North Georgia baseball picked third in preseason

DAHLONEGA -- North Georgia College & State University was picked to finish 3rd in the preseason coaches poll released this week by the Peach Belt Conference office, while sophomore Craig Brisson was named to the first-ever Preseason All Conference team.

The Columbus State Cougars have been selected as the Peach Belt Conference baseball team to beat in 2008 according to a poll of the league's head coaches released on Thursday. CSU received six of a possible nine first-place votes in the poll and finished with 77 points, 13 ahead of second-place GCSU. North Georgia was selected third and USC Aiken fourth. Francis Marion, Armstrong Atlantic State, Augusta State, UNC Pembroke, Lander and Georgia Southwestern rounded out the voting.

Head coach Tom Cantrell returns for his ninth year with a talented group of players as well as some promising newcomers for the 2008 edition of North Georgia baseball. This season will mark the first for the Saints program to be eligible to compete in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, the South Atlantic Region and the Division II Baseball Championships.

Last year, North Georgia finished fourth in the Peach Belt Conference, finishing the season with an overall record of 34-22 and a conference mark of 17-13. The 2008 Saints return six position players from last year's team that outscored opponents 340-272 and hit .300 with 568 hits.

The Saints return their four hitters from last season, and also return two others who saw action in all 56 games a season ago. The pitching staff returns seven arms that saw significant action on the mound last season, including a starting staff that includes Curtis. The Saints have their long reliever back from a season ago, as well as their closer to help bolster the staff for the postseason run.

Last year, North Georgia posted a 3.95 ERA and struck out 266 batters while opponents recorded a .276 batting average. A group of talented new pitchers will join the staff this season with plans on continuing the Saints success on the mound. North Georgia entered the national ranks for the first time this preseason, grabbing the #21 ranking in the 2008 Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Poll. The Saints will start the 2008 campaign at home on February 1, against Newberry College.