-University of Memphis
IRVING, Texas – Conference USA announced its 2012 preseason awards on Thursday, as chosen by the league’s nine head coaches. Jacob Wilson was named to the preseason All-Conference USA squad, while the Tigers were picked to finish seventh in the league’s preseason poll.
Wilson enters his senior season with a wealth of experience at third base. Spanning 140 starts at third base, plus another 24 starts at shortstop, Wilson anchors the Tiger defense that posted a single-season school record .977 fielding percentage in 2011. Last season, Wilson committed a league-low three errors among C-USA everyday third basemen.
At the plate, Wilson was second on the club with 51 RBI in 2011. The Bartlett, Tenn., native led the squad with 11 stolen bases and was second on the team with six home runs. Wilson, who hit .286 in 2011, carries a 12-game hitting streak into the season opener on Feb. 17.
Picked to finish seventh in the league standings, the Tigers return 18 letterwinners from the 2011 squad that posted a 30-27 record. Among the 18 returning letterwinners are five position starters. That group consists of T.J. Rich (.299 ba, 10 2B, 6 HR, 52 RBI), Wilson (.286 ba, 14 2B, 6 HR, 51 RBI), Ethan Gross (.281 ba, 3 2B, 0 HR, 10 RBI), Adam McClain (.276 ba, 5 2B, 3 HR, 22 RBI) and Eli Hynes (.246 ba, 6 2B, 7 HR, 30 RBI). The potent offense will be boosted by the return of Derrick Thomas (2010: .259 ba., 9 2B, 1 HR, 14 RBI) who missed all of last season due to injuries. The Tigers will have 13 newcomers hit the diamond to round out the 2012 roster.
Rice sophomore pitcher Austin Kubitza was chosen as the preseason Pitcher of the Year and the Owls received eight first place votes to top the league’s predicted order of finish. UCF senior designated hitter D.J. Hicks is the league’s preseason Player of the Year and the Knights are picked second in the league. Rice and UCF are followed by East Carolina, Southern Miss, Houston, Memphis, UAB and Marshall to complete the preseason poll.
The Tigers open the season on Feb. 17 at FedExPark with first pitch scheduled for 5:00 p.m. against SIU-Edwardsville. That contest marks the first of a seven-game homestand to open the season. The C-USA Tournament is slated for May 23-27 at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss.
2012 PRESEASON BASEBALL AWARDS
(as selected by C-USA’s head coaches)
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Rice (8)
2. UCF (1)
3. East Carolina
4. Southern Miss
5. Houston
6. Tulane
7. Memphis
8. UAB
9. Marshall
(first place votes in parentheses)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
D.J. Hicks, UCF (Junior, Designated Hitter/Pitcher)
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Austin Kubitza, Rice (Sophomore, Right-hander)
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
P Kevin Brandt Sr. East Carolina
P Austin Kubitza So. Rice
P Dillon Napoleon Sr. UAB
RP Tyler Duffey Jr. Rice
C Jeremy Schaffer Sr. Tulane
C Zach Wright Sr. East Carolina
IF Chase Jensen Jr. Houston
IF Darnell Sweeney Jr. UCF
IF Corey Thompson Sr. East Carolina
IF Jacob Wilson Sr. Memphis
OF Kameron Brunty Sr. Southern Miss
OF Jeremy Rathjen Jr. Rice
OF Michael Ratterree Jr. Rice
OF Ronnie Richardson Jr. UCF
DH/UT D.J. Hicks Jr. UCF
