Preseason All-MEAC Predictions
NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State baseball team was predicted to finish second in the MEAC Northern Division in the preseason poll of head coaches and sports information directors, while junior pitcher
Chase Anderson and senior third baseman
Justin Burrell were voted to the preseason All-MEAC second team, the league announced Monday.
The Spartans (26-22 in 2017), winners of the last three MEAC Northern Division titles, received five first-place votes. Delaware State was tabbed the divisional favorite after receiving the other 13 first-place votes for the MEAC North. Coppin State was picked to finish third in the division and Maryland Eastern Shore was voted fourth.
Anderson was voted to the All-MEAC second team as a relief pitcher following the 2017 season after finishing 6-2 with a 2.82 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 76.2 innings as a sophomore. He made 19 appearances, five of them starts, and saw time as both a starter and reliever later in the year. Anderson pitched a complete-game with 10 strikeouts in a win over William & Mary, and registered both a win and a save in two MEAC Tournament appearances as the Spartans reached the title round for the second straight season.
Anderson ranked second in the MEAC in both ERA and strikeouts last season behind only teammate
Devin Hemmerich, the 2017 MEAC Pitcher of the Year.
Burrell was a third-team All-MEAC performer and an all-state first-team selection by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) last season. He batted .333 with nine doubles, four triples, one homer and 30 runs batted in. Burrell also stole 14 bases in 17 tries and scored 36 runs, second-most on the team. Burrell, who posted six three-hit performances last season, ranked third in the MEAC in triples per game and tied for 10th in steals while starting 47 games at third base.
Defending MEAC South and MEAC Tournament champion Bethune-Cookman was predicted to win the Southern Division again. The Wildcats were followed by North Carolina A&T, Florida A&M, North Carolina Central and Savannah State in the preseason voting. B-CU pitcher Anthony Maldonado was selected Preseason Player of the Year and B-CU first baseman Danny Rodriguez was voted Preseason Player of the Year.
The Spartans open the 2018 season by hosting Villanova for a three-game series at
Marty L. Miller Field from Feb. 16-18.
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