How the SEC competition stacks up
With a new era of LSU baseball beginning in Alex Box Stadium, the Tigers will face some tough competition around the Southeastern Conference.
“They’re all tough games,” said LSU third baseman Wally Pontiff. “Anytime you play within the SEC, you’re always in a battle.”
LSU topped the list of four SEC teams to rank in the Top 25 of Baseball America’s preseason poll.
The 12 coaches in the SEC also picked LSU to win the conference in its preseason poll.
Here’s a look at what to expect from some of the other teams in the conference this season:
Alabama
Lead by preseason first-team All-American (National College Baseball Writer’s Association) catcher Jeremy Brown, the Crimson Tide look to pick up where they left off in 2001.
Alabama just missed the postseason last year, but finished the season by winning six of seven games.
The pitching staff will begin with right-hander Lance Cormier, who finished last season at 9-5 with an SEC-leading 2.30 ERA.
Expected conference finish: 16-14
Arkansas
With the ink still drying on commitments from high school players, Arkansas just brought in a great signing class for next season.
Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, this class will not be here for this season.
Arkansas finished last year with the worst record in the SEC Western Division at 27-29 (11-19 SEC).
Jeff Hoefler and Kyle Washburn, two of the Hogs’ best hitters from last season are no longer there.
The pitching staff, while remaining mostly intact from last year, is still young and inexperienced.
Expected conference finish: 9-21
Auburn
Much like Arkansas, Auburn lost some of its top hitters from last year, as well as pitcher Hayden Gliemmo, who was 7-1 with a 2.77 ERA.
Senior catcher Trent Pratt will be looked to for offense after a .308 hitting performance with seven home runs in 2001.
Levale Speigner returns as the ace of the Tiger pitching staff, finishing 2001 at 8-3 with a 3.49 ERA.
Expected conference finish: 13-17
Florida
The Gators wasted no time in starting the 2002 season with a record-breaking 25-1 victory over Charleston Southern.
Much like LSU, Florida opens this season with a new head coach, Pat McMahon.
McMahon is no stranger to SEC play after coaching Mississippi State for the last four years.
Although the Gators lost two of their best three hitters from last year, talented players remain to fill the holes.
Look for a big year from right-hander Alex Hart, who is now fully recovered from an elbow injury two seasons ago.
Expected conference finish: 17-13
Georgia
Last year’s SEC champions may have to settle for a little less in 2002.
With the departure of head coach Ron Polk, assistant coach David Perno has stepped into the spotlight.
Junior Brandon Moorhead (4-2, 4.96 ERA) is the only starting pitcher to return for the Bulldogs.
Georgia lost an outstanding hitter in Jeff Keppinger (.389 batting average), but sophomore David Coffey should improve on last season’s .358 hitting performance.
Expected conference finish: 16-14
Kentucky
The 2001 season (22-34, 7-23 SEC) was one the Wildcats would probably like to forget.
Kentucky should show signs of improvement this season with most of its players returning.
Gordon Tyler and Brad Pickrell, who led the Wildcats in hitting in 2001, both came back for the Wildcats.
Although they had poor seasons last year, pitchers Jospeph Blanton and Rob Corrado should find their composure in 2002.
Expected conference finish: 11-19
Ole Miss
LSU’s top competition in the SEC West this season may be Ole Miss, ranked No. 20 in the Baseball America preseason poll.
The Rebels return with a solid core of players, including top hitters Burney Hutchinson (.356, 14 home runs), Josh Christian (.351, 14 HRs) and Chad Sterbens (.339).
On the mound, senior ace Pete Montrenes returns from a 2001 season in which he finished 10-4 with a 3.45 ERA.
Glen Morris, who also sees time at designated hitter, will be the team’s closer after last season’s nine saves in 16 appearances with a 1.15 ERA.
Expected conference finish: 17-13
Mississippi State
Head coach Ron Polk returns home for 2002 after a four year hiatus with Georgia.
Polk coached State for 22 years from 1976-1997 and is the winningest coach in SEC history.
Last season, hitting was the downfall for the Bulldogs as they batted only .273 for the season.
Although they lost last year’s top hitter Jon Knott, State will return with the core of players intact, led by first baseman Matthew Brinson.
The Bulldogs will feature a lefty-duo of Joey Collums (3-3, 3.71 ERA) and Paul Maholm (8-4, 4.05 ERA) on the mound.
Expected conference finish: 18-12
South Carolina
The Gamecocks have been picked by the conference’s coaches to finish first in the SEC East, and they received the most first-place votes for the SEC with 10.
Like LSU, South Carolina is considered to be a contender for the national title this season.
Senior pitchers Gary Bell, Chris Spigner and Blake Taylor totaled 22 wins for the Gamecocks last year.
Garris Gonce returns to play outfield for South Carolina after a 2001 season in which he hit .338.
Expected conference finish: 19-11
Tennessee
The Vols had an outstanding season last year that saw them make the trip to the College World Series and finish tied for third-place in the country.
Tennessee has lost a lot of key players and will field a very young team this year.
SEC Player of the Year and All-American shortstop Chris Burke left the team along with the remaining three infielders.
Brandon Hopkins returns at center field following a .367 performance last season.
At pitcher, Tennessee lost Wyatt Allen in the first round of the Major League Draft, and they lost junior Brandon Crowe to Tommy John’s surgery.
Expected conference finish: 16-14
Vanderbilt
The Commodores finished the 2001 season just ahead of Kentucky with a 24-31 (9-21 SEC) record.
Vanderbilt returns with its top hitters Sean Luellwitz, Karl Nonemaker and John Prothro.
The top three starters also return after posting high ERA’s in 2001 – Jeff Little (5.94), Steven Faulkner (6.27) and Chris Maultsby (6.36).
Expected conference finish: 10-20
Ronnie Richard