Ready Named to Preseason All-SoCon Second Team
Southern Conference Announces Preseason Coaches Poll and Teams
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) baseball team’s right-handed pitcher Rob Ready has been named to the Preseason All-Southern Conference (SoCon) Second Team, while the Spartans were tabbed to finish sixth in the SoCon Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the conference announced Thursday.
Ready’s All-Conference selection comes after his appearance in 23 games in his first season as a Spartan with three starts on the mound in the 2023 season. The Bridgeton, N.J., native earned a season high of three strikeouts against ETSU on May 26, 2023, where he pitched in a total of 8.0 innings. Ready closed out the 2023 season with 19 total strikeouts. He earned his first win as a Spartan in an 18-13 win against Mercer on April 29, 2023, while his second win came against ETSU in the SoCon Tournament winning 4-2 on May 26, 2023.
The Spartans finished the 2023 season with a 25-34 overall record and 9-12 in SoCon play to earn the sixth spot in the SoCon Preseason Coaches’ Poll. UNCG concluded the season in the semifinal round of the SoCon Tournament, falling to No. 1 Samford, 9-5.
The Spartans will begin the 2024 season by hosting Fairfield for a weekend series starting on Friday, Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
2024 SoCon Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Samford (7) 49
2. Mercer 42
3. Wofford (1) 33
4. Western Carolina 25
5. ETSU 24
6. UNCG 23
7. VMI 19
8. The Citadel 9
2024 SoCon Preseason Player of the Year
Justin Starke, Sr., VMI
2024 SoCon Baseball Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Brooks Rice, Jr., Samford
2024 Preseason All-SoCon Baseball Team
First Team
SP Sam Swygert, Jr., The Citadel
SP Colton Cosper, Jr., Mercer
SP Brooks Rice, Jr., Samford
SP Michael Ross, Jr., Samford
RP Will Holmes, So., The Citadel
RP Gavin Mortenson, Sr., Western Carolina
C Cole Garrett, Sr., VMI
1B Cameron Sisneros, Sr., ETSU
2B John Anderson, Sr., Samford
SS Sawyer Reeves, Jr., The Citadel
3B Justin Starke, Sr., VMI
OF Ty Dalley, So., Mercer
OF Cole Jenkins, Sr., VMI
OF Trey Morgan, Sr., VMI
DH Jackson Cherry, Sr., Mercer
2024 Preseason All-SoCon Baseball Team
Second Team
SP Rob Ready, Jr., UNCG
SP Will Lynch, Jr., Samford
SP Zac Cowan, So., Wofford
RP Wes Franklin, Sr., Mercer
RP Jake Holifield, Sr., Samford
C Lucas Steele, So., Samford
1B James Hinson, Sr., Western Carolina
2B Ty Swaim, Sr., VMI
2B Brice Martinez, Sr., Wofford
SS Ashton King, Sr., ETSU
SS Jack Renwick, Sr., Wofford
3B Cody Miller, So., ETSU
OF Tommy Barth, Jr., ETSU
OF Josh Rodriguez, Sr., Samford
OF Cole Jones, R-Jr., Western Carolina
DH Nick Iannantone, Sr., ETSU
Courtesy of Emma White
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro