NEW ORLEANS ---- Coastal Carolina baseball's Caden Bodine was tabbed as the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Player of the Year, the league office announced Wednesday. Additionally, Bodine and Blake Barthol were selected to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team while the Chanticleers were predicted to finish fourth in the preseason poll.
 
The league's coaches voted Bodine as the conference's premier player following a season in which he hit .328, slugged .523 and accumulated a .411 on-base percentage. A native of Haddon Heights, N.J., he proved his abilities behind the plate once again last year as just 27 runners attempted to steal a base with him in the lineup while only 11 were successful in their efforts.
 
Barthol followed up a successful freshman campaign in 2024 as he appeared in 61 games with 61 starts at second base. Hailing from Allentown, Pa., he batted .310 with 70 hits, 35 of which went for extra bases.
 
The Chanticleers are set to open head coach Kevin Schnall's first season on Feb. 14 with the annual Baseball at the Beach Tournament, presented by Visit Myrtle Beach, against Saint Joseph's at 4 p.m. ET. The opening weekend lineup also includes games against Kansas State and Washington
 
Fans can purchase tickets to watch the all-conference duo HERE or by calling the Chanticleer Athletics Ticket Office at 843-347-TIXX.
 
2025 SUN BELT CONFERENCE BASEBALL PRESEASON AWARDS
 
Preseason Player of the Year
Caden Bodine, Coastal Carolina (Jr., C – Haddon Heights, N.J.)
 
Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Chase Morgan, Louisiana (So., SP – Cypress, Texas)
 
Preseason All-Sun Belt Team
Chase Morgan, Louisiana (So., SP – Cypress, Texas)
Bryce Blevins, Marshall (Jr., SP – Louisa, Ky.)
Colby Allen, Southern Miss (Jr., SP – Louisville, Miss.)
Max Kuhle, James Madison (Jr., RP – Virginia Beach, Va.)
Caden Bodine, Coastal Carolina (Jr., C – Haddon Heights, N.J.)
Matthew Russo, Southern Miss (Jr., 1B – Madisonville, La.)
Blake Barthol, Coastal Carolina (Jr., 2B – Allentown, Pa.)
Ozzie Pratt, Southern Miss (Sr., SS – Alesville, Miss.)
Lee Amedee, Louisiana (Jr., 3B – Gonzales, La.)
Josh Tate, Georgia Southern (Jr., OF – Peachtree City, Ga.)
Luke Waters, Old Dominion (Sr., OF – Laurel, Del.)
Davis Gillespie, Southern Miss (RS So., OF – Birmingham, Ala.)
Ryan Dooley, James Madison (Sr., DH – Reston, Va.)
Nick Monistere, Southern Miss (Jr., UT – Brandon, Miss.)
 
2025 SUN BELT CONFERENCE BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
(First-Place Votes)
1. Southern Miss (5) – 179
2. Troy (4) – 178
3. Louisiana (3) – 174
4. Coastal Carolina (2) – 161
5. Georgia Southern – 125
6. James Madison – 106
7. Old Dominion – 105
8. Texas State – 102
9. App State – 94
10. South Alabama – 93
11. Georgia State – 49
12. Marshall – 46
13. ULM – 34
14. Arkansas State – 24
 
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