Due West, SC---The Erskine College baseball team was selected to finish second out of nine teams in the Conference Carolinas pre season baseball poll released Tuesday afternoon. Last season the Fleet finished the regular season in fourth place and then went on to finish second in the conference tournament, while posting a 36-18 overall record and 12-8 in the conference.
Erskine returns nine players on offense that either started or saw significant playing time, while also returning seven pitchers from last season.
The Fleet returns the middle of their lineup that combined for 71 of the school record 105 home runs last year. The Fleet will be led at the plate by All American outfielder Bryan Fogle (Lexington, SC, Lexington High School) who hit .410 with 20 home runs and 73 RBI while also being named Conference Carolinas Player of the Year and being named first team All American. Joining Fogle will be senior second baseman Chas Anthony (Pickens, SC, Pickens High School), who was named All Region and All Conference after hitting .378 with 23 doubles, 15 home runs with 56 RBI, and senior outfielder Greg Huff (McDonough, GA, Henry County High School), who hit .391 with 25 doubles, 17 home runs, and 46 RBI while being named All Conference and All Region. Senior Mo Seay (Anderson, SC, Westside HS) (.307, 9 2B, 8 HR, 29 RBI) moves from behind the plate to third base for his senior season, while junior John Bolding (Pickens, SC, Pickens HS) (.340, 10 2B, 11 HR, 51 RBI) makes the move across the diamond from third base to first.
The Fleet pitching staff returns second team All Conference selections William Buzhardt (Columbia, SC, Ben Lippen High School) and Atlee Pearson (Duncan, SC, Byrnes HS). Buzhardt finished 2009 with five wins and two saves while posting a 3.33 ERA, while Pearson was 6-3 with seven saves in 24 appearances. Erskine will also return senior Russell Reid (Hudson, NC, South Caldwell HS) who was 6-1 with one save in 25 appearances and junior Carlton Watts (Laurens, SC) who was 2-2 in 17 appearances.
Erskine opens the season February 1st as they host Southern Wesleyan at 2:00 pm. The Fleet will get an early season test as the will play a home and home series with #8 Francis Marion the first weekend of the season. Erskine will host the Patriots on February 5th at 2:00 and then travel to Florence on the 6th for the conclusion of the series.