Preseason All-MEAC Predictions

NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State baseball team was picked to finish second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference this year in a preseason poll of conference head coaches and sports information directors, the league announced on Thursday.

In addition, Spartans’ senior right hander Jason Barker (Chesapeake, Va.) was named to the preseason All-MEAC team. He was the only NSU player named, but junior outfielder and two-time All-MEAC second-team selection John Lynch (Newport News, Va.) earned honorable mention.

Barker tied for the team-lead with six wins last season, posting a 6-3 record with a 4.78 ERA. He made 16 appearances, 13 starts, and had one complete game and one save. Barker tied for third in the MEAC in wins and innings pitched (84.2), and was seventh in ERA.

Lynch batted .332 out of the lead-off spot for the Spartans in 2009. He led the MEAC and ranked eighth nationally with seven triples. Lynch homered three times, drove in 27 runs and was 17-for-18 in stolen bases.

Four-time defending MEAC champion Bethune-Cookman was tabbed as the preseason favorite. The Wildcats received all 14 first-place votes and 196 total points. NSU was next with 112 points, followed by North Carolina A&T (110), Delaware State and Florida A&M (tied for fourth with 100), Maryland Eastern Shore (52) and Coppin State (30).

NSU opens the 2010 season by hosting Villanova Feb. 19-21 at Marty L. Miller Field.