Posted: Jan 20, 2016

Hawks ranked 2nd in USA South preseason baseball poll

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Huntingdon baseball team is ranked second in the USA South preseason poll released on Wednesday.

The Hawks received three first-place votes and a total of 83 points. Preseason favorite Methodist received seven first-place votes and 94 points. Piedmont was third with one first-place vote and 79 points.

Huntingdon is coming off a 24-15 season and was the USA South runner-up last season with a 22-8 conference record. Methodist (32-10) won the USA South title with a 24-6 conference record. The Monarchs' 24 conference wins set the USA South single-season record.

Methodist is ranked 23rd nationally in the D3baseball.com preseason poll. Huntingdon is not ranked but is receiving votes in the D3baseball.com poll.

Rounding out the USA South preseason poll are Maryville in fourth with 78 points, Ferrum in fifth with 64 points, Averett in sixth with 63 points, LaGrange in seventh with 48 points, Covenant in eighth with 35 points, North Carolina Wesleyan in ninth with 28 points, Greensboro in 10th with 20 points and William Peace in 11th with 13 points.

Huntingdon opens the season at home with the Firehouse Classic at Posey Field on Feb. 5-7.

The complete poll is listed below.

USA South Preseason Baseball Poll

1. Methodist (7 first-place votes), 94 points

2. Huntingdon (3), 83 points

3. Piedmont (1), 79 points

4. Maryville, 78 points

5. Ferrum, 64 points

6. Averett, 63 points

7. LaGrange, 48 points

8. Covenant, 35

9. N.C. Wesleyan, 28 points