Messina, Petry Named to the Preseason All-SEC First Team

BIRMINGHAM – University of South Carolina junior catcher Cole Messina and sophomore outfielder Ethan Petry both were named to the Preseason All-SEC First Team, the conference office announced this morning (Thursday, Jan. 8). Carolina is one of three teams in the league to have more than one honoree on the first team.

Petry hit .376 batting average with 10 doubles, 23 home runs and 75 RBI during his freshman campaign. The Land O’Lakes, Fla., native scored 55 runs and had a .733 slugging percentage. In the Columbia Regional, Petry was 4-for-12 with five runs scored, a home run and three RBI on his way to being named to the All-Columbia Regional team.

Messina hit .307 with 18 doubles, 17 home runs and 65 RBI in 62 games played in 2023. He slugged .615 and had a .428 on-base percentage while stealing eight bases. Messina threw out eight runners trying to steal this season and had 40 walks and 11 hit-by-pitches.

Carolina also was picked to finish fourth in the East by the league’s coaches. Florida was picked to win the division, followed by Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia and Missouri. Arkansas was picked to win the West, followed by LSU, Texas A&M, Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

The Gamecocks open the 2024 season on Friday, Feb. 16 against Miami (Ohio) at Founders Park. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.

2024 SEC Baseball Coaches Preseason All-SEC Team 

First Team
C: Cole Messina, South Carolina
1B: Jac Caglianone, Florida
2B: Cade Kurland, Florida
3B: Tommy White, LSU
SS: Colby Shelton, Florida
OF: Jace LaViolette, Texas A&M
OF: Ethan Petry, South Carolina
OF: Kendall Diggs, Arkansas
DH/UTL: Ike Irish, Auburn
SP: Hagen Smith, Arkansas
SP: Drew Beam, Tennessee
RP: Brandon Neely, Florida

Second Team
C: Devin Burkes, Kentucky
1B: Charlie Condon, Georgia
2B: Christian Moore, Tennessee
3B: Billy Amick, Tennessee
SS: Jonathan Vastine, Vanderbilt
OF: Braden Montgomery, Texas A&M
OF: Dakota Jordan, Mississippi State
OF: Bobby Peirce, Auburn
DH/UTL: Hayden Travinski, LSU
SP: Jac Caglianone, Florida
SP: Carter Holton, Vanderbilt
RP: Alton Davis II, Alabama

2024 SEC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll

Eastern Division

1. Florida (11) – 88
2. Tennessee (2) – 75
3. Vanderbilt (1) – 73
4. South Carolina – 50
5. Kentucky – 44
6. Georgia – 36
7. Missouri – 19

Western Division

1. Arkansas (9) – 87
2. LSU (5) – 82
3. Texas A&M – 68
4. Alabama – 47
5. Auburn – 46
6. Ole Miss – 32
7. Mississippi State – 23

SEC Champion: Arkansas (9), LSU (3), Florida (2)