Big South Conference Release | 2010 Radford Schedule
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – On the heels of its first winning season since 2000 and second-most conference victories in a season (16), Radford was picked fourth in the 2010 Big South Conference Baseball Preseason Poll.
The Highlanders finished in fourth place in last year’s regular season standings with a 16-8 record, Radford’s third-best Big South season winning percentage in school history (.640), and in fourth place at the 2009 Big South Tournament. Last season’s 26-24 overall mark was the fifth winning campaign in school history.
Radford returns five starting position players and all four of its starting pitchers, including Big South Freshman of the Year
Jeff Kemp (.337, 5 HR, 36 RBI, 13 SB) and second team all-conference pitcher
Aerik Taylor (5-4, 4.90 ERA).
For the third consecutive year, Coastal Carolina was voted the Big South Conference’s preseason favorite by the league’s head coaches. Coastal received eight first-place votes and 97 out of a possible 100 points to top the 2010 poll. The Chanticleers finished ahead of Liberty in the preseason poll, as the Flames collected one first-place vote and 88 points. Winthrop – last year’s Tournament runner-up – was picked third with one first-place vote and 81 points, while Radford finished fourth in the voting with 68 points.
The 2010 Big South baseball season begins Friday, February 19 with all 10 teams in action. The first conference meeting is set for the weekend of March 19-21, while the 2010 Royal Purple Big South Baseball Championship tournament is slated for May 25-29 and will be hosted by Winthrop University at The Winthrop Ballpark in Rock Hill, S.C.
Radford opens the 2010 season with a three-game series at the College of Charleston on Feb. 19-21.
2010 Big South Conference Preseason Baseball Poll (total points)
Rk Team (first-place votes) Points
1. Coastal Carolina (8) 97
2. Liberty (1) 88
3. Winthrop (1) 81
4. Radford 68
5. High Point 59
6. VMI 48
7. Charleston Southern 40
8. Gardner-Webb 36
9. Presbyterian College 18
10. UNC Asheville 15
Preseason Player of the Year: Rico Noel – Coastal Carolina, OF
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Cody Wheeler - Coastal Carolina, LHP
(From Big South Conference Reports)