FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gary Holden, Sports Info. Director
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January 16, 2008


Ferrum Picked to Finish 5th
in '08 USA South Baseball

FERRUM, Va. -- The USA South Athletic Conference has released its 2008 preseason baseball coaches poll and Ferrum has been picked to finish 5th this season.  Christopher Newport University is the preseason favorite to win the league crown.

CNU garnered four of the seven first-place votes and totaled 31 points to outdistance North Carolina Wesleyan College, which had 28 points and one first-place votes.  Methodist University is third with 27 points and two first-place votes.  Averett University is fourth with 24 points and one first-place vote, followed by Ferrum with 19 points, Shenandoah University with 12 points and Greensboro College with six points.

2008 USA South Baseball Coaches Poll (1st-place votes)
1. Christopher Newport (3) 31 pts
2. N.C. Wesleyan (1) 28
3. Methodist (2) 27
4. Averett (1) 24
5. Ferrum 19
6. Shenandoah 12
7. Greensboro 6

Ferrum is led by first-year Head Coach Darren Hodges, who spent nine years as an assistant coach with the Panthers, the past four as Associate Head Coach.  Hodges succeeds Abe Naff, who stepped down from the position last May after 23 years as Ferrum's head coach.  Anthony Everman is in his second season as Assistant Coach.

Ferrum closed out the 2007 season with a 27-18 overall record.  The Panthers were USA South  regular season co-champions and won the USA South Tournament.  Ferrum hosted an NCAA regional tournament on campus last may, advancing to the championship game before being eliminated in 12 innings by eventual NCAA runner-up Emory University.  Ferrum opens the 2008 season Feb. 21 at Roanoke College.

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