Feb. 7, 2012

click here for coaches' OVC preseason poll

Moses, Hornsby earn OVC top preseason honors

Senior third baseman Trenton Moses (left) of Southeast Missouri was named Preseason Player of the Year and senior Todd Hornsby of Jacksonville State was tabbed Preseason Pitcher of the Year in the Ohio Valley Conference in voting by the league’s head coaches and released by the conference office.

The reigning conference player of the year, Moses batted .395 a season ago with 70 hits, 44 runs, 14 doubles, 11 home runs and 53 RBI. Moses hit .405 during the regular season, the first Redhawk to accomplish that since 2003. Moses also earned All-America honors following his 2011 campaign.

Hornsby earned 15 saves a season ago for the Gamecocks, surpassing the previous OVC single-season record of 12. Hornsby registered five victories in his 30 appearances and posted a 2.16 ERA.

Jacksonville State and preseason favorite Austin Peay both placed four players on the preseason All-OVC team.

The 64th season of OVC kicks off on Friday, Feb. 17, with all 10 squads in action. Conference play commences the weekend of March 23-25. For the first time, teams will play three-game conference series over three days instead of a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday. The top six teams will advance to the OVC Tournament on May 23-27 at Pringles Park in Jackson, Tenn.

2012 Preseason All-OVC Team

Pos. Name, School, Class (2011 overall stats)

C Sam Eberle#, Jacksonville State, Sr. (.356, 88 hits, 50 runs, 8 HR, 54 RBI)

1B Ben Waldrip#, Jacksonville State, Sr. (.344, 66 hits, 33 runs, 10 HR, 46 RBI)

2B Jordan Hankins#, Austin Peay, So. (.351, 66 hits, 15 2B, 4 HR, 31 RBI, 7 SB)

SS Reed Harper*, Austin Peay, Jr. (.329, 73 hits, 38 runs, 17 2B, 43 RBI, 11 SB)

3B Trenton Moses*, Southeast Missouri, Sr. (.395, 70 hits, 44 runs, 11 HR, 53 RBI)

OF Jacob Daniel*, Eastern Kentucky, Sr. (.330, 66 hits, 31 runs, 9 HR, 44 RBI)

OF Kyle Bluestein#, Jacksonville State, Sr. (.346, 55 hits, 38 runs, 7 HR, 38 RBI)

OF Michael Blanchard#, Austin Peay, Sr. (.333, 63 hits, 47 runs, 13 2B, 27 RBI, 29 SB)

DH Phil Sorensen*, UT Martin, So. (.340, 50 hits, 15 2B, 4 HR, 33 RBI)

UT Andrew Deeds#, Morehead State, Sr. (.380, 70 hits, 44 runs, 17 2B, 49 RBI)

SP Zach Toney#, Austin Peay, Sr. (19 games, 6-3, 4.72 ERA, 2 saves, 72 K)

SP Aaron Elias#, Jacksonville State, Sr. (15 games, 7-3, 3.78 ERA, 71 K)

RP Todd Hornsby*, Jacksonville State, Sr. (30 games, 5-4, 2.16 ERA, 15 saves, 45 K)

* - 1st team All-OVC in 2011 # - 2nd team All-OVC in 2011

Preseason OVC Player of the Year: Trenton Moses, 3B, Southeast Missouri

Preseason OVC Pitcher of the Year: Todd Hornsby, RHP, Jacksonville State

(photo courtesy of Southeast Missouri Media Relations Office)