Jan. 20, 2004
ARLINGTON, Texas - Four Texas-Arlington baseball players were named to the 2004 Southland Conference preseason team as Hunter Pence and Mike Snapp were named to the first team and Darrell Preston and Kasey Baker earned second team recognition, the league announced Tuesday.
Pence, a junior outfielder from Arlington, earned first team all-SLC honors a year ago after hitting .347 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs. Over the summer, Pence was named a summer All-American by Collegiate Baseball after being named the team MVP for the Liberal Bee Jays of the Jayhawk League.
Snapp, a senior right-handed pitcher from Joshua, enters his final season in a Mavericks uniform as the school's all-time leader in appearances with 95. He is just two appearances shy of becoming the Southland Conference all-time leader. Snapp is also just seven saves shy of becoming the all-time leader at UTA. The wiry right-hander finished the 2003 season with a 4-4 record and a team-high six saves.
Preston, a senior first baseman/outfielder from Mount Vernon, was selected as an outfielder after earning honorable mention honors as a first baseman a season ago. As a junior, Preston hit .313 with three home runs and 39 RBIs. Preston enters his final season in a Mavericks uniform with the opportunity to solidify his name in the career record books. Preston has a solid chance of putting his name on the top of the all-time list for games played (needs 46), at-bats (needs 161), hits (needs 47) and runs batted in (needs 16). With an outstanding offensive season, Preston has a chance to put his name atop the all-time list for career doubles if he can collect 18 in his final season.
Baker, a senior designated hitter/outfielder from Houston, enters his second season as after earning second team all-SLC honors last season as a designated hitter. As a junior, Baker hit .344 with three home runs and 33 RBIs hitting predominantly as the leadoff hitter. He also established a new school-record by collecting 22 doubles in 2003.
The Mavericks began spring workouts on Jan. 19 in preparations for the season opener on Feb. 10 at Texas. First pitch is set 2:30 p.m. at Disch-Falk Field.
2004 Southland Conference Preseason All-Conference Teams
First Team
1B Ben Jones Louisiana-Monroe
2B Brandon Morgan Northwestern State
3B Anthony Garibaldi Southeastern Louisiana
SS Jeremy Gray Lamar
C Andrew Kasparek Sam Houston State
OF Josh Boop Northwestern State
OF Jordan Foster Lamar
OF Hunter Pence Texas-Arlington
DH John Allen Lamar
P Tom Robbins Texas State
P Rusty Begnaud McNeese State
P Mike Snapp Texas-Arlington
Second Team
1B Mark Cooper Texas State
2B David Tano Nicholls State
3B Ryan Finan Lamar
SS Ryan Crew Texas-San Antonio
C Jay Aulds Louisiana-Monroe
OF Michael Palermo Northwestern State
OF Evan Tierce Texas State
OF Darrell Preston Texas-Arlington
DH Kasey Baker Texas-Arlington
P Matt Green Louisiana-Monroe
P William Delage Lamar
P Ryan Schwabe Louisiana-Monroe
