Guidry, LaRue selected to All-Sun Belt Preseason Team

NEW ORLEANS - After strong campaigns in 2011, Justin Guidry and Hank LaRue each earned a spot on the All-Sun Belt Preseason Team, as announced by the league office on Friday.

Guidry, a First Team All-Sun Belt performer in 2010, is coming into this year after starting all 55 games last season and leading the Blue Raiders in both batting average (.349) and hits (81). He ranked fourth and third, respectively, in the conference among returning outfielders.

LaRue became the first Blue Raider freshman to place on an All-Sun Belt team since Bryce Brentz after taking home Second Team accolades last year. The sophomore started all 55 games at third base, hitting .306 and posting a team-best 37 walks, ranking eighth in the conference and first among freshmen. Defensively, his .929 fielding percentage was the second-best for a Sun Belt third baseman.

As a team, Middle Tennessee was picked to finish eighth in the Sun Belt preseason poll. The last team the Blue Raiders were picked eighth was 2009, which saw MT post a 44-18 season en route to a Sun Belt Championship. The Blue Raiders also had two preseason honorees in 2009 in then-senior Nathan Hines and then-sophomore Brentz.

The Middle Tennessee baseball team will open the 2012 campaign next Friday against Kansas at Reese Smith Jr. Field. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.

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 Poll (first place votes)
1. FIU (4) - 93 pts
1. Troy (4) - 93 pts
3. Louisiana (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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