The Piedmont College Baseball program was selected to finish third in the conference with the release of the USA South Preseason Coaches Poll earlier today. The Lions earned one first place vote as the Monarchs of Methodist University took the top spot overall.
Methodist, behind 37-year coaching veteran Tom Austin, earned seven of the available 11 first-place votes with 94 points overall and is coming off a record-setting 24 league victories last season, the most in a single season in the USA South. The Monarchs earned the USA South regular season championship as no conference tournament was played, posting their 18th regular season title.
Taking three first-place votes and the second spot overall is Huntingdon College with 83 points just ahead of Piedmont with 79 points. The Hawks finished 22-8 in the conference last season and 24-15 overall.
Piedmont comes in third after finishing 18-12 last season in league play, finishing in the top five as they have each season since joining the conference. Just behind Piedmont is Maryville in fourth place with just one point less than Piedmont at 78. Of note, these two finished with identical 18-12 league records a season ago.
Rounding out the top five is Ferrum with 64 points in another tight race as Averett came in sixth earning 63 points. LaGrange was selected seventh with 48 points while Covenant earned 35 points in 8th place. The final three spots belong to N.C. Wesleyan (28 points), Greensboro (20 points) and William Peace (13 points).
Piedmont will begin the season inside the friendly confines of Loudermilk on Feburary 6 as Guilford comes to town for a two game set. The Lions will begin league play just a few weeks later as Maryville will be heading to Demorest for a series beginning February 26.
The final destination will be Fleming Stadium in Wilson, N.C., as the USA South conference tournament will take place April 14-17 in conjunction with the USA South Spring Sports Festival in Rocky Mount, N.C.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/1/363969/piedmont-baseball-earns-third-in-usa-south-preseason-coaches-poll