Xavier University Athletics
Rizzie, Jernigan Recognized as Baseball Picked Fourth in BIG EAST Preseason Poll
12.22.15 | Baseball
Musketeers selected fourth in poll for third straight season
CINCINNATI – Andre Jernigan and Dan Rizzie were both recognized as preseason All-BIG EAST honorees on Tuesday as the Musketeers were picked fourth in the annual preseason league poll.
St. John's was picked first in the preseason coaches poll for a second straight year, accumulating 34 points and four first-place votes. Creighton was just one vote behind, however, gaining 33 points and three first-place votes.
Seton Hall and Xavier were picked next, immediately followed by a three-way tie for fifth between Butler, Georgetown and Villanova.
The two Preseason All-BIG EAST selection matches a program-high set last year, as Rizzie earned the honor for a second straight season.
Rizzie, a 2014 All-BIG EAST First Team selection, is one of the top returning catchers in the conference. After missing most of last season with a hand injury, Rizzie will look to get back to the production level he showed in 2014 when he hit .307 to go with five home runs, 41 runs scored and 38 RBI.
An Orland Park, Ill. native, Rizzie was also a big part of XU's 2014 NCAA Run. He capped his 2014 campaign with a 5-for-12 performance, adding five RBI and three runs on his way to a spot on the 2014 Nashville Regional All-Tournament Team.
Jernigan earned preseason honors for the first time and has racked up 110 start for Xavier at shortstop in the past two seasons. A career .251 hitter, Jernigan brings a combination of speed and power to the shortstop position. In 2015, he led the Musketeers with 210 at-bats and 16 stolen bases, while ranking second on the team with 10 doubles and adding 13 multi-hit games.
POLL NOTES
• Just one year removed from the BIG EAST Championship, Xavier will look to rebound after a down year in 2015. The Musketeers finished 15-38 overall last season and were last in the BIG EAST with a 3-15 record.
• It's the third straight season the league's coaches have tabbed Xavier fourth in the poll.
SEASON OPENER
• XU begins the 2016 season on Feb. 19 at 8:30 p.m., traveling to Arizona State for the first of a three-game series.
2016 PRESEASON All-BIG EAST TEAM AND AWARDS
Preseason Player of the Year – Alex Caruso, St. John's, Sr., OF
Preseason Pitcher of the Year – Thomas Hackimer, St. John's Sr., RP
PRESEASON All-BIG EAST *
^ Daniel Rizzie, Xavier, Sr., C
^ Reagan Fowler, Creighton, Sr. 1B
^ Todd Czinege, Villanova, Jr., 2B
Andre Jernigan, Xavier, Sr., SS
^ Robbie Knightes, St. John's, Jr., 3B
Troy Dixon, St. John's, Jr., DH
^ Alex Caruso, St. John's, Sr., OF
^ Michael Donadio, St. John's, Jr., OF
Tyler Houston, Butler, So., OF
^ Rollie Lacy, Creighton, So., SP
Shane McCarthy, Seton Hall, So., SP
Jeff Schank, Butler, Jr., SP
Matt Smith, Georgetown, Sr., SP
Matt Warren, Creighton, Sr., SP
^ Thomas Hackimer, St. John's, Sr., RP
FULL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
First place votes in ()
1. St. John's – 34 pts. (4)
2. Creighton – 33 pts. (3)
3. Seton Hall – 26 pts.
4. Xavier – 18 pts.
t5. Butler – 12 pts.
t5. Georgetown – 12 pts.
t5. Villanova – 12 pts.
^ - denotes unanimous selection
* - due to a tie in voting there are five starting pitchers on the 2016 Preseason All-BIG EAST team
St. John's was picked first in the preseason coaches poll for a second straight year, accumulating 34 points and four first-place votes. Creighton was just one vote behind, however, gaining 33 points and three first-place votes.
Seton Hall and Xavier were picked next, immediately followed by a three-way tie for fifth between Butler, Georgetown and Villanova.
The two Preseason All-BIG EAST selection matches a program-high set last year, as Rizzie earned the honor for a second straight season.
Rizzie, a 2014 All-BIG EAST First Team selection, is one of the top returning catchers in the conference. After missing most of last season with a hand injury, Rizzie will look to get back to the production level he showed in 2014 when he hit .307 to go with five home runs, 41 runs scored and 38 RBI.
An Orland Park, Ill. native, Rizzie was also a big part of XU's 2014 NCAA Run. He capped his 2014 campaign with a 5-for-12 performance, adding five RBI and three runs on his way to a spot on the 2014 Nashville Regional All-Tournament Team.
Jernigan earned preseason honors for the first time and has racked up 110 start for Xavier at shortstop in the past two seasons. A career .251 hitter, Jernigan brings a combination of speed and power to the shortstop position. In 2015, he led the Musketeers with 210 at-bats and 16 stolen bases, while ranking second on the team with 10 doubles and adding 13 multi-hit games.
POLL NOTES
• Just one year removed from the BIG EAST Championship, Xavier will look to rebound after a down year in 2015. The Musketeers finished 15-38 overall last season and were last in the BIG EAST with a 3-15 record.
• It's the third straight season the league's coaches have tabbed Xavier fourth in the poll.
SEASON OPENER
• XU begins the 2016 season on Feb. 19 at 8:30 p.m., traveling to Arizona State for the first of a three-game series.
2016 PRESEASON All-BIG EAST TEAM AND AWARDS
Preseason Player of the Year – Alex Caruso, St. John's, Sr., OF
Preseason Pitcher of the Year – Thomas Hackimer, St. John's Sr., RP
PRESEASON All-BIG EAST *
^ Daniel Rizzie, Xavier, Sr., C
^ Reagan Fowler, Creighton, Sr. 1B
^ Todd Czinege, Villanova, Jr., 2B
Andre Jernigan, Xavier, Sr., SS
^ Robbie Knightes, St. John's, Jr., 3B
Troy Dixon, St. John's, Jr., DH
^ Alex Caruso, St. John's, Sr., OF
^ Michael Donadio, St. John's, Jr., OF
Tyler Houston, Butler, So., OF
^ Rollie Lacy, Creighton, So., SP
Shane McCarthy, Seton Hall, So., SP
Jeff Schank, Butler, Jr., SP
Matt Smith, Georgetown, Sr., SP
Matt Warren, Creighton, Sr., SP
^ Thomas Hackimer, St. John's, Sr., RP
FULL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
First place votes in ()
1. St. John's – 34 pts. (4)
2. Creighton – 33 pts. (3)
3. Seton Hall – 26 pts.
4. Xavier – 18 pts.
t5. Butler – 12 pts.
t5. Georgetown – 12 pts.
t5. Villanova – 12 pts.
^ - denotes unanimous selection
* - due to a tie in voting there are five starting pitchers on the 2016 Preseason All-BIG EAST team
Players Mentioned
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