Pirates Picked Seventh In PBC Preseason Baseball Poll

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Armstrong Atlantic State baseball squad has been picked to finish seventh in a preseason poll of Peach Belt Conference coaches, released today by league officials for the 2010 season.

USC Aiken received eight first-place votes and 114 points total as the preseason pick to capture the league crown. Francis Marion received two first-place votes and 111 points total, followed by North Georgia (96) and GCSU (89), who each received one first-place vote.

Columbus State (81) was picked fifth, followed by UNC Pembroke (73) and AASU (70). Lander was picked eighth with 40 votes, followed by Augusta State (35) and the two conference newcomers, Flagler (33) and Montevallo (28). Georgia Southwestern (22) was picked twelfth.

Click here to view the complete preseason poll, along with PBC schools' preseason notes.

The Pirates return seven starters and 18 letterwinners overall from last season's squad that finshed the season with a 38-18 overall record and a 15-12 mark in the Peach Belt, as well as a final No. 25 national ranking in the Collegiate Baseball Division II Top 30 Coaches' Poll.

The 12-team format in the PBC also comes with it a split into divisions for the first time in league history. AASU will compete in the PBC East with Flagler, Francis Marion, Lander, UNC Pembroke and USC Aiken. The top four teams in each division advance to a single-elimination conference tournament on May 8-9 in Aiken, S.C.

AASU begins the 2010 season on Friday, February 5, hosting Salem International at 2:00 p.m. at Pirate Field.