WKU baseball picked to finish sixth in preseason Sun Belt coaches’ poll

WKU sophomore infielder Scott Wilcox celebrates with teammates after scoring a home run during game two of Saturday’s doubleheader at Nick Denes Field. WKU beat Toledo 9-3 in February 2012.

Billy Rutledge
February 10, 2014

If WKU baseball wants to win the conference title in its last year in the Sun Belt, it’ll have to prove better than what coaches are projecting. The 2014 Sun Belt Conference preseason coaches’ poll has the Toppers finishing sixth in the league.

Louisiana-Lafayette overwhelmingly secured the top spot in the preseason poll with 98 points. WKU received 45 points in the vote.

Seniors Scott Wilcox and Regan Flaherty along with junior Ian Tompkins represent WKU on the 2014 preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team.

Wilcox serves as the only utility player on the preseason selection and Tompkins represents the lone relief pitcher selected. Flaherty represents one of three outfielders selected.

WKU and ULL are the only teams in the Sun Belt with multiple players selected to the preseason All-Sun Belt Conference team.

ULL’s junior designated hitter Caleb Adams was selected as the preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year. Ragin’ Cajun Austin Robichaux was chosen as Sun Belt Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

2014 SBC Coaches Predicted Order of Finish (first place votes)

1. UL Lafayette (8) – 98 pts

2. South Alabama (1) – 82 pts

3. Troy – 77 pts

4. Texas State – 57 pts

5. UT Arlington – 48 pts

6. WKU – 45 pts

7. Arkansas State – 41 pts

7. Georgia State – 41 pts

9. UALR – 33 pts

10. ULM (1) – 28 pts

2014 Preseason All-Sun Belt Baseball Team