NEW ORLEANS – The Texas State baseball team was picked to win the Sun Belt Conference West Division as picked by the league's head coaches and announced by the conference office on Monday.
 
The Bobcats totaled 65 points and received six first-place votes. Right behind them was UT Arlington with 58 points and four first-place selections. Louisiana picked up two first-place votes and finished with 52 points to round out the top three.
 
Coming in fourth in the West Division was Little Rock (33 pts), followed by ULM (27) and Arkansas State (13) respectively.
 
Finishing first and in the East and totaling the most points was Coastal Carolina with 69 points and 10 first-place selections. Both Georgia Southern and South Alabama tied for second with 51 points and a first-place vote apiece.
 
Troy (44) was picked to come in fourth. Rounding out the East Division was Appalachian State (21) and Georgia State (16).
 
In the shortened 2020 season, Texas State finished with a Sun Belt-best 14-4 record and ended the campaign on a seven-game winning streak. The Bobcats return
 
Despite being the top choice to win the West, Texas State was one of two teams to not have a preseason all-conference selection.
 
Coaches Preseason Poll
East Division (First-Place Votes)
1. Coastal Carolina (10) – 69
T-2. South Alabama (1) – 51
T-2. Georgia Southern (1) – 51
4. Troy – 44
5. Appalachian State – 21
6. Georgia State – 16
 
West Division (First-Place Votes)
1. Texas State (6) – 65
2. UT Arlington (4) – 58
3. Louisiana (2) – 52
4. Little Rock – 33
5. ULM – 27
6. Arkansas State – 13
 
Preseason All-Conference Team
SP - Aaron Funk, Little Rock
SP - Jordan Jackson, Georgia Southern
SP - Conor Angel, Louisiana
RP - Wyatt Divis, UT Arlington
RP - Lance Johnson, Troy
C - Caleb Bartolero, Troy
1B - William Sullivan, Troy
2B - Luke Drumheller, Appalachian State
SS - Drew Frederic, Troy
3B - Cooper Weiss, Coastal Carolina
OF - Ethan Wilson, South Alabama
OF - Parker Chavers, Coastal Carolina
OF - Rigsby Mosley, Troy
UTL - Andrew Beesley, ULM
DH - Elian Merejo, Georgia State
 
Preseason Player of the Year
Ethan Wilson, South Alabama, OF
 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Aaron Funk, Little Rock, SP
 
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