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Baseball Tigers Top SIAC Preseason Awards; Ranked In Two Polls

ATLANTA, Ga.– Coming off one of the best seasons in program history, Savannah State baseball has earned a number of preseason accolades.
 
On Monday, Savannah State paced the 2023 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Preseason Teams with nine selections, according to a press release from the conference office.
 
In the NCBWA Preseason South Region Poll, released a few days ago, the Tigers were ranked No. 10, their first showing in the poll since rejoining the SIAC and NCAA Division II in 2019. Reigning SIAC Champions Spring Hill were ranked No. 6 in the same poll.
 
The Collegiate Baseball Division II Poll put Savannah State at No. 24 in their preseason rankings as well. The two polls, which are released weekly, help the NCAA determine the final field for the championship tournament.
 
The Tigers top three starting pitchers from last year, Jose Santiago, Jared Showalter, and Enrico Peele, were named to the All-SIAC First Team.
 
Last week, Showalter was named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA)'s Division II Preseason All-South Region First-Team as well.
 
Showalter, the No. 1 pitcher in the SIAC, finished the 2022 season with a 2.49 ERA and a 9-1 record. After 65.1 innings pitched, Showalter had 67 strikeouts, 21 walks, 18 earned runs and a 1.11 WHIP.
 
The 2022 SIAC Player of the Year Joseph Smith was named to the All-SIAC First Team. Smith was also named to the NCBWA Preseason All-South Region Honorable Mention list.
 
Smith led the Tigers with a .441 batting average last year. He racked up 9 doubles, 9 triples and 9 home runs, as well as 41 RBI and was slugging .776. Smith led the SIAC in triples and was ranked No. 3 in NCAA Division II. He led the SIAC in hits per game. In June of last year, he was named to the ABCA All-Region First Team.
 
First baseman Andrai Wright and second baseman Champion Robbins each made the All-SIAC First Team this year. Savannah State relief pitcher Rahmir Vaughn was named to the All-SIAC First Team as well. Making the All-SIAC Second Team was shortshop Gabriel Patxot and utility player Jaden Oden.
 
The 2022 Tigers finished an incredible run with a 34-12 record. They won the regular season SIAC Championship with a 28-2 conference record. Head Coach Carlton Hardy was named the SIAC Coach of the Year.
 
The 2003 team was the last to record a 34-win season (34-15), under Head Coach Jamie Rigdon. The last team to finish with a 30-plus win season was the 2013 Tigers, under Hardy, who eventually finished with a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship Title.
 
Savannah State baseball opens their 2023 campaign on Feb. 4. They host Virginia State in a single game, set for 11 a.m. They finish the three-game series on Sunday, Feb. 5, with a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.
 
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Players Mentioned

Gabriel Patxot

#2 Gabriel Patxot

SS
5' 8"
Redshirt Junior
Rahmir Vaughn

#5 Rahmir Vaughn

LHP
5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
Champion Robbins

#8 Champion Robbins

2B
6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
Jared Showalter

#14 Jared Showalter

RHP
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Jose Santiago

#19 Jose Santiago

RHP
6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
Jaden Oden

#21 Jaden Oden

1B/OF
6' 0"
Junior
Enrico Peele

#33 Enrico Peele

RHP
6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
Andrai Wright

#35 Andrai Wright

1B
6' 4"
Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Gabriel Patxot

#2 Gabriel Patxot

5' 8"
Redshirt Junior
SS
Rahmir Vaughn

#5 Rahmir Vaughn

5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
LHP
Champion Robbins

#8 Champion Robbins

6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
2B
Jared Showalter

#14 Jared Showalter

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
RHP
Jose Santiago

#19 Jose Santiago

6' 0"
Redshirt Junior
RHP
Jaden Oden

#21 Jaden Oden

6' 0"
Junior
1B/OF
Enrico Peele

#33 Enrico Peele

6' 2"
Redshirt Senior
RHP
Andrai Wright

#35 Andrai Wright

6' 4"
Redshirt Senior
1B