Jan.
31, 2013
Inside: With Mercer's Nick Backlund
CBI Atlantic Sun preview
Atlantic Sun Preseason Coaches' Poll
Bumgardner, Knapp lead
Preseason All-Atlantic Sun Team
USC
Upstate junior outfielder Gaither Bumgardner was named Preseason
Player of the Year and junior Ricky Knapp (left) of FGCU was
picked Preseason Pitcher of the Year as the Atlantic Sun
Conference announced its Preseason All-A-Sun Team, in voting by
the league’s head coaches as released by the conference office.
Knapp recorded nine victories a season ago, the
top mark in the league. His ERA of 2.34 was second-best in the
A-Sun. Knapp logged 111.1 innings and led the conference with
three complete-game shutouts.
Bumgardner
(right) batted .376 in 2012 for the Spartans, the second-highest
mark in the conference. He registered 12 doubles, 43 runs and
on-base percentage of .439.
Mercer and North Florida both had four players on
the preseason all-conference team, the top mark in the league.
In the fan voting, Brandon Bednar of FGCU was
Preseason Player of the Year and Tyler Moore of North Florida
was Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
The 2013 campaign begins on Friday, Feb. 15, with
all 10 teams in action. Conference play kicks off the weekend of
March 15-17, with Mercer at Kennesaw State and East Tennessee
State at USC Upstate. The Atlantic Sun Championship will be held
at Stetson’s Melching Field at Conrad Park in DeLand, Fla. The
six-team double elimination tournament will be held from May
22-25.
2013 Preseason All-Atlantic Sun
Team
Preseason Player of the Year: Gaither
Bumgardner, USC Upstate
Fan-Voted Preseason Player of the Year:
Brandon Bednar, FGCU
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Ricky Knapp,
FGCU
Fan-Voted Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Tyler
Moore, North Florida
Pos. Name School Class
*SP Ricky Knapp FGCU Jr.
SP Chris Anderson Jacksonville Jr.
SP Tyler Moore North Florida Jr.
RP Chad Sobotka USC Upstate So.
C Corey Bass North Florida Sr.
1B Clinton Freeman ETSU Jr.
2B Andy Almonte Kennesaw State Sr.
2B Joe Wielbruda North Florida Sr.
3B Chesny Young Mercer So.
SS Evan Boyd Mercer Sr.
*OF Tyler Marincov North Florida Jr.
OF Derrick Workman Mercer Jr.
OF Gaither Bumgardner USC Upstate Jr.
*DH Nick Backlund Mercer Jr.
*unanimous choice
A tie in voting resulted in a 14-person team
(photos courtesy of FGCU & USC
Upstate Media
Relations Offices) |