The Valdosta State baseball team was picked to finish fifth in the Gulf South Conference this season in a preseason poll by the league.

On the heels of a 2017 campaign that saw the Blazers earn an appearance in the NCAA South Regional, Valdosta State received 118 points in the preseason poll compiled by votes taken from coaches throughout the GSC.

Delta State topped the poll as a unanimous selection thanks to 13 first-place votes. Meanwhile, West Alabama fell in at second place with 146 points received and one first-place vote. Falling in just behind UWA in third place was North Alabama with 141 points, and West Florida claimed fourth place with 133 points. Valdosta State rounded out the top five as the only remaining team to top the century mark with 118 points.

Among the honorees to earn preseason All-GSC recognition, returning senior Dalton Murray made the cut following a junior season in which he was named first team All-GSC, NCBWA (National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association) All-Region and ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association) All-Region. Murray ranked among the top hitters in the league with a .378 batting average in 2017, and he ranked among the GSC’s top ten in slugging percentage (.579, eighth), on base percentage (.448, fifth), RBIs (44, 10th) and sacrifice flies (four, ninth).

Pitcher Hunter Jones also joined the fray as a preseason All-GSC selection after establishing himself as one of top hurlers in the South Region in 2017. Jones’ seven wins placed him among the top six winningest pitchers in the Gulf South Conference, and 77 strikeouts ranked him sixth in the league. During his junior season last year, Jones earned first team All-GSC honors and also achieved All-South Region recognition by both the NCBWA and ABCA.

The preseason release by the GSC also included mention of several of the league’s top newcomers, and pitchers Anthony Dahl and John Mason served as representatives for Valdosta State. Dahl is a Angleton, Texas, native out of the University of Arkansas. The sophomore transfer is expected to bring a dominating presence as a righty to coach Greg Guilliams’ pitching staff. Meanwhile, Mason is also expected to help beef up Guilliams’ stall of hurlers as a senior transfer from Mississippi State. Mason, a right hander, hails from Tampa, Fla.

Valdosta State’s 2017 preseason practice schedule is under way, as the Blazers prepare for the fast-approaching start of the upcoming campaign. The Blazers will officially open their season at home Feb. 2 at home against Embry Riddle at 5 p.m and following three preseason exhibition games in January. In addition, the annual Blazer Blast with both the baseball and softball teams is scheduled for Jan. 27 at Billy Grant Field and Steel’s Diamond at Blazer Park. The event will take place from 1 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. for kids ages 5 through eighth grade, and registration will begin at 12:15 p.m. at the main gate of Billy Grant Field.