The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Brint Hardy Voted Preseason All-Conference USA
1/28/2009 12:00:00β―AM | Baseball
Jan. 28, 2009
IRVING, TEXAS -- UAB senior outfielder Brint Hardy has been selected to the Preseason All-Conference USA Baseball Team, as announced Wednesday by the league office.
The preseason team and the preseason poll, both the result of a coaches' vote, were released Wednesday. The coaches tabbed Rice as the favorite to win the league on the heels of its third straight College World Series appearance.
Hardy hit .338 for UAB as a junior in 2008 and led the Blazers on the base paths with 24 steals in 27 attempts. He also hit a career-high five home runs and finished with 28 RBI.
The Homewood, Ala., product carried his spring success into his summer league season with the Athletes in Action Fire of the Alaska Baseball League. He was named the Player of the Year for the league after hitting .421 and swiping 27 bases in 37 games.
"Over the last third of last season and through the summer, Brint really became a complete offensive player," UAB head coach Brian Shoop said. "He also runs and defends really well. His best attribute, though, is his character. Our team absolutely looks to him as a leader. He is even keel all the time, and and he will lead us well in both good times and bad."
In addition to taking home every first-place vote in the preseason poll, Rice led all teams with three preseason all-conference selections. Marshall senior outfielder Nate Lape was voted the Preseason Player of the Year, while East Carolina sophomore right-hander Seth Maness was tabbed the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
Hardy is one of six everyday starters who return for UAB in 2009. The Blazers open the season at home Feb. 20 with the first game of a three-game series against Radford at Young Memorial Field.
2009 PRESEASON BASEBALL COACHES POLL
(as selected by C-USA's head coaches)
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
School (1st Place Votes), Pts.
1. Rice (9), 81
2. East Carolina, 67
3. Southern Miss, 62
4. Tulane, 55
5. Houston, 49
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Nate Lape, Marshall (Senior, Outfielder)
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Seth Maness, East Carolina (Sophomore, Righthander)
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
P, Ryan Berry, Jr., Rice
P, Seth Maness, So., East Carolina
P, Wes Musick, Jr., Houston
RP, Chase Dempsay, So., Houston
C, Diego Seastrunk, Jr., Rice
IF, Brian Dozier, Jr., Southern Miss
IF, James Ewing, Sr., Southern Miss
IF, Rick Hague, So., Rice
IF, Seth Henry, Sr., Tulane
IF, Adam Yeager, Sr., Marshall
OF, Stephen Batts, Jr., East Carolina
OF, Brint Hardy, Jr., UAB
OF, Nate Lape, Sr., Marshall
DH/UT, Rob Segedin, So., Tulane
