Feb. 8, 2013

OVC Preseason Coaches' Poll

Hankins, Stephens, Brookshire lead All-OVC Team

Belmont senior left-hander Chase Brookshire was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year, while Austin Peay junior second baseman Jordan Hankins and Tennessee Tech junior first baseman were selected Preseason Co-Players of the Year in the Ohio Valley Conference, in voting by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors as released by the conference office.

Brookshire went 8-4 in 16 starts a season ago, fanning 81 and walking 26 in 110 innings. He posted an ERA of 2.45 and held opponents to a .217 batting average.

Hankins hit .336 in 2012 with 16 doubles, 10 home runs and 66 RBI. He was named First Team All-OVC as a sophomore. Hankins played for Team USA this past summer.

Stephens batted .368 a season ago with 13 doubles and 52 RBI. He belted 18 home runs and ranked fourth nationally with 0.34 per game. The All-American was sixth in the country in slugging percentage at .696.

Austin Peay and Morehead State both had three players on the Preseason All-OVC Team. The Govs had Hankins, shortstop Reed Harper and outfielder Cody Hudson. The Eagles’ trio included outfielder Taylor Pickens, utility player Nick Duff and reliever Matt Duncan.

The 2013 campaign begins on Friday, Feb. 15, with all 11 teams in action. Conference play kicks off the weekend of March 8-10. For the fourth consecutive year, the OVC Championship will be held at Pringles Park in Jackson, Tenn. The six-team double elimination tournament will be held May 22-26.

2013 Preseason All-OVC Team

Preseason Co-Players of the Year: Jordan Hankins, Austin Peay; Zach Stephens, Tennessee Tech

Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Chase Brookshire, Belmont

Pos. Name, Class, School Key 2012 Stats

C Jacob Reese, Jr., Eastern Illinois .271, 58 H, 28 R, 12 2B, 35 RBI

1B Zach Stephens#, Jr., Tennessee Tech .368, 75 H, 44 R, 13 2B, 18 HR, 52 RBI

2B Jordan Hankins*, Jr., Austin Peay .336, 84 H, 52 R, 10 HR, 66 RBI

SS Reed Harper, Sr., Austin Peay .327, 87 H, 49 R, 17 2B, 36 RBI

3B Bryan Soloman, Jr., Eastern Kentucky .271, 55 H, 30 R, 15 2B, 14 HR, 46 RBI

OF Derek Gibson*, Jr., Southeast Missouri.338, 66 H, 32 R, 12 2B, 38 RBI

OF Cody Hudson#, Sr., Austin Peay .300, 64 H, 39 R, 12 2B, 36 RBI, 21 SB

OF Taylor Pickens, Sr., Morehead State .330, 68 H, 43 R, 10 2B, 25 RBI

DH Brandon Eggenschwiler#, Jr., Murray State .370, 44 H, 17 R, 32 RBI

UT Nick Duff#, Jr., Morehead State .315, 56 H, 37 R, 6 HR, 34 RBI

SP Travis Felax#, Jr., SIUE 3.67 ERA, 6-5, 2 CG, 95.2 IP, 69 K

SP Shane Grimm#, Sr., Eastern Kentucky 3.14 ERA, 6-4, 2 CG, 77.1 IP, 38 K

SP Chase Brookshire, Sr., Belmont 2.45 ERA, 8-4, 1 CG, 110.0 IP, 81 K

RP Matt Duncan#, Sr., Morehead State 2.45 ERA, 2-1, 13 SV, 33.0 IP, 30 K

*2012 First Team All-OVC

#2012 Second Team All-OVC