Well, I successfully fought off my cold just in time for a busy weekend of sports.

Troy baseball is still a week away but they will scrimmage again this weekend. Friday around 4p.m., Saturday around noon and Sunday around 2p.m. I did get the chance to watch them last Saturday and the surprise of the day was Cass Abercrombie. The junior relief pitcher struck out the side in his first inning and one more in his second. Head coach Bobby Pierce said he was pleasantly surprised. Overall, no one really stood out good or bad on the day I saw them play. Center fielder Josh McDorman had a nice gap double and freshman Jake Harrell hit a long two-run homer to left center off Garrett McHenry. Harrell along with fellow Rehobeth High School grad Hunter Skipper will likely receive redshirts. With just three catchers on the roster, Harrell behind Brandon Brown and Blake Martz and an injury away from being forced into action so there is still a good chance of him being active.

I got a chance to talk to Preseason All-Sun Belt shortstop Tyler Hannah about the team and his move back to the middle of the diamond. You can read that here. Hannah said he feels completely comfortable with the move and that the only thing he was trying to put extra emphasis on was his range on balls deep to his left and right.

My story on Troy’s infield comes out in Saturday’s paper. Here is the link to that story once it posts online.

The Preseason All-Sun Belt team came out today as well as the coaches poll for the conference. Here is a look at the selections:

2012 Preseason All-Sun Belt Baseball Team
Tyler Ray (Troy, Senior, SP)
Justin Hageman (WKU, Sophomore, SP)
Tanner Perkins (WKU, Junior, SP)
Hugh Adams (Florida Atlantic, Senior, RP)
Mason McVay (FIU, RS-Junior, RP)
Mike Albaladejo (Florida Atlantic, Senior, Catcher)
Mike Martinez (FIU, Senior, 1B)
Caleb Clowers (ULM, Senior, 2B)
Logan Kirkland (South Alabama, Sophomore, 2B)
Tyler Hannah (Troy, Senior, SS)
Hank LaRue (Middle Tennessee, Sophomore, 3B)
Alex Hudak (Florida Atlantic, Senior, OF)
Pablo Bermudez (FIU, Senior, OF)
Justin Guidry (Middle Tennessee, Senior, OF)
Rudy Flores (FIU, Junior, DH)

2012 Preseason Player of the Year
Pablo Bermudez (FIU, Senior, OF)

2012 Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Tyler Ray (Troy, Senior, SP)

2012 SBC Coaches Predicted Order of Finish (first place votes)
1. Troy (4) – 93 pts
1. FIU (4) – 93 pts
3. Louisiana-Lafayette (1) – 74 pts
4. Florida Atlantic  – 60 pts
4. Western Kentucky  – 60 pts
6. South Alabama  – 56 pts
7. Arkansas State  – 36 pts
8. Middle Tennessee  – 31 pts
9. ULM (1) – 26 pts
10. UALR – 21 pts

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The Troy softball team kicks off its season in Louisiana as part of the Southeastern Louisiana Lion Classic in Hammond.

You can keep up with the live stats here.

The thing to watch this season for the Trojans is how the youthful pitching staff performs. Troy lost its entire staff from last season. They did pick up a couple of good freshman in Jaycee Affeldt and Ashley Rainey. Affeldt comes to Troy with an impressive resume. She pitched for the Canadian Junior National Team and has been in some high pressure situations. You can read the story I wrote on the softball team here.