Tigers Picked Second in GSC Baseball Preseason Poll

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – With a pair of returning all-conference players, including 2017 Freshman of the Year Luke Phillips, West Alabama has been picked second by league head coaches in the 2018 Gulf South Conference preseason baseball poll.

Defending league and South Region champion Delta State has been named the preseason conference favorite.

West Alabama finished the 2017 season with a 38-21 overall record, 21-11 in conference play. The Tigers finished second in the GSC regular season, in the GSC Tournament and in the 2017 South Region Tournament.

North Alabama, West Florida, and Valdosta State round out the 2018 preseason top five. UAH is sixth in the preseason poll, followed by Mississippi College and Union. Montevallo is picked ninth, followed by Lee, West Georgia, AUM, Shorter, and Christian Brothers.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Cole Waites joins Phillips as members of the 2018 preseason All-GSC team, which is composed of returning 2017 all-conference selections.

In addition to 2017 GSC Freshman of the Year honors, Phillips earned GSC freshman of the week honors on three occasions during the 2017 season. He was named to the All-GSC Tournament Team and hit .371 over 59 games with 12 doubles, four triples, three home runs and 53 runs batted in.

Waites, also a sophomore, earned GSC freshman of the week honors on two occasions in 2017, making 15 appearances and 12 starts. He posted a 5-1 record with a 3.22 earned run average. Waites struck out 67 and walked 33 in 58.2 innings pitched.

Catcher Jake Hartman and first baseman/pitcher Ben Dalke are listed among 2018 top conference newcomers.

Hartman comes to UWA from Mississippi Delta Community College, where he batted .330 with nine homers, three triples and 41 RBI as a sophomore. Dalke hit .385 with 14 doubles, six home runs and 34 RBI as a sophomore. He also made nine relief pitching appearances, posting a 2-1 record with a 2.00 earned run average.

West Alabama opens the 2018 season Feb. 2 with the first of a three-game series against Columbus (Ga.) State at Tartt Field on the UWA campus in Livingston. The entire 2018 Tiger schedule can be accessed HERE.

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Players Mentioned

#8 Luke Phillips: DH; 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman; R/R

#35 Cole Waites: RHP; 6' 4"; Freshman; R/R

#20 Jake Hartman: C; 6' 0"; Junior; R/R

#30 Ben Dalke: 3B; 6' 4"; Junior; RR

Players Mentioned

#8 Luke Phillips
: 6' 0"; Redshirt Freshman; R/R
: DH

#35 Cole Waites
: 6' 4"; Freshman; R/R
: RHP

#20 Jake Hartman
: 6' 0"; Junior; R/R
: C

#30 Ben Dalke
: 6' 4"; Junior; RR
: 3B