Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Coker Named to All-C-USA Preseason Team
2/11/2021 11:01:00 AM | Baseball, BRAA
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee baseball newcomer, Brett Coker was named to the 2021 Preseason All-Conference USA Team as one of the league's top infielders, C-USA announced Thursday.
"I'm proud of Brett Coker for making the Preseason All-Conference team as an infielder, he's a really good player," Blue Raider Head Coach Jim Toman said.
Coker played the last two seasons at Itawamba Community College and joins the Blue Raiders as a sophomore following the shortened COVID-19 season. While with the Indians, the Hendersonville, Tennessee native hit .444, with 26 hits, four home runs, and knocked in 21 RBI in 2020.
"[Coker] can run, he can hit, and he can throw," Toman said. "We have several other players that may or may not be of that caliber player that could have made the [Preseason] All-Conference Team, but there are so many good players in Conference USA, we understand that."
In addition to the 2021 Preseason All-Conference Team, C-USA also announced Preseason Player of the Year, Preseason Pitcher of the Year and predicted order of finish, as voted on by the league's coaches. Louisiana Tech's Parker Bates was named Preseason Player of the Year, while right-hander Walker Powell of Southern Miss was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
The Blue Raiders were picked to finish fourth in the west division in 2021. Southern Miss was marked to finish first, followed by LA Tech and Rice at No. 2 and No. 3. UTSA and UAB were slated to round out the east division behind the Blue Raiders. MT will host Rice (4/1-4/3), UAB (4/23-4/25), and LA Tech (4/30-5/2) at Reese Smith Jr. Field in 2021.
In the east division, Florida Atlantic received 10 first place votes, followed by Old Dominion and FIU who each received one first place vote at No. 2 and 3. WKU, Charlotte, and Marshall rounded out the last of the east division.
The 2021 C-USA Baseball Championship is set for May 26-30 and will be held at the new baseball facility in Ruston, Louisiana.
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@mt_baseball).
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
EAST
1. Florida Atlantic (10)
2. Old Dominion (1)
3. FIU (1)
4. WKU
5. Charlotte
6. Marshall
WEST
1. Southern Miss (10)
2. Louisiana Tech (2)
3. Rice
4. Middle Tennessee
5. UTSA
6. UAB
(first place votes in parentheses)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Parker Bates, Louisiana Tech (Senior, OF)
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Walker Powell, Southern Miss (Senior, RHP)
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
SP Gabe Shepard So. Southern Miss
SP Hunter Gregory Jr. Old Dominion
SP Walker Powell Sr. Southern Miss
RP Hunter Stanley Sr. Southern Miss
C J Paul Fullerton Sr. UAB
IF Derek Cartaya r-Sr. FIU
IF Brett Coker So. Middle Tennessee
IF Braden Comeaux Sr. Rice
IF Hunter Wells Sr. Louisiana Tech
IF Taylor Young Sr. Louisiana Tech
OF Parker Bates Sr. Louisiana Tech
OF Bobby Morgensen Sr. Florida Atlantic
OF Gabe Montenegro Jr. Southern Miss
DH/UT Mitchell Hartigan So. Florida Atlantic
DH/UT Davis Sims Sr. WKU
"I'm proud of Brett Coker for making the Preseason All-Conference team as an infielder, he's a really good player," Blue Raider Head Coach Jim Toman said.
Coker played the last two seasons at Itawamba Community College and joins the Blue Raiders as a sophomore following the shortened COVID-19 season. While with the Indians, the Hendersonville, Tennessee native hit .444, with 26 hits, four home runs, and knocked in 21 RBI in 2020.
"[Coker] can run, he can hit, and he can throw," Toman said. "We have several other players that may or may not be of that caliber player that could have made the [Preseason] All-Conference Team, but there are so many good players in Conference USA, we understand that."
In addition to the 2021 Preseason All-Conference Team, C-USA also announced Preseason Player of the Year, Preseason Pitcher of the Year and predicted order of finish, as voted on by the league's coaches. Louisiana Tech's Parker Bates was named Preseason Player of the Year, while right-hander Walker Powell of Southern Miss was named Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
The Blue Raiders were picked to finish fourth in the west division in 2021. Southern Miss was marked to finish first, followed by LA Tech and Rice at No. 2 and No. 3. UTSA and UAB were slated to round out the east division behind the Blue Raiders. MT will host Rice (4/1-4/3), UAB (4/23-4/25), and LA Tech (4/30-5/2) at Reese Smith Jr. Field in 2021.
In the east division, Florida Atlantic received 10 first place votes, followed by Old Dominion and FIU who each received one first place vote at No. 2 and 3. WKU, Charlotte, and Marshall rounded out the last of the east division.
The 2021 C-USA Baseball Championship is set for May 26-30 and will be held at the new baseball facility in Ruston, Louisiana.
Follow the Blue Raiders on Twitter (@MT_Baseball), Facebook (Blue Raider Baseball) and Instagram (@mt_baseball).
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
EAST
1. Florida Atlantic (10)
2. Old Dominion (1)
3. FIU (1)
4. WKU
5. Charlotte
6. Marshall
WEST
1. Southern Miss (10)
2. Louisiana Tech (2)
3. Rice
4. Middle Tennessee
5. UTSA
6. UAB
(first place votes in parentheses)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Parker Bates, Louisiana Tech (Senior, OF)
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Walker Powell, Southern Miss (Senior, RHP)
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
SP Gabe Shepard So. Southern Miss
SP Hunter Gregory Jr. Old Dominion
SP Walker Powell Sr. Southern Miss
RP Hunter Stanley Sr. Southern Miss
C J Paul Fullerton Sr. UAB
IF Derek Cartaya r-Sr. FIU
IF Brett Coker So. Middle Tennessee
IF Braden Comeaux Sr. Rice
IF Hunter Wells Sr. Louisiana Tech
IF Taylor Young Sr. Louisiana Tech
OF Parker Bates Sr. Louisiana Tech
OF Bobby Morgensen Sr. Florida Atlantic
OF Gabe Montenegro Jr. Southern Miss
DH/UT Mitchell Hartigan So. Florida Atlantic
DH/UT Davis Sims Sr. WKU
Players Mentioned
INF
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