30 Jan 2013 Bears picked fifth in both preseason polls
Three University of Central Arkansas outfielders were named to the 2013 Southland Conference Preseason Baseball teams on Wednesday, while the Bears were picked fifth in both preseason baseball polls.
Senior Forrestt Allday and junior Jonathan Davis were named to the first team, while senior Ethan Harris received second-team honors.
Allday, from Friendswood, Texas, led the Southland in on-base percentage last season (.486) and walks (57) in earning second-team All-SLC honors. He was also third in runs scored and tied for fourth in triples while hitting .324.
Davis was UCA’s leading hitter at .333, was sixth in the league in on-base percentage (.432), eighth in stolen bases (17) and 11th in walks (26). Davis was a second-team All-SLC selection last spring.
Harris hit .286 and finished third in the conference in RBIs with 46. He was eighth in runs scored with 40 and hit four home runs and stole seven bases.
UCA was chosen fifth by both the coaches and sports information directors in the preseason polls. Last year’s regular-season champion Sam Houston State was picked to win the league by both groups, followed by Southeastern Louisiana and newcomer Oral Roberts, Stephen F. Austin and UCA.
Behind the Bears were Lamar, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, McNeese State, Northwestern State and Nicholls State.
UCA, which made the SLC Tournament for the first time last year, opens the 2013 season at home with a series against Murray State on Friday, Feb. 15, through Sunday, Feb. 17.
