UNCG predicted to win 2025 SoCon baseball title

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Defending Southern Conference regular-season baseball champion UNCG is the preseason pick to win the league’s 2025 crown in voting of the league’s head coaches.

Mercer outfielder Ty Dalley was picked as the Preseason SoCon Player of the Year, while ETSU right-handed pitcher Michael Harpster and UNCG right hander Rob Ready were named Preseason Co-Pitchers of the Year.

The preseason All-SoCon first and second teams were also selected by the league’s eight head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players or teams. Due to multiple ties in voting, both teams were expanded from the 15-member format.

UNCG collected 40 points and three first-place votes in the poll. The defending Coach of the Year Cody Ellis’s team went 33-21 overall and 15-6 in league play last season to claim the regular season championship, UNCG’s first since 2018.

The Spartans placed six players on the preseason all-conference teams, including four first-team selections. Ready went 3-1 in 12 appearances last season, all of which were starts, with his 3.95 ERA ranking first among returning pitchers in the SoCon. The senior from Bridgeton, New Jersey, struck out 41 and walked 22 in 66 innings, allowing a .278 batting average to opposing hitters.

Ready, a first-team all-conference selection last season, was joined on the preseason first team by relief pitcher Grant Aycock, outfielder Luke Holland, and designated hitter Trey Truitt. Starting pitcher Hunter Shuey and relief pitcher Daniel Thompson were second-team picks.

ETSU’s Michael Harpster, a second-team all-conference selection last year, went 8-1 and logged a team high 12 starts last year as a freshman for the Bucs. In 66 innings pitched, the Lynchburg, Virginia, product allowed an opposing batting average of .266 and pitched the teams only complete game of the season against Purdue. He is joined on the first team by catcher JD Yakubinis and third baseman Cody Miller. Outfielders Blake Jacklin and Jamie Palmese joined designated hitter Will Smoot on the second team.

Mercer’s Ty Dalley was third in the league with 21 home runs, fourth with 71 RBIs and 18 doubles, and his .693 slugging percentage was fifth in the SoCon last season. The Vidalia, Georgia, native played in 57 games, all of which were starts, and had 162 putouts while scoring 71 runs for the Bears. The junior outfielder along with starting pitcher Colton Cosper, relief pitcher Jess Ackerman, and shortstop Bradley Frye represent Mercer on the first team.|

Behind UNCG in the preseason poll was Samford, which went 36-22 overall and 14-7 in the league. The Bulldogs earned 38 points and three first-place votes. Starting pitcher Miller Riggins, relief pitcher Evan Steckmesser and second baseman Jeffrey Ince were second-team picks.

Wofford, the defending winner of the SoCon Baseball Championship presented by Holston Gases, was third in the poll with 34 points and one first-place vote. The Terriers led all teams with eight preseason all-conference selections. Kenny Michaels, a relief pitcher, and outfielders David Wiley and Andrew Mannelly were first-team selections. Dylan Rhadans, a starting pitcher, and relief pitchers Alec Bouchard and Champ Davis join catcher Lucas Manning and first baseman Tyler Hare on the second team.

ETSU and Mercer tied for fourth place in the poll with 30 points. ETSU picked up the final first place vote.

Western Carolina was sixth with 25 points and five selections to the preseason teams. On the first team, starting pitcher Dusty Revis represents the Catamounts. Catcher Jack Spyke, shortstop Trent Turner, third baseman Mason Holton, and outfielder Hayden Friese were second team selections.

The Citadel followed Western Carolina with 14 points. Second baseman Travis Elliott was selected to the first team.

VMI rounded out the poll with 13 points. First baseman Grayson Fitzwater rounded out the first team, while outfielder Owen Price wrapped up the second team.

The 2025 season gets under way for all eight SoCon squads on Friday, Feb. 14.

2025 SoCon Baseball Preseason Poll

Team (First-Place Votes) Points

1. UNCG (3)                   40

2. Samford (3)               38

3. Wofford (1)                34

T4. ETSU (1)                    30

T4. Mercer                      30

6. Western Carolina   25

7. The Citadel                14

8. VMI                                13

2025 SoCon Preseason Player of the Year

Ty Dalley, Jr., OF, Mercer

2025 SoCon Preseason Pitcher of the Year

Michael Harpster, So., RHP, ETSU
Rob Ready, Sr., RHP, UNCG

2025 Preseason All-SoCon Baseball Team

First team

SP – Michael Harpster, ETSU
SP – Rob Ready, UNCG
SP – Dusty Revis, Western Carolina
SP – Colton Cosper, Mercer
RP – Kenny Michaels, Wofford
RP – Grant Aycock, UNCG
RP – Jess Ackerman, Mercer
C – JD Yakubinis, ETSU
1B – Grayson Fitzwater, VMI
2B – Travis Elliott, The Citadel
SS – Bradley Frye, Mercer
3B – Cody Miller, ETSU
OF – Ty Dalley, Mercer
OF – David Wiley, Wofford
OF – Andrew Mannelly, Wofford
OF – Luke Holland, UNCG
DH – Trey Truitt, UNCG

Second team

SP – Hunter Shuey, UNCG
SP – Miller Riggins, Samford
SP – Dylan Rhadans, Wofford
RP – Evan Stockmesser, Samford
RP – Alec Bouchard, Wofford
RP – Champ Davis, Wofford
RP – Daniel Thompson, UNCG
C – Lucas Manning, Wofford
C – Jack Spyke, Western Carolina
1B – Tyler Hare, Wofford
2B – Jeffrey Ince, Samford
SS – Trent Turner, Western Carolina
3B – Mason Holton, Western Carolina
OF – Owen Prince, VMI
OF – Hayden Friese, Western Carolina
OF – Blake Jacklin, ETSU
OF – Jamie Palmese, ETSU
DH – Will Smoot, ETSU