Feb. 8, 2013

SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll

Ervin, Pegler lead All-Southern Conference Team

Samford junior outfielder Phillip Ervin was named Preseason Player of the Year in the Southern Conference and College of Charleston senior right-hander Matt Pegler was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year, as voted by the league’s head coaches and released by the conference office.

Ervin batted .327 in 2012 with 18 doubles, 10 home runs and 52 RBI. He was successful in 16 of 21 steal attempts. Ervin was First Team All-SoCon a season ago and is a Preseason All-American this year.

Pegler was 10-2 with a 2.83 ERA in 2012 with 66 strikeouts and 13 walks in 89 innings. Opponents hit .221 against Pegler, the best mark in the league.

Western Carolina led the way with five players on the Preseason All-SoCon Teams, while Elon and Samford had four each.

The 2013 campaign begins on Friday, Feb. 15, with all 11 teams in action. Conference play kicks off the weekend of March 1-3 with Furman at Elon and Appalachian State at Davidson. The Southern Conference Championship will be held at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. The eight-team double elimination tournament will be held May 22-26.

2013 Preseason All-Southern Conference Team

Preseason Player of the Year: Phillip Ervin, Jr., OF, Samford
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Matt Pegler, Sr., RHP, College of Charleston

First Team
SP Matt Pegler, College of Charleston
SP Dylan Clark, Elon
RP Preston Hatcher, Western Carolina
C Alex Swim, Elon
1B Ryan Kinsella, Elon
2B Hector Crespo, Appalachian State
SS Will Callaway, Appalachian State
3B Trevor Edwards, UNC Greensboro
OF Tyler Zupcic, Appalachian State
OF Brandon Murray, College of Charleston
OF Phillip Ervin, Samford
DH C.K. Irby, Samford

Second Team
SP C.K. Irby, Samford
SP Brandon Yarusi, Wofford
RP Nate Young, Elon
C Chase Griffin, Georgia Southern
1B Tyler White, Western Carolina
2B Zeth Stone, Samford
SS Aaron Attaway, Western Carolina
3B Bradley Goodson, College of Charleston
OF Will Muzika, Furman
OF Scooter Williams, Georgia Southern
OF Julian Ridings, Western Carolina
DH Jacob Hoyle, Western Carolina