Baseball 2/18/2009 10:00:00 AM VMIKeydets.com

Smink Heads Baseball Preseason Honorees

LEXINGTON, Va.- Redshirt junior left-handed pitcher Travis Smink was included on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award Watch List recently, heading an impressive list of preseason accolades for the VMI baseball program.

Smink (Dalmatia, Pa./Line Mountain) went 2-1 with seven saves and a 3.48 ERA a season ago, serving as the team's closer for much of the season. This year, he will transition back to a weekend starting rotation spot, opening the season on Friday night against #1 North Carolina.

Smink also earned preseason mentions in Baseball America, where he was listed third among the Big South's top prospects, while also being included on the publication's All-Conference squad. A poll conducted by College Baseball Insider of coaches around the Big South included Smink as the league's top closer, as well as one of the top weekend starters and one of the conference's most underrated hurlers. Rounding out the honors for the 6-2 southpaw was a Second Team selection on SEBaseball.com's All-Big South team.

Junior Tanner Biagini (Greenville, N.C./D.H. Conley) was named to SEBaseball.com's Preseason First Team All-Big South squad. The third baseman hit .343 with a team-best 46 RBI a season ago, slugging .528 thanks to 10 doubles and 10 home runs in his standout sophomore campaign.

Rivals.com tabbed redshirt junior Brian Sandridge (Brownsburg, Va./Rockbridge County) to its Preseason All-Big South team. The outfielder excelled in Big South play last season, leading VMI with a .374 batting average, 18 RBI and a .582 slugging percentage in league games. Overall, the local product, who was also listed as Second Team All-Big South by SEBaseball.com, hit .320 with eight doubles and seven home runs, ranking third on the team with 39 RBI in 2008.

Senior hurler Chris Henderson (Fredericksburg, Va./Colonial Forge) also earned Second Team All-Big South accolades from SEBaseball.com. The right-hander will settle in to the weekend rotation once again, owning career marks of 13-8 and a 3.70 ERA. A season ago, Henderson, who was also included on College Baseball Insider's coaches poll as one of the Big South's most underrated pitchers, led the team with a 3.16 ERA while going 5-4, striking out 57 batters while walking only seven in 57 innings.

Finally, sophomore Sam Roberts, who led VMI with a .348 batting average and 14 doubles last season, earned Second Team All-Big South accolades from SEBaseball.com this preseason. Roberts, who is expected to add late-inning reliever duties to his role this season, was also tabbed as the top defensive outfielder in the league in College Baseball Insider's coaches poll after posting seven outfield assists a season ago.

VMI opens the 2009 season at #1 UNC this weekend. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. on Friday in the first game played at the Tar Heels' revamped facility, Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium. The game will be broadcast online at www.VMIKeydets.com and is expected to be carried on Lexington's WREL 1450 AM.

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