FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gary Holden, Sports Information Director
(540) 365-4306
 
February 7, 2003
 

Ferrum Picked to Win 2003 Dixie Baseball Title
Panthers Receive Four First-Place Votes
 
Ferrum, Va. -- The Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has announced the results of its 2003 baseball pre-season coaches poll.  Head baseball coaches at each school vote upon the poll.  Ferrum College, last season's Dixie regular season co-champion, has been picked to finish first this year.
 
The Panthers finished 31-8 overall last year in winning a share of its fifth league title.  Head Coach Abe Naff's squad shared last year's title with Methodist College.  Methodist and Christopher Newport University are tied for second in this year's pre-season poll.
 
2003 Dixie Baseball Pre-Season Coaches Poll (1st-place votes)
1. Ferrum College (4) 45 pts
2. Christopher Newport University (3) 41
    Methodist College (1) 41
4. Chowan College 27
5. Averett University 26
6. No. Carolina Wesleyan College 20                        Download 2003 Ferrum Pre-season Baseball Information
7. Greensboro College 13                                                  (PDF file, requires Adobe Acrobat to download)
8. Shenandoah University 11
 
Ferrum returns 16 lettermen from last year's team, including nine starters.  Senior first baseman Wes Martin (Woolwine, Va./Patrick County) leads a host of talented upperclassmen players.  Martin made the All-Conference and All-State teams last year as a first team selection on both, and also earned All-Region second team honors.  He led the Panthers with a .441 batting average and had 33 RBI.  Martin had 15 doubles, five triples, six home runs and 17 stolen bases in 19 attempts.  
 
Other seniors include second baseman Mickey Russell (Forest, Va./Jefferson Forest), shortstop Travis Nowlin (Patrick Springs, Va./Patrick County), and third baseman Neil Zimmerman (Vinton, Va./William Byrd).  All three have started throughout much of their careers.  Russell, pictured above, batted .360 with 11 doubles, three triples, two homers, and 26 RBI last year.  Zimmerman batter .336 with 11 doubles, two triples, two homers, and 43 RBI.
 
The Panthers look to be solid on the mound again this year, returning second team All-Conference pitcher Thomas Meeks (Rocky Mount, Va./Franklin County) and 2002 Dixie Rookie Pitcher of the Year Mike Tonzola (Powhatan, Va./Powhatan).  Meeks went 6-0 last year with a 3.20 ERA, striking out 64 batters in 70.1 innings and walking 22.  Meeks' bat spoke volumes last year as well.  He hit .307 at the plate with 10 doubles, two triples, eight homers, and a team-high 46 RBI.  Tonzola went 4-2 with one save last year and had a 1.69 ERA.  He struck out 38 batters while walking 18 in 32 innings of work, mainly in relief.

Ferrum Head Coach Abe Naff has a 505-177-1 career record in 18 years at the helm of the Panther baseball program.  Naff, pictured at left, has been named Coach of the Year twice by the Dixie Conference (1989, 1992) and three times by the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (1990, 1992, 1996).  Fourth-year Assistant Darren Hodges also returns to the coaching staff.
 
Ferrum opens its season Saturday, February 16, at home against non-conference opponent Guilford College at 1 p.m.  Naff and company will travel to Fort Myers, Florida, for the Gene Cusic Classic March 1-8.  The Panthers open Dixie Conference play at home Saturday and Sunday, March 15-16, against Shenandoah University.  For more information, please contact the Ferrum sports information office at (540) 365-4306.
 
 
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