Jan. 27, 2010

Sophomore third baseman Anthony Rendon of Rice was named the Preseason Player of the Year in Conference USA in voting by the league’s head coaches and released by the conference office.

Junior right-hander Todd McInnis of Southern Miss was named the C-USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year as the league released its Preseason All-Conference Team.

Rendon was the first player in C-USA history to be named Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year in the same season. He led the conference with a batting average of .388, an on-base percentage of .702 and 20 home runs. Rendon scored 60 and knocked in 72.

McInnis was the first Southern Miss hurler to be named C-USA Pitcher of the Year. He was 9-4 with a 3.73 ERA. McInnis registered 90 strikeouts with 34 walks.

2010 C-USA Preseason All-Conference Team

P – Seth Maness, Jr., East Carolina

P – Todd McInnis, Jr., Southern Miss

P – Taylor Wall, So., Rice

RP – Collin Cargill, Jr., Southern Miss

C – Jeremy Schaffer, So., Tulane

IF – Victor Gomez, Jr., Marshall

IF – Rick Hague, Jr., Rice

IF – Blake Kelso, Jr., Houston

IF – Jonathan Merritt, Sr., UAB

IF – Anthony Rendon, So., Rice

OF – Devin Harris, Jr., East Carolina

OF – Chad Mozingo, Jr., Rice

OF – Trent Whitehead, Jr., East Carolina

DH/UT – Kyle Roller, Sr., East Carolina