ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Tusculum Pioneers have been picked to finish ninth in the South Atlantic Conference with the release of the 2023 SAC Preseason Baseball Coaches' Poll.

Tusculum outfielders Zane Keener and Wes Reynolds were also selected to the Preseason All-SAC Baseball Team as selected by the league's media relations directors.

The Pioneers received 62 total points in a vote of the league's 13 head coaches. Tusculum went 17-30 last season and finished 12^th in the conference standings.

Wingate is the favorite to win the title as the Bulldogs received 144 total points and 12 first place votes. Lenoir-Rhyne is second with 125 points, while Newberry is listed third with 123 points and one first place nod. Catawba is fourth with 118 points followed by Carson-Newman (93), Lincoln Memorial (89), Anderson (68), Mars Hill (66), Tusculum (62), Coker (53), Limestone (37), UVA Wise (22) and SAC newcomer Emory & Henry (14).

Keener was named to Preseason All-SAC first team after leading the Pioneers in 2022 with his .338 batting average. The Knoxville, Tennessee junior was also tops on the squad in total hits (511), doubles (10), RBI (36), runs scored (32) and hit by pitch (15). His 15 times hit by a pitch were the second-most in the conference 22^nd in the country. They were also the fourth-most by a Pioneer in a single-season.

The 2022 All-SAC third team honoree led the team with his .589 slugging percentage and his .457 on-base percentage. He finished the year with eight home runs and accounted for two triples, 18 walks and three stolen bases. His 13 multiple-hit game led the team while his 10 multiple-RBI contests were tops on the club.

Reynolds, a senior from Cherryville, North Carolina was tabbed to the Preseason All-SAC third team. He batted. 301 with 34 hits including seven doubles, five home runs, 23 RBI and 25 runs scored. He went 6-of-6 in stolen bases and finished with 10 multiple-hit games.

During his 67-game career, Reynolds has amassed 48 hits, 41 runs, 34 RBI, seven home runs and 12 doubles while batting .286.

Tusculum opens the season next weekend with a three-game Florida road-swing with contests against Barry (Feb. 3), Palm Beach Atlantic (Feb. 4) and Lynn (Feb. 5).

SAC Baseball Coaches' Poll

Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Baseball Team
First Team
OF – Wade Cuda, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – Andrew Motsinger, Wingate
OF – Zane Keener, Tusculum
1B – Henry Gibson, Newberry
2B – Seaver King, Wingate
SS – Braylin Marine, Newberry
3B – Zach Weaver, Mars Hill
C – Carlos Hernandez, Anderson
DH – Brett Adams, Wingate
SP – Austin Mitchell, Wingate
SP – Joshua Lanham, Lenoir-Rhyne
SP – Andrew Patrick, Lenoir-Rhyne
RP – Sam Brodersen, Wingate

Second Team
OF – David Bell, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – Jacob Lebron, Newberry
OF – Ricky Clark, Wingate
1B – Mitch Farris, Wingate
2B – Cole Laskowski, Lenoir-Rhyne
SS – Michael Dansky, Wingate
3B – Isaiah Williams-Rhem, Wingate
C – Harrison Travis, Carson-Newman
DH – Carson Boles, Lincoln Memorial
SP – Josh Dotson, Wingate
SP – Ethan Lebron, Newberry
SP – Patrick Queener, Lincoln Memorial
RP – Robbie Cowie, Catawba

Third Team
OF – DJ Dickson, UVA Wise
OF – Justin Fox, Anderson
OF – Wes Reynolds, Tusculum
1B – Ryan Kurth, Lincoln Memorial
2B – Jomar Lugo, Newberry
SS – Cameron Bowen, Lincoln Memorial
3B – Jonathan Velez, Newberry
C – Bryce Stober, Lenoir-Rhyne
SP – Tyler Chinpire, Newberry
SP – Joseph Cottone, Anderson
SP - Joe LaFiora, Newberry
RP – Corey Avant, Wingate