[Fumblerooskies]

Flames Tabbed Third in Preseason Diamond Poll

January 31, 2008
Lynchburg

The Liberty Flames baseball team has been picked to finish third in the Big South Conference this season in the league’s annual preseason baseball poll. The poll is voted on by the conference’s head coaches and Sports Information Directors and released this morning by the conference office.

Liberty, which was edged for second in the poll by one point by VMI, comes off a 36-25 mark in 2007, and its second-straight appearance in the conference’s title game. Under new field general Jim Toman, the Flames return a veteran-laden club for the upcoming 2008 campaign. Led by senior outfielder Garrett Young, a 2008 Brooks Wallace Preseason Player of the Year Watch List member, Liberty returns six of its nine starters from a season ago. The Flames collected 96 votes from the panel of voters.

2008 Big South Conference Preseason Baseball Poll (combined votes)

Rk. Team (first-place votes) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Points
1 Coastal Carolina (16) 128 128
2 VMI -- 35 48 10 -- -- -- -- 97
3 Liberty -- 42 30 20 4 -- -- -- 96
4 Winthrop -- 35 12 30 8 3 -- -- 88
5 High Point -- -- -- 15 28 18 -- -- 61
6 UNC Asheville -- -- 6 5 20 21 4 -- 56
T-7 Charleston Southern -- -- -- -- -- 6 10 9 25
T-7 Radford -- -- -- -- -- -- 18 7 25

http://www.libertyflames.com/index.cfm? ... 66&TeamID=

[bigsmooth]

i know VMI had a solid year in 07, but we are better. the flames will be there in the end.

[ToTheLeft]

Well, more people picked us to finish 2nd, but VMI just got more total points.

[Fumblerooskies]

VMI will be lucky to be in the top 3...sources close to me tell me that the head coach has run off a number of very good players from the past two recruiting classes and the team is beginning to get tired of his act.

[Sly Fox]

Let's be honest. Right now it is the Chants and then everyone else heading into the season. I'm anxious to see what Coach Toman can do in his first year to chip away at CCU's current perch.

It'd be disappointing to see VMI slip. Their improvement has helped offset th WU slide the past couple of years as far as the league's overall stature.

[Fumblerooskies]

Expect to see some improvement from Radford, though. New coach, new commitment from the administration.

[uncafan]

VMI will be lucky to be in the top 3...sources close to me tell me that the head coach has run off a number of very good players from the past two recruiting classes and the team is beginning to get tired of his act.

They lost several big bats (Van Ess etc.) but not because they got run off...Van Ess was thrown out of school for violations rules and another kid was suspended. They have PLENTY of pitching and also got some good recruits. All they need is a few runs a game, their arms are great.