Feb. 10, 2011

click here for coaches' Atlantic Sun preseason poll

Hoilman, Erath highlight All-Atlantic Sun Team

Senior first baseman Paul Hoilman (right) was voted Preseason Player of the Year and senior Richie Erath of FGCU was selected as Preseason Pitcher of the Year as the Atlantic Sun revealed its preseason all-conference team, in voting by the league’s head coaches and released by the conference office.

Hoilman put up monster numbers in 2010, batting .421 with 25 home runs and 84 RBI. He not only earned All-America honors, but also was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American. Hoilman won the inaugural home run derby last summer at Rosenblatt Stadium. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays, but elected to return to ETSU.

Erath posted a 7-4 record a season ago with a 4.42 ERA and 79 strikeouts.

Belmont, FGCU and Jacksonville each placed three players on the all-conference squad. ETSU and Mercer both had two players recognized.

The 2011 season kicks off on Friday, Feb. 18, with all 11 A-Sun teams in action. Conference play begins on Friday, March 4. For the second consecutive season, the Atlantic Sun Championship will be played at Ken Dugan Field on the campus of Lipscomb in Nashville, Tenn.

Preseason All-Atlantic Sun Team

Pos Name, Team, Class, 2010 Stats

SP *Richie Erath, FGCU, Sr., 7-4, 4.42 ERA, 79 K

SP Matt McCall, Mercer, So., 7-2, 4.79 ERA, 44 K

SP Matt Tomshaw, Jacksonville, Sr., 8-2, 4.99 ERA, 44 K

RP Jon Ivie, Belmont, Sr., 3-1, 4.04 ERA, 10 SV

C Derek Trent, ETSU, Sr., .348 BA, 13 HR, 66 RBI

1B *Paul Hoilman, ETSU, Sr., .421 BA, 25 HR, 84 RBI

2B Mikel Alvarez, FGCU, Sr., .409 BA, 5 HR, 39 RBI

3B *Jacob Tanis, Mercer, Jr., .388 BA, 22 HR, 88 RBI

SS Stephen Wickens, FGCU, Sr., .359 BA, 92 H, 18 SB

OF Dylan Craig, Belmont, Jr., .382 BA, 3 HR, 36 RBI

OF Dan Gulbransen, Jacksonville, So., .391 BA, 8 HR, 46 RBI

OF Adam Brett Walker, Jacksonville, So., .313 BA, 16 HR, 58 RBI

DH *Nate Woods, Belmont, Sr., .319 BA, 20 HR, 78 RBI

Player of the Year: *Paul Hoilman, ETSU

Pitcher of the Year: Richie Erath, FGCU

* - unanimous selection

(photo courtesy of ETSU Athletic Media Relations)