Cajuns Picked To Finish First In Sun Belt, Trahan Named Preseason Player Of Year

Sun Belt coaches made their preseason picks for conference favorite, player of the year, and All Sun Belt.

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun baseball team has been picked to finish 1rst in the Sun Belt, while shortstop Blake Trahan and outfielder Dylan Butler were named preseason All Sun Belt.

Louisiana received 8 out of 11 first place votes. Texas State received one first place vote. The Bobcats are picked second, while Arkansas State is picked to finish third.

"Polls, especially the early ones don't mean a whole lot. The most important poll is the one at the end of the season," head coach Tony Robichaux said in a University press release. "We appreciate that the coaches in the league recognize our potential, but potential doesn't win you championships. You have to go out and earn it."

Trahan was selected as preseason Sun Belt Conference player of the year. Trahan is already a 2015 preseason second team All-American selection by both Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game. The junior batted .355 last season, with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, 49 RBI and 58 runs scored.

Butler enters his senior season, coming off a year where he batted .298 with 11 doubles, 2 triples, 6 homers and 31 RBI.

"It's great to see Butler get recognition for the hard work that he has put in over the last three years here and then of course BT and the work he has put in the last two years," Robichaux said in a University press release. "Both of those guys will tell you that the biggest accomplishment is a championship, and we were able to accomplish that last year. That's obviously the goal for this year as well."

2015 Preseason All-Sun Belt Baseball Team
David Owen (Arkansas State, Junior, SP)
Kevin Hill (South Alabama, Senior, SP)
Lucas Humpal (Texas State, Junior, SP)
Marc Skinner (Troy, Sophomore, RP)
Joey Roach (Georgia State, Junior, C)
Matt Burgess (Arkansas State, Junior, 1B)
Darien McLemore (UT Arlington, Junior, 2B)
Blake Trahan (Louisiana, Junior, SS)
Matt Rose (Georgia State, Junior, 3B)
Aaron Mizell (Georgia Southern, Senior, OF)
Dylan Butler (Louisiana, Senior, OF)
Cole Gleason (South Alabama, Senior, OF)
David Hall (Troy, Senior, DH)
Cory Geisler (Texas State, Junior, UTIL)

2015 Preseason Player of the Year
Blake Trahan (Louisiana, Junior, SS)

2015 Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Lucas Humpal (Texas State, Junior, SP)

2015 SBC Coaches Predicted Order of Finish (first place votes)
1. Louisiana (8) - 114 pts
2. Texas State (1) - 94 pts
3. Arkansas State - 87 pts
4. UT Arlington - 80 pts
5. Troy - 78 pts
6. Georgia Southern (2) - 77 pts
7. South Alabama - 71 pts
8. Georgia State - 35 pts
9. ULM - 34 pts
10. UALR - 31 pts
11. Appalachian State - 25 pts