Feb. 10, 2014
Single Game/Season Tickets on sale
ARLINGTON, Texas - Senior outfielder Matt Shortall added to his list of honors since the end of last season with a spot on the 2014 Preseason All-Sun Belt Baseball Team, announced today by the conference office.
UT Arlington was predicted to finish fifth by conference coaches in the 10-team league. The Mavericks are coming off back-to-back conference titles, winning the Southland Conference Tournament in 2012 and a share of a WAC regular-season championship last season.
UTA was chosen sixth in the 2013 WAC preseason poll and eighth the previous year in the Southland. The Mavericks have grown accustomed to exceeding expectations.
"We understand we're moving into a very tough conference, but at the same time we've managed to win championships the past two years," UT Arlington coach Darin Thomas said. "Hopefully that gives us confidence going into the Sun Belt."
Shortall was also named to the 2014 Sporting News preseason college baseball All-America Team, the preseason Sun Belt Field Player of the Year by College Sports Madness and a Louisville Slugger Pre-Season All-American third-team selection.
Shortall led the Mavericks in several offensive categories last season. He hit .362, good for third in the WAC, and had 54 RBI. Shortall led the team with eight home runs, including three in the team's final regular-season series at Sacramento State.
Other accolades for the Dallas Jesuit graduate after last season include: College Sports Madness fourth-team All-American and WAC Field Player of the Year, first-team All-WAC, Louisville Slugger third-team All-American, and NCAA South Central All-Region second team. Shortall was also a semifinalist for the Olson Award.
The Mavericks open the season Friday in the UTA Invitational at Clay Gould Ballpark. The regular season schedule is available at UTAMavs.com. Season and individual game tickets are on sale at UTATickets.com.
2014 Preseason All-Sun Belt Baseball Team
Austin Robichaux (UL Lafayette, Junior, SP)
Matt Bell (South Alabama, Senior, SP)
Shane McCain (Troy, Senior, SP)
Ian Tompkins (WKU, Junior, RP)
Michael Strentz (UL Lafayette, RS-Junior, C)
Zach George (Arkansas State, RS-Junior, 1B)
Caden Bailey (Georgia State, Junior, 2B)
Blake Trahan (UL Lafayette, Sophomore, SS)
Tyler Girouard (UL Lafayette, Junior, 3B)
Seth Harrison (UL Lafayette, Senior, OF)
Matt Shortall (UT Arlington, Senior, OF)
Regan Flaherty (WKU, Senior, OF)
Caleb Adams (UL Lafayette, Junior, DH)
Scott Wilcox (WKU, Senior, UTIL)
2014 Preseason Player of the Year
Caleb Adams (UL Lafayette, Junior, DH)
2014 Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Austin Robichaux (UL Lafayette, Junior, SP)
2014 SBC Coaches Predicted Order of Finish (first place votes)
1. UL Lafayette (8) - 98 points
2. South Alabama (1) - 82 points
3. Troy - 77 points
4. Texas State - 57 points
5. UT Arlington - 48 points
6. WKU - 45 points
7. Arkansas State - 41 points
7. Georgia State - 41 points
9. UALR - 33 points
10. UL Monroe (1) - 28 points
