Weidenbacher Earning Preseason Accolades

ASHEVILLE, N.C.?UNC Asheville shortstop Kevin Weidenbacher has been tabbed as one of the top shortstops in the Big South Conference by preseason publications.

Rivals.com has listed Weidenbacher as the top shortstop in the league placing him on their Preseason All-Conference Team. They have the Bulldogs picked to finish fifth in the league behind Coastal Carolina, Winthrop, Liberty, and VMI.

Collegebaseballinsider.com selected the Asheville shortstop as the best defensive infielder in the league in a survey of Big South coaches. They have the Bulldogs finishing eighth in their preseason poll.

Weidenbacher is the Bulldogs' leading returning hitter. He hit .337 with 15 doubles, three triples, two home runs, and 30 RBI as a junior. He had a Big South record 31-game hitting streak from February 29-April 12. Defensively, Weidenbacher made 16 errors in 274 chances for a .942 fielding percentage. He played in 58 of the Bulldogs' 59 games.

“Kevin shows up and plays hard every day,” said Asheville head coach Willie Stewart. “He goes about his business in a professional manner. His consistency at shortstop is what has earned him the accolades he is receiving and we look for him to have a great senior season.”

Asheville will begin the 2009 season on February 20, against Virginia Tech at Noon in the first game of the Courtyard by Marriott Baseball Classic, hosted by USC Upstate. Asheville will play a double-header against George Mason on Feb. 21, and a single game at Wofford on Feb. 22.

The Bulldogs open up the home portion of its schedule at Greenwood Field Feb. 27-March 1, as they host Central Michigan in a four-game series.