Delta State Favored to Repeat in 2020 GSC Baseball Preseason Poll
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE | TOP NEWCOMERS
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Gulf South Conference baseball coaches have tabbed Delta State as the conference favorite in the 2020 preseason poll.
The Statesmen won the 2019 GSC Baseball Championship after winning four consecutive elimination games in the last three days of the competition. They are led by Jake Barlow and Hunter Riggins, who both were 2019 First Team All-GSC selections. Barlow hit .322 and led the team with 11 home runs last season. Riggins went 11-4 on the mound last year and will be the Statesmen’s ace again this season.
West Florida is picked to finish second in the GSC this season. The Argos won the conference's regular season title last year and will need to replace four 2019 All-GSC selections, including Andrew Vaccacio, the GSC Pitcher of the Year. However, outfielder Matthew Estrada and relief pitcher Daniel Floyd will return for the Argonauts. Estrada led the team in batting average last season, and Floyd led the team in saves.
Mississippi College is picked to finish third in the conference. The Choctaws will be missing a key player in 2019 MLB draftee Blaine Crim, the 2019 GSC Player of the Year. However, Zack Ingram (second on the team in wins), Chauncey Callier (eight home runs), and Brandon Broussard (.308 avg) will all return in 2020.
Valdosta State is picked to finish fourth. The Blazers will bring back three all-conference selections in pitcher Tristan Cone, second baseman Jowenrick Daantjii, and outfielder Logan Stephens.
Alabama Huntsville rounds out the top five. The Chargers are led by outfielder Tyler McCown, a Second Team All-GSC selection in 2019. He was second on the team in hits and third in batting average last season.
The complete preseason All-GSC Team, as well as a list of top newcomers for each squad, can be found at the top of the page, while the complete preseason poll can be found below.
2020 BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL
| School |
Total Points |
| 1. Delta State (4) |
130 |
| 2. West Florida (5) |
127 |
| 3. Mississippi College (3) |
123 |
| 4. Valdosta State (1) |
111 |
| 5. Alabama Huntsville |
98 |
| 6. Montevallo |
87 |
| 7. West Georgia |
77 |
| 8. Auburn Montgomery |
63 |
| 9. Lee |
58 |
| 10. West Alabama |
55 |
| 11. Shorter |
44 |
| 12. Union |
27 |
| 13. Christian Brothers |
14 |
NOTES: The head coaches voted in this poll. Teams received 12 points for a first place vote, 11 for a second place vote, etc. The head coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams. Number of first place votes in parenthesis.