ATLANTA—The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announces the 2012 SIAC Preseason Baseball All-Conference Team as voted by the SIAC Baseball Coaches Association. The 2012 preseason team is led by Albany State senior third baseman William Smalls and Benedict senior pitcher Eric Cordova.
In 2011, Smalls, a native of Decatur, GA, led the SIAC with nine home runs and 56 runs batted in while ranking second with a .718 slugging percentage. The 2011 SIAC Player of the Year also led the conference with 69 hits and tied for the league lead with 17 doubles while batting .406 from the plate. Smalls also finished with a .500 on-base percentage while helping lead the Golden Rams to a 10-5 record in the SIAC, 27-23 overall, and berth in the SIAC Championship game.
With a 9-2 record Cordova, a native of Los Angeles, CA, finished tied for the league lead in wins as a junior, including six complete games and three shutouts. The two-time All-SIAC first team selection was fourth in the conference with a 3.91 earned run average and struck out 71 batters.
Claflin University led the preseason team with five total selections, including three first-team selections, followed by 2011 SIAC Tournament Champion Stillman College with four total selections.
2012 SIAC Preseason Baseball All-Conference Team
First Team
Bryan Butcher Senior Catcher Morehouse College
Kelvin Tanner Sophomore First Baseman Clark Atlanta University
Anthony Jones Junior Second Baseman Miles College
William Smalls Senior Shortstop Albany State University
Chauncey Davis Senior Third Baseman Claflin University
Randolph Brown Senior Left Fielder Claflin University
Dion Bryant Senior Center Fielder Stillman College
Donald Smith Senior Right Fielder Claflin University
Jeremy Williams Junior Utility Tuskegee University
Eric Cordova Senior Starting Pitcher Benedict College
Jeffrey Jones Senior Relief Pitcher Miles College
Second Team
Rickey Harris Sophomore Catcher Albany State University
Brandon Lowe Sophomore First Baseman Morehouse College
Edward Randolph Sophomore Second Baseman Claflin University
Michael Thames Junior Shortstop Paine College
Christopher Moye Senior Third Baseman Benedict College
Jarius Brown Senior Left Fielder Stillman College
Brett Bullard Junior Center Fielder Claflin University
Raphael Amey Senior Right Fielder Kentucky State University
Vallmer Jordan Senior Utility Morehouse College
Josh Cagle Senior Starting Pitcher Stillman College
Tyler Vails Sophomore Relief Pitcher Stillman College