MONTICELLO, Ark. – The Great American Conference released its coaches poll on Tuesday afternoon and UAM was voted to finish in fourth, the league office announced Tuesday, receiving 90 total points in the preseason ranking.
On top of the preseason favorites was Southern Arkansas, which received 113 total points and seven of the dozen first-place votes, was tabbed the league’s favorite for the 2022 season. Oklahoma Baptist, which was voted to finish in second, received 104 total points and a single first-place vote. Arkansas Tech just missed second, tallying 103 total points, while receiving three first-place votes. Henderson State, which voted to finish fifth behind UAM received the final first-place vote.
UAM was 22-18 overall and 19-14 in conference play before being eliminated by Arkansas Tech in the Semifinals of the 2021 GAC Tournament. The Weevils
Head coach John Harvey returns for his 12th season leading the charge for the Weevils. Mark Jelks is also back for his eighth season as Harvey’s assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the UAM baseball team.
The Weevils bring back four of their top hitters from a squad that scored 282 runs in 40 games of the 2021 season. Jordan Johnson, Grant Shepherd, Cade Thompson, and Hudson Hopkins paced the offense hitting at least .290 with 45 hits or more when the season came to end in the semis of the conference tournament.
Third baseman Jordan Johnson enters the season already owning the league’s all-time record for RBI. He needs three home runs, 55 hits, 48 runs and 89 total bases to break the records currently held by former SAU Mulerider All-American Trevor Rucker.
UAM also brings back its top two starting pitchers – River Hunt and Mason Philley. Hunt posted a 9-0 record with a 3.52 ERA. His .201 batting average against led GAC starting pitchers. Philley’s 90 strikeouts ranked as the second-best total in the conference.
The Weevils open the 2022 season as they travel to face West Alabama Feb. 1.
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