2012 GSC Preseason Baseball Poll

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—The Delta State baseball team was picked to finish third by the coaches in the conference for the upcoming season. West Florida and North Alabama were both tied atop the preseason rankings each with 44 points. West Florida, the defending national champion, received one more first place vote than North Alabama.

No. 32 Delta State is next in the poll with 40 points. The Statesmen received one first place vote, three second place votes, and three votes for third.

After the Statesmen is Valdosta State in fourth and West Alabama in fifth. Next is Alabama-Huntsville in sixth and West Georgia picked seventh. Christian Brothers rounds out the poll in eighth.

The Gulf South Conference also named their 2012 Pre-Season All-GSC team. Two Statesmen pitchers find themselves on the squad. Junior Aaron Newcomb and junior Josh Branstetter were picked to the team. Pitcher Cullen Babin, outfielder Ben Kingsley, and pitcher Colton Mitchell, all three juniors, were picked as top-newcomers to the conference for the Statesmen

Overall, North Alabama returned the most players with six, followed by Alabama-Huntsville, Delta State, and West Georgia which each added two. Valdosta State, West Alabama and West Florida rounded out the contingent with one player each.

The Statesmen get their 2012 season underway Feb. 10, as they take on Montevallo in Montevallo, Ala.