Alcorn State’s Gonzalez, Southern’s Maloy voted top honors; Jaguars picked to repeat as champions
BIRMINGHAM – The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2010 baseball preseason honors Thursday, with Alcorn State 1B Eduardo Gonzalez named Preseason Player of the Year, and Southern’s Jarrett Maloy the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
Southern, the 2009 Champions, was picked to repeat as both SWAC and Western Division champions. Jackson State was picked to win the Eastern Division in voting done by conference coaches and sports information departments.
Gonzalez, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound sophomore from Tampa, FL, led the SWAC in batting average (.406) and hits (70) in 2009 while tying for sixth in total bases (96). Gonzalez’ batting average ranked third in the nation among freshmen last season as he earned All-SWAC second team, SWAC Freshman of the Year, and Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American honors.
Maloy, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound junior from Tallahassee, FL, was third in the conference in wins (eight) and second in earned run average (3.50) in 2009. He also was fifth in opposing batting average (.277), tied third in batters struck out looking (21) and tied for fourth in fewest earned runs allowed (28). Maloy earned first-team All-SWAC honors and SWAC Tournament MVP honors last season.
In the predicted order of finish, Southern collected 12 first place votes and 85 points. Texas Southern (one first place vote) was second in the West with 58 voting points, followed by Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (two first place votes) with 58 points, Prairie View A&M (one first place vote) with 40 points and Grambling State (one first place vote) with 37 points.
Jackson State was picked to win the Eastern Division as the Tigers garnered eight first place votes and 71 points, just ahead of defending division champion Mississippi Valley State, which was second (five first-place votes) with 68 points. Alcorn State, which lost in the SWAC Tournament Championship game, was picked third (three first place votes) with 63 points, Alabama A&M fourth with 38 points and Alabama State fifth (two first place votes) with 30 points.
Southern led the way with five players chosen for preseason honors – four on the first team. Jackson State had four players selected, while Grambling State and Mississippi Valley State each had three players on the preseason team. Alcorn State and the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff each had two players selected, while Alabama State, Alabama A&M, Prairie View A&M each had one selection.
2010 SWAC Baseball Preseason First Team All-Conference
Jarrett Maloy Southern P 6-1 180 Jr. Tallahassee, FL
Britt Goodman Mississippi Valley St. P 6-3 205 Sr. Mesa, AZ
Josh Brumfield Alcorn St. P 6-0 205 Jr. Lorman, MS
Cortez Cole Jackson State C 5-10 215 Sr. Miami, FL
Eduardo Gonzalez Alcorn St. IF 6-3 190 So. Tampa, FL
Frazier Hall Southern IF 6-3 225 Jr. Baton Rouge, LA
Gregory Whitfield Southern IF 5-11 190 Jr. Biloxi, MS
Curtis Ford Mississippi Valley St. IF 5-8 155 Jr. St. Louis, MO
James Armstrong Southern OF 5-10 185 Jr. Lafayette, LA
Mike Roby Grambling St. OF 6-4 216 Jr. Colorado Springs, CO
Chad Hall Jackson St. OF 5-9 190 Sr. Tupelo, MS
2010 Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Jarrett Maloy Southern P 6-1 180 Jr. Tallahassee, FL
2010 Preseason Player of the Year
Eduardo Gonzalez Alcorn St. IF 6-3 190 So. Tampa, FL
2010 SWAC Baseball Preseason Second Team All-Conference
Ben Blackburn Prairie View A&M P 6-3 185 Sr. Houston, TX
Kyle Wahl Southern P 6-3 180 Jr. Wesley Chapel, FL
Rannie Fore Alabama St. P 6-0 195 So. Atlanta, GA
Brandon Smith Grambling St. C 6-0 185 Jr. Bogalusa, LA
Frank Solis Jackson St. IF 6-0 170 So. Miami Lakes, FL
Lloyd Burchett Univ. Ark.-Pine Bluff IF 5-9 180 So. Frankfort, IL
Milt Barney Grambling St. IF 5-8 215 So. Gulfport, MS
Willie Wesley Jackson St. IF 5-10 188 Jr. Pontiac, MI
LaDale Hayes Alabama A&M OF 6-1 180 Sr. Stafford, VA
Chris Herron Mississippi Valley St. OF 5-9 175 Sr. Kosciusko, MS
Gvona Turner Univ. Ark. Pine Bluff OF 6-1 195 Jr. Crossett, AR
2010 Predicted Order of Finish
(first-place votes in parenthesis)
Eastern Division Western Division
Jackson State (8) 71 pts Southern (12) 85
Mississippi Valley State (5) 68 Texas Southern (1) 58
Alcorn State (3) 63 Univ. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (2)50
Alabama A&M (0) 38 Prairie View A&M (1)40
Alabama State (2) 30 Grambling State (1) 37
