Courtesy: ArkansasState ASU senior Josh Yates was named preseason All-Sun Belt Tuesday afternoon. Buy Photo

JONESBORO, Ark, (1-23-2007) — Arkansas State senior Josh Yates has been named to the Sun Belt Conference preseason All-Sun Belt baseball team, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon. Yates was named to the team as a designated hitter, but will also play catcher and outfield for the Indians during the 2007 season.

“This is a very deserving honor for Josh,” said ASU head coach Keith Kessinger. “I could not imagine an all-conference team that did not have his name on it, and I feel like we will have some other players at season’s end that will earn all-conference honors as well.”

Also named as a preseason Louisville Slugger TPX All-American, Yates was one of the Sun Belt’s top offensive threats last season, recording a .376 batting average. Yates posted team highs in doubles (23), RBI’s (62), home runs (13), total bases (139) and slugging percentage (.716).

In the preseason coaches’ poll, ASU was picked to finish eighth in the Sun Belt. Troy was picked to win the league, edging second-place Louisiana-Lafayette by a single vote.

“Expectations in our locker room are certainly higher than eighth,” said Kessinger. “The good thing is that conference championships and post-season play are based on a 30-game conference season.”

The Indians open their season Feb. 16 when they travel to Samford for a three-game series. ASU’s home opener is scheduled for March 3, when the Indians host Bradley in a 1 p.m. double-header, and the league opener is set for March 9, when Arkansas State will host New Orleans for a three-game series.