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    'Jacks Baseball Lands Two on Preseason Teams
    League coaches and SIDs pick SFA to finish fifth
    Senior Steven Hill
    Senior Steven Hill

    Jan. 24, 2007

    FRISCO, Texas - The Southland Conference released the 2007 preseason baseball polls and all-conference teams Wednesday morning with the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks chosen to finish fifth in the West Division in both the coaches' and sports information directors' poll. SFA placed two players on the all-conference teams with Steven Hill being named the first-team catcher and David Jeans taking one of the three second-team outfield spots.

    With the addition of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Central Arkansas, the conference will be split into East and West Divisions for the first time. The Lumberjacks, who are entering their sophomore season of play, finished in tenth place last season after posting a 15-41 overall record and a 7-23 conference showing.

    In the coaches' poll, where Texas-Arlington and Texas State tied as the front-runners, the 'Jacks' collected 24 points, to finish five points above newcomer A&M-Corpus Christi. In the SID's poll, SFA received 21 points to tie for fifth with the Islanders.

    Hill, a 6-0 senior from Houston, was chosen after leading the `Jacks in 2006 with a .348 batting average, 72 hits, 43 runs scored and 14 home runs. He was a third-team All-SLC pick last season.

    Center, Texas, native Jeans wasn't far behind Hill last season with a .341 batting average. His 61 hits on the season is the second-best at SFA.

    The Lumberjacks will open the 2007 season Friday, Feb. 2, against the Red Raiders of Texas Tech in Lubbock. 

    2007 SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE BASEBALL PRESEASON POLLS

    COACHES POLL (1ST PLACE VOTES)

    EAST		                WEST
1. McNeese State (8) 	  62	1. UT Arlington (5)	    57
2. Lamar (3)	          58	   Texas State (4)	    57
3. Northwestern State (1) 40	3. Texas-San Antonio (3)    51
4. Southeastern Louisiana 35	4. Sam Houston State 	    38
5. Nicholls State	  22	5. Stephen F. Austin 	    24
6. Central Arkansas 	  18	6. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 19

    SIDS POLL (1ST PLACE VOTES)

    EAST		                WEST
1. McNeese State (11)	  70	1. UT Arlington (6) 	     61
2. Lamar	          58	2. Texas-San Antonio (5)     58
3. Northwestern State (1) 51	3. Texas State (1) 	     54
4. Southeastern Louisiana 35	4. Sam Houston State 	     37
5. Central Arkansas	  20	5. Stephen F. Austin 	     21
6. Nicholls State 	  18	    Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 21
    

    -SFA-