SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The 2009 Southern Conference regular season champion, Elon, and tournament champion, Georgia Southern, have been tabbed co-favorites for the 2010 campaign in balloting of the league’s 11 baseball coaches. The media members who cover SoCon baseball have selected Elon as the top team in 2010, narrowly edging out GSU.

The Phoenix received five of 11 possible first-place votes and 91 points from the league’s head coaches while garnering 13 of 27 first-place nods on the media ballots. Coach Mike Kennedy’s team returns three starters in the field and 12 of 15 pitchers from the 2009 team which went 23-4 in the SoCon and 41-18 overall en route to winning its second consecutive league regular season title.

Georgia Southern equaled Elon’s 91 points in the coaches’ balloting while also receiving four first-place votes. The Eagles, under the guidance of Rodney Hennon, finished second in the SoCon regular season race a year ago at 20-8 and 42-17 overall before claiming the 2009 SoCon Baseball Championship crown in Greenville, S.C. The Eagles enter 2010 with five returning starters in the field and 9 of 12 pitchers from last season.

In the coaches poll, The Citadel earned a pair of first place votes while ranking third with 80 points. Following the Bulldogs in fourth was cross-town rival College of Charleston with 76 points. Western Carolina (71 points) was predicted to place fifth in the standings, followed by Appalachian State (50), Samford (40) and Furman (33) in the sixth, seventh and eighth spots, respectively. Rounding out the rankings were UNC Greensboro (31), Davidson (24) and Wofford (18).

In the media balloting, College of Charleston (237 points) grabbed two first-place votes and the third slot, trailed by The Citadel (231) with one first place nod. Western Carolina (190), Appalachian State (173) and Furman (110) filled slots five through seven while Samford (92), UNC Greensboro (89), Davidson (65) and Wofford (52) finished the standings.

Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own teams in the voting process.

The 2010 Southern Conference baseball season begins on Friday, February 19 with all 11 league teams in action. The 2010 Southern Conference Baseball Championship will be held from May 26-30 at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park in Charleston, S.C.

2010 SoCon Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll

Place    School (First)                      Points

1t.        Elon (5)                                   91

1t.        Georgia Southern (4)                91

3.         The Citadel (2)                         80

4.         College of Charleston              76

5.         Western Carolina                     71

6.         Appalachian State                   50

7.         Samford                                 40

8.         Furman                                   33

9.         UNC Greensboro                     31

10.        Davidson                                24

11.        Wofford                                  18

2010 SoCon Baseball Preseason Media Poll

Place    School (First)                      Points

1.         Elon (12)                                253

2.         Georgia Southern (10)             250

3.         College of Charleston (2)         219

4.         The Citadel (1)                        213

5.         Western Carolina                     178

6.         Appalachian State                   159

7.         Furman                                   103

8.         UNC Greensboro                     84

9.         Samford                                 82

10.        Davidson                                60

11.        Wofford                                  49