West Florida Tabbed Baseball Preseason Favorite
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — For the second-straight season, the Gulf South Conference baseball coaches tabbed West Florida as the favorite in the annual preseason poll, however it was a scattered decision, as each of the top five teams recieved at least one first-place vote.
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The Argonauts garnered five-of-12 possible first-place tallies as they amassed 136 total points, after finishing 37-11 overall, 28-8 in conference and capturing the league's tournament crown. In 2021, UWF was one of the top offensive teams, finishing with a league-best in batting average (.317), runs (362), and hits (536). The Argos also posted a conference-best .976 fielding percentage, while the pitching staff was first in earned run average (4.03), wins (37), innings pitched (418.0) and runs allowed (209).
Coming in at No. 2 on the preseason list was Delta State, as it received three first-place votes and 126 points. The Statesmen finished 28-20 last season with a 21-14 record against conference opposition which included an appearance in the best-of-three championship series. Statistically, DSU paced the GSC last season offensively in slugging (.481), doubles (92), walks (192), home runs (72) and RBI (330), while the pitching staff was second-overall in ERA (4.10) and shared in shutouts (4).
Lee was picked third, as it collected 114 points and three first-place votes. The reigning regular-season champs, were 26-6 in GSC action, while putting together a 36-11 mark overall. The Flames' pitching corp topped the league in 2021 in strikeouts (460), shutouts (6), saves (16), and opponent batting average (.234). The defense meanwhile was third-overall in fielding (.967), while the offense was second in home runs (72) and slugging (.464).
Rounding out the top five and separated by one-point was Alabama Huntsville (4th/110) and Valdosta State (5th/109), as each squad also garnered a first-place vote. UAH was 23-20 overall and 16-14 in conference last season, with the Chargers finishing the year hitting .294 with 443 hits and league-best 13 triples. The Blazers were 22-13 in the GSC and 25-16 overall in 2021, as their pitching staff was third among conference leaders in strikeouts (373), the defense second in fielding (.968), and the offense led the GSC in on-base percentage (.396) was second-overall in hitting (.305).
In addition to the poll, the conference also announced the preseason All-GSC team and top newcomer watchlist. Highlighting the preseason squad was two-time All-GSC performer Jake Barlow from Delta State, who proved to be one of the league's top hitters last season as he finished second in RBI (61) and home runs (19), third in slugging (.699), and seventh-overall in runs scored (46). Also named, was Shorter ace and 2021 GSC Pitcher of the Year, Jonathan Pintaro. The right-hander is one of the top arms to return this season as paced the GSC last season in strikeouts (150), strikeouts looking (47), and wins (10), while his opponent batting average (.181) and ERA (3.11) placed him second and fifth, respectively, among conference leaders.
The 2022 baseball season officially begins Tuesday, Feb. 1, with the GSC tournament slated for May 6-10 at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala.
| 2022 Preseason All-GSC Team |
| Position |
Name |
Year |
School |
| C |
Colin Brewer* |
R-Jr. |
Alabama Huntsville |
| 1B |
Cullan O'Shea^ |
R-Sr. |
West Florida |
| 1B |
Hayden White^ |
Sr. |
Delta State |
| 2B |
Jake Barlow* |
R-Sr. |
Delta State |
| 2B |
Brody Wortham^ |
Jr. |
West Georgia |
| 3B |
Jake Nemith^ |
Sr. |
West Alabama |
| OF |
Garrett Bodine* |
R-Jr. |
Alabama Huntsville |
| OF |
Kirkland Trahan* |
Jr. |
Delta State |
| OF |
Brayden Lyman^ |
Sr. |
West Alabama |
| OF |
Jacob Pajer^ |
So. |
Shorter |
| DH |
Caleb Reese* |
So. |
Mississippi College |
| SP |
Jonathan Pintaro* |
Sr. |
Shorter |
* First Team All-GSC selection in 2021
^ Second Team All-GSC selection in 2021