WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, ALUNA baseball picked as co-favorite in GSC

UNA baseball picked as co-favorite in GSC

Posted: Updated:
By Carl Prather - bio | email

With six returning All-Gulf South Conference selections from a team that went 37-14 a year ago, the University of North Alabama is the co-favorite to win the 2012 GSC baseball title in voting by the league's head coaches. The Lions are tied in the pre-season poll with defending NCAA Division II National Champion West Florida with 44 total points. 

"We appreciate that the other coaches think that we have a team that can compete for the conference championship but it's a long season and we lost a lot of impact players from last season," said UNA Head Baseball Coach Mike Keehn. "We have a long way to go but it's nice to be in the conversation."

UNA returns All-GSC performers in first-baseman Josh Cyr of Huntsville, Ala., second baseman Michael Schmidt of Powder Springs, Ga., shortstop Josh Carpenter of Harvest, Ala., third baseman J.P. LaMunyon of Leawood, Kan., designated hitter Jake Sloan of Amory, Miss., and pitcher Chad Boughner of Florence, Ala. 

West Florida received four first-place votes, while North Alabama secured three first-place nods. Delta State finished third with 40 total points behind the final first-place vote. Seven points separated the next three spots. Valdosta State finished fourth via 28 points, followed by West Alabama (26) and Alabama-Huntsville (21). West Georgia (14) and Christian Brothers (seven) rounded out the eight-team poll.

            West Florida also enters the season ranked No. 1 in the nation in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's Top 40 poll, while DSU and UNA collected the No. 32 and No. 38 positions, respectively. North Alabama has a No. 9 ranking in the College Baseball Lineup Top 30, while UWF came in at No. 19.

            Also, the University of New Orleans will be a regular sight on GSC baseball diamonds this spring. The Privateers, who are transitioning towards membership in the GSC, will play a complete conference schedule in 2012 but will not be eligible for the GSC Championship. Last season, playing a Division I schedule, UNO finished 4-50.