseball program the Ospreys were picked to finish fifth.  Mercer follows UNF in sixth and was the only other school to receive a first place vote.  Lipscomb tied Mercer in sixth followed by Belmont, ETSU, Campbell and USC Upstate.

The Diamond Camels will open the 2010 campaign and hosts UNC Asheville on February 19th in a 4:00 p.m. start at Taylor Field.  The series will continue with a doubleheader following on the 20th starting at 1:00 p.m.

2010 Atlantic Sun Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll

First Place Votes in Parenthesis 

1        Florida Gulf Coast (10)

2        Jacksonville

3        Stetson

4        Kennesaw State

5        North Florida

T-6     Mercer (1)

T-6     Lipscomb

8        Belmont

9        ETSU

10      Campbell

11      USC Upstate

Tournament Winner- Florida Gulf Coast- (8)

Preseason All-Conference Team

SP *Chris Sale – FGCU

SP *Matt Loosen - Jacksonville

SP Josh Smith - Lipscomb

RP Chris Kaminski – Jacksonville

C Robert Green – FGCU

1B Zach Maxfield – FGCU

2B Chuck Opachich– Jacksonville

3B Tim Roberson – FGCU

SS Tyler Stubblefield – Kennesaw State

DH Aaron Crittenden - Stetson

OF *Preston Hale – UNF

OF Dylan Craig – Belmont

OF Josh Whitaker – Kennesaw State

Player of the Year Zach Maxfield, FGCU

Pitcher of the Year *Chris Sale, FGCU