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Curran Redal

The Liberty Flames have been selected to finish second in the Big South Conference standings this season, as the league’s annual preseason baseball poll was released today. The poll is voted on by the conference’s head coaches.

Liberty, which received one first-place vote, picked up 88 points in the poll in being selected to finish in second place in 2010. The Flames completed the 2009 Big South race with their most victories since joining the conference in 1992, posting a 17-9 record and finishing in third place.

Overall, Liberty won over 30 games for the fifth consecutive season in 2009, recording a 33-21 mark. In the first two years under Head Coach Jim Toman, the Flames have won 68 games, the most in the first two years under any head coach in program history.
Liberty returns several key players from last season’s squad led by first team 2009 All-Big South outfielder Curran Redal and pitcher Shawn Teufel. In addition, the Flames return all four starters from last season’s infield, including third baseman Tyler Bream, who was named a Freshman All-American in 2009.

Three-time Big South defending champion Coastal Carolina was chosen to finish the year as the conference’s top team. The Chanticleers garnered eight first-place votes and 97 total points. In addition, Coastal Carolina right-hander Cody Wheeler was voted the conference’s Preseason Pitcher of the Year, while Chanticleer outfielder Rico Noel was selected as the Big South Preseason Player of the Year.

After Liberty, Winthrop was selected to finish third, garnering one first place vote and 81 points, while Radford was picked fourth in the voting with 68 points. High Point received 59 points in being selected fifth, followed by VMI in sixth with 48 points. Charleston Southern (40 points) was listed in seventh, followed by Gardner-Webb (38 points) in eighth, Presbyterian (18 points) in ninth and UNC Asheville (15 points.)

Liberty will begin the 2010 season on Feb. 19, when it visits Kennesaw State in the first game of a three-game weekend series. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. The Flames will open this season’s home schedule at Worthington Stadium on March 2. Liberty will host the VCU Rams for an afternoon matinee. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

2010 Big South Preseason Baseball Poll