BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Texas Southern placed a total of three student-athletes on the 2017 Southwestern Athletic Conference Preseason Baseball Teams.
Infielder Richard Alamo, outfielder Kamren Dukes, and pitcher Seth Oliver were each selected after posting impressive seasons last year respectively.
Alabama State (Eastern) and Arkansas Pine Bluff (Western) were chosen by the SWAC's Head Baseball Coaches and Sports Information Directors to win the Eastern and Western divisions.
The Western division is predicted to be very close this season. Arkansas Pine Bluff earned 58 points and was chosen as the preseason favorite. Texas Southern and Grambling State were predicted to each finish in second with 53 points, Southern (37 points) and Prairie View A&M (24 points) followed in the projected order of finish.
A full list of the 2017 SWAC Baseball Preseason accolades can be found below:
Preseason Player of the Year
Dondrayas Harris, Outfielder, Southern
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Issac O'Bear, Pitcher, Grambling State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Wesley Drain, Infielder, Grambling State
Preseason All-SWAC Baseball – First Team
1B Chris Biocic (Alabama State)
2B Eriq White (Alabama State)
3B Ray Hernandez (Alabama State)
SS Cornelius Copeland (Jackson State)
OF Carlos Ocasio (Alabama State)
OF Dondrayas Harris (Southern)
OF Yamil Pagan (Alabama State)
OF CJ Newsome (Jackson State)
C Hunter Allen (Alabama State)
DH Diandre Amion (Alabama State)
SP Tyler Howe (Alabama State)
SP Issac O'Bear (Grambling State)
SP Miguel Yrigoyen (Jackson State)
RP Brandon Marsonek (Alabama A&M)
Preseason All-SWAC Baseball – Second Team
1B Jesus Santana (Jackson State)
2B Wallace Rios (Alcorn State)
2B Richard Alamo (Texas Southern)
3B Daniel Barnett (Grambling State)
SS Wesley Drain (Grambling State)
OF Kamren Dukes (Texas Southern)
OF Jaqueese Moore (Arkansas Pine Bluff)
OF Bryce Brown (Jackson State)
OF Cody Den Beste (Prairie View A&M)
C Johan Majica (Grambling State)
DH Julian Jones (Arkansas Pine Bluff)
DH Sam Campbell (Jackson State)
SP Seth Oliver (Texas Southern)
SP Brandon Caples (Alabama State)
RP Austin Bizzle (Alabama State)
RP Conrado Skepple (Alcorn State)
East Division Points (first-place) West Division Points (first-place)
Alabama State 74 (14) Arkansas Pine Bluff 58 (7)
Jackson State 58 (1) Texas Southern 53 (3)
Alcorn State 41 Grambling State 53 (3)
Alabama A&M 35 Southern 37 (1)
Mississippi Valley State 17 Prairie View A&M 24 (1)
Courtesy: TSU Athletics
Infielder Richard Alamo, outfielder Kamren Dukes, and pitcher Seth Oliver were each selected after posting impressive seasons last year respectively.
Alabama State (Eastern) and Arkansas Pine Bluff (Western) were chosen by the SWAC's Head Baseball Coaches and Sports Information Directors to win the Eastern and Western divisions.
The Western division is predicted to be very close this season. Arkansas Pine Bluff earned 58 points and was chosen as the preseason favorite. Texas Southern and Grambling State were predicted to each finish in second with 53 points, Southern (37 points) and Prairie View A&M (24 points) followed in the projected order of finish.
A full list of the 2017 SWAC Baseball Preseason accolades can be found below:
Preseason Player of the Year
Dondrayas Harris, Outfielder, Southern
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Issac O'Bear, Pitcher, Grambling State
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
Wesley Drain, Infielder, Grambling State
Preseason All-SWAC Baseball – First Team
1B Chris Biocic (Alabama State)
2B Eriq White (Alabama State)
3B Ray Hernandez (Alabama State)
SS Cornelius Copeland (Jackson State)
OF Carlos Ocasio (Alabama State)
OF Dondrayas Harris (Southern)
OF Yamil Pagan (Alabama State)
OF CJ Newsome (Jackson State)
C Hunter Allen (Alabama State)
DH Diandre Amion (Alabama State)
SP Tyler Howe (Alabama State)
SP Issac O'Bear (Grambling State)
SP Miguel Yrigoyen (Jackson State)
RP Brandon Marsonek (Alabama A&M)
Preseason All-SWAC Baseball – Second Team
1B Jesus Santana (Jackson State)
2B Wallace Rios (Alcorn State)
2B Richard Alamo (Texas Southern)
3B Daniel Barnett (Grambling State)
SS Wesley Drain (Grambling State)
OF Kamren Dukes (Texas Southern)
OF Jaqueese Moore (Arkansas Pine Bluff)
OF Bryce Brown (Jackson State)
OF Cody Den Beste (Prairie View A&M)
C Johan Majica (Grambling State)
DH Julian Jones (Arkansas Pine Bluff)
DH Sam Campbell (Jackson State)
SP Seth Oliver (Texas Southern)
SP Brandon Caples (Alabama State)
RP Austin Bizzle (Alabama State)
RP Conrado Skepple (Alcorn State)
East Division Points (first-place) West Division Points (first-place)
Alabama State 74 (14) Arkansas Pine Bluff 58 (7)
Jackson State 58 (1) Texas Southern 53 (3)
Alcorn State 41 Grambling State 53 (3)
Alabama A&M 35 Southern 37 (1)
Mississippi Valley State 17 Prairie View A&M 24 (1)
Courtesy: TSU Athletics