SoCon Coaches, Media Tab Elon Baseball to Finish Fourth; Gomez Earns All-League Honors

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — In voting conducted by Southern Conference baseball coaches and media, the defending SoCon Tournament champion Elon Phoenix squad was selected to finish fourth in the 10-team league by both groups. The maroon and gold also landed one preseason first-team all-league player in second baseman Sebastian Gomez.

Gomez, a senior from Miramar, Fla., was a second-team All-SoCon selection following the 2013 regular season. He also collected SoCon All-Tournament honors a year ago. Gomez led the Phoenix with a .323 batting average during his junior campaign and ranked third on the squad with 16 doubles and 11 stolen bases. In 60 games (58 starts) he tallied 21 multi-hit outings. In a 24-12 victory over eighth-ranked North Carolina State, Gomez went 3-for-5, scored a run and drove in a career-best six runs.

The Phoenix, which has finished lower than tied for third in the Southern Conference in nine out of its 10 previous seasons in the league, earned a total of 59 points in the coaches poll. With seven first-place votes and a total of 78 points, Western Carolina was tabbed as the league favorite. The Catamounts were followed by The Citadel and Appalachian State.

In the media poll, Western Carolina again led the way, earning 13 first-place nods and 167 points. The Citadel, Georgia Southern and Elon followed. The media awarded one first-place vote to the Phoenix.

Elon will open up its 2014 season on Friday, Feb. 14 at 4 p.m. by hosting Cincinnati at Latham Park. Season tickets are still available and can be purchased for just $75 (33 home dates) at elonphoenix.com or by calling 336-278-6750.

2014 Preseason Southern Conference Coaches Poll
1. Western Carolina (13 first-place votes) – 78 points
2. The Citadel (3) – 75
3. Appalachian State – 60
4. ELON – 59
5. Georgia Southern – 48
6. Furman – 38
7. Samford – 35
8. UNCG – 30
9. Wofford – 15
10. Davidson – 12

2014 Preseason Southern Conference Media Poll
1. Western Carolina (13) – 167
2. The Citadel (2) – 149
3. Georgia Southern (2) – 131
4. ELON (1) – 130
5. Appalachian State – 119
6. Samford – 97
7. Furman – 77
8. UNCG – 60
9. Davidson – 31
10. Wofford – 29

2014 Preseason All-Southern Conference Teams
Preseason Player of the Year – Aaron Attaway, Sr., SS, Western Carolina
Preseason Pitcher of the Year – Jeremy Null, Jr., RHP, Western Carolina

First Team
SP – Jeremy Null, Western Carolina
SP – Jordan Smith, Western Carolina
RP – Skylar Hunter, The Citadel
C – Adam Martin, Western Carolina
1B – Jacob Hoyle, Western Carolina
2B – Sebastian Gomez, Elon
SS – Aaron Attaway, Western Carolina
3B – Chris Ohmstede, Furman
OF – Tyler Zupcic, Appalachian State
OF – Hughston Armstrong, The Citadel
OF – Eric Kalbfleisch, UNCG
DH – Bo Thompson, The Citadel

Second Team
SP – Jamie Nunn, Appalachian State
SP – Alex Abrams, Furman
RP – Eric Eck, Wofford
C – Chase Griffin, Georgia Southern
1B – Calvin Orth, The Citadel
2B – Mason Davis, The Citadel
SS – Johnathan Stokes, The Citadel
3B – Ben Morgan, Georgia Southern
OF – Jaylin Davis, Appalachian State
OF – Tyler Griffin, The Citadel
OF – Josh Hyman, Wofford
DH – Greg Harrison, Furman