Feb. 8, 2011

click here for coaches' OVC preseason poll

Oberacker, Hoekstra highlight preseason all-OVC team

Senior outfielder Chad Oberacker of Tennessee Tech was named Preseason Player of the Year and junior Mike Hoekstra of Eastern Illinois was selected as Preseason Pitcher of the Year to headline the 2011 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason All-Conference Team, as voted by the head coaches and released by the league office.

Oberacker was a first team All-OVC selection in 2010. He batted .452 a season ago with 108 hits, 29 doubles, 67 runs, 70 RBI and 14 steals. Oberacker was taken in the 19th round of last year’s draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, but decided to return to school.

Hoekstra was 4-4 this past season with a 4.16 ERA. He had two complete games, including one shutout. Hoekstra tallied 39 strikeouts in 67 innings.

Southeast Missouri placed six on the preseason All-OVC team. UT Martin is the only other school with multiple honorees with three.

The 63rd season of OVC baseball begins on Friday, Feb. 18. Conference play starts the weekend of March 26-27. The 2011 OVC Tournament will be held for the second consecutive season at Pringles Park in Jackson, Tenn., from May 25-29.

2011 OVC Preseason All-Conference Team

Pos. Name, Class, School

C Taylor Davis, Morehead State, Jr.

1B Wes Patterson, UT Martin, Sr.

2B #Jon Clinard, Austin Peay, Jr.

SS #Kenton Parmley, Southeast Missouri, Jr.

3B #Trey Karlen, UT Martin, Sr.

OF *Chad Oberacker, Tennessee Tech, Sr.

OF #Louis Haseltine, Southeast Missouri, Sr.

OF #Michael Adamson, Southeast Missouri, Sr.

OF #Jordan Owen, UT Martin, Jr.

DH Jacob Daniel, Eastern Kentucky, Jr.

UT *Casey Jones, Southeast Missouri, Sr.

SP Mike Hoekstra, Eastern Illinois, Jr.

SP Jordan Underwood, Southeast Missouri, Sr.

RP *Shae Simmons, Southeast Missouri, So.

* - 2010 first team All-OVC

# - 2010 second team All-OVC

Preseason Player of the Year – Chad Oberacker, Tennessee Tech

Preseason Pitcher of the Year – Mike Hoekstra, Eastern Illinois