January 16, 2008
Contact: Mike Christie, Assistant Commissioner

Christopher Newport Picked as USA South Preseason Baseball Favorite

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - Christopher Newport University, under the direction of eighth-year Head Coach John Harvell, was picked to win the USA South Athletic Conference 2008 men's baseball title in the preseason coaches' poll.  The Captains will look to improve on last season's Conference finish of tied for fourth place. CNU's last championship came in 2002 when it won the Conference Tournament title.

The Captains received three of seven first-place votes (31 points) as head coaches do not vote for their own teams in the balloting.

N.C. Wesleyan College finished second in the balloting with 28 points and one first-place vote while one of the teams it shared last spring's regular season title with, Methodist University, placed third in the poll with 27 points and two first-place votes. Averett University collected the final first-place and 24 total points to finish fourth in the poll. Ferrum College, the defending USA South Tournament Champions, placed fifth in the poll with 19 points. The Panthers are currently ranked 20th in Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's NCAA Division-III National Pre-Season Poll.

The 2008 campaign gets underway on Saturday, Feb. 2 when Greensboro College travels to face Hampden-Sydney for a doubleheader beginning at Noon. The USA South Tournament will be played April 17th - 20th in Burlington, N.C. at the Burlington Athletic Stadium.

2008 USA South Baseball Coaches Poll
Rank	Institution (1st place Votes)	Pts.
1.	Christopher Newport (3)	31
2.	N.C. Wesleyan (1)	28
3.	Methodist (2)	27
4.	Averett (1)	24
5.	Ferrum	19
6.	Shenandoah	12
7.	Greensboro	6