Richardson, Texas - East Texas Baptist has received five first place votes, pushing the Tigers to the first place pick in the 2002 ASC Baseball East Division Preseason Coaches Poll. ETBU has finished in second place in the East Division the past two seasons behind the University of Dallas, which left the conference after last season.

Louisiana College junior outfielder Craig Roberson has been selected as the East Division's Preseason Player of the Year. Roberson was an All-Conference selection last season after finishing fourth in the ASC with a .409 batting average. He was also amongst the conference leaders in hits (54), runs (42), doubles (12) and stolen bases (13).

East Division Preseason Coaches Poll

Defending ASC Champion McMurry and Hardin-Simmons, which finished fourth in the West Division last season, are tied for the top spot in the West Division Preseason Poll. McMurry has won two of the last four conference tournament titles while HSU has made the field of the conference postseason tournament the last two years.

Concordia sophomore first baseman David White has been selected as the West Division's Preseason Player of the Year. He was named as the division's Newcomer of the Year last season, finishing with a .452 batting average, six home runs and 27 RBI.

West Division Preseason Coaches Poll