ROCK HILL, SC –UVA Wise relief pitcher
Ryan Whitson has been named to the SAC Baseball Preseason All-Conference team for the upcoming season, officials announced today. In addition,
Joshua Morgan,
Jacob Boyle and
Houston Sarvis have been named as Players to Watch.
The team was picked eighth in the Preseason Coaches Poll with 70 points, just behind seventh-place Newberry's 71 points. Catawba was picked first, followed by Lenoir-Rhyne, Carson-Newman and Wingate.
Whitson compiled a 2-0 record in 13 relief appearances last season. The Alcoa, Tennessee, native had a 2.00 ERA in 18 innings and had fifteen strikeouts and six saves.
Morgan led the team in hitting last season with a .337 batting average. He had 56 hits, 17 doubles, a triple, and six home runs.
Boyle hit .294 with 35 hits, five doubles and three home runs last season.
Sarvis led the team in strikeouts last season with 52. He compiled a 4.76 ERA in 13 appearances.
The team will open their season this Friday (weather permitting) when they host Bluefield State for a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. First pitch Friday is set for 1 p.m. on the Burchell Stallard Baseball Field.
| 2026 SAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll |
| Rank |
School (first place votes) |
Points |
| 1. |
Catawba (7) |
126 |
| 2. |
Lenoir-Rhyne (4) |
122 |
| 3. |
Carson-Newman |
112 |
| 4. |
Wingate |
102 |
| 5. |
Coker |
87 |
| 6. |
Lincoln Memorial (1) |
78 |
| 7. |
Newberry |
71 |
| 8. |
UVA Wise |
70 |
| 9. |
Anderson |
56 |
| 10. |
Tusculum |
45 |
| 11. |
Mars Hill |
28 |
| 12. |
Emory & Henry |
27 |
2026 SAC Baseball Preseason All-Conference
OF – Mackenzie Wainwright, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – Braeden Harrison, Anderson
OF – Sam Hunter, Catawba
1B – Logan Floyd, Carson-Newman
2B – Cole Nathan, Carson-Newman
SS – Nathan Chrismon, Catawba
3B – Terick Bumgarner, Mars Hill
C – Nathan Kidder, Lenoir-Rhyne
DH – Sean Shelly, Catawba
SP – Kolton Casson, Carson-Newman
SP – Kemper Nix, Catawba
SP – Kellen Gradisar, Lenoir-Rhyne
RP –
Ryan Whitson, UVA Wise
