Dec. 19, 2014
2015 Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America Teams 
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina senior infielders Jacob Hoyle and Bradley Strong were both named to the 2015 Louisville Slugger Preseason All-America second team as chosen and released by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. It is the second-straight season Hoyle has graced the publication's preseason honors while Strong is honored preseason for the first time.
WCU's duo was the only representative from the Southern Conference on the three-team, 81-member preseason All-America teams. The two were recently among four elected as team captains for the 2015 Catamounts. It is also the second-straight season that WCU has had two preseason All-America selections.
Hoyle, who was a freshman All-America selection back in 2012, is coming off the 2014 season where he hit a career-best .332 including a SoCon-leading 14 home runs. He hit two home runs in the same game three times a year ago. The left-handed slugger was a first team All-Southern Conference selection, while also earning American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-Atlantic Region and All-State honors from the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA). In addition to garnering 2013-14 SoCon Honor Roll and Spring Academic All-SoCon honors, Hoyle was named to the Capital One Academic All-District 3 team from CoSIDA.
This past summer, Hoyle was a California Collegiate League All-Star playing for the San Luis Obispo Blues where he batted .333 with 46 hits in 138 at bats. He collected 16 doubles, three triples and four home runs with 38 RBI and 20 runs scored on the West Coast.
Hoyle, a Hickory, N.C., product who was a third team preseason All-America pick a year ago, is a career .317 hitter with 29 career home runs and 150 career RBI. His 17 career sacrifice flies are tied for the WCU school record, while his 29 homers ranks him tied for 19th in the school's all-time ledgers entering his final season on the diamond.
Strong earned third team Louisville Slugger All-America honors at second base following his performance in the 2014 season which included a .339 batting average, six triples, six home runs and 53 RBI - all career single-season highs. He also paced the SoCon with runs scored, crossing the plate 58 times. Strong was a first team All-Southern Conference selection, while also collecting second team ABCA All-Atlantic Region plaudits. Like Hoyle, Strong was recognized for his performance in the classroom with a 2013-14 SoCon Honor Roll.
The Richlands, Va., product enters his final season with 45 career stolen bases including a 20-for-25 showing a season ago. Strong was a perfect 15-for-15 in thefts for the St. Cloud (Minn.) Rox of the Northwoods League this past summer. He also enters his final season just two triples shy of matching WCU's all-time leader, Martin Barrow (15, 1995-98) with 13 career triples. In the field, Strong is a career .957 fielder, opening his career at third base before settling into second base the past two years.
Season tickets for 2015 Catamount baseball are on sale now through WCU Athletics Ticket Office. Pricing begins at just $50 for an adult general admission and $25 for a youth. Reserved seating options in both field and upper level are available. Call the ticket office at (800)34-GOWCU or (828) 227-2401, or purchase online at CatamountSports.com.
Back-to-back defending Southern Conference champions, Western Carolina is set to gear-up for the 2015 season with the 2015 "Celebration of Catamount Baseball" scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24 on-campus in Cullowhee. Former Catamount right-hander - and veteran professional pitcher - Jared Burton will be the keynote speaker at this year's celebration. For more information or to make reservations, contact the WCU Baseball office at (828) 227-2022 or Email Assistant Coach Bruce Johnson at bnjohnson@email.wcu.edu.
The Catamounts open their second-straight SoCon regular season title defense on February 13-15 at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. The complete schedule will be released in the coming days.
Western Carolina's Preseason All-America Selections (since 2005):
2015 - Jacob Hoyle (2nd team, Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball) and Bradley Strong (2nd team, Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball
2014 - Aaron Attaway (3rd team, NCBWA) and (3rd team, Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball) and Jacob Hoyle (3rd team, Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball)
2013 - Preston Hatcher (3rd team, Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball)
2012 - Ross Heffley (1st team, Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball)
2010 - Ross Heffley (3rd team, Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball)
2008 - Blake Murphy (2nd team, Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball)
2007 - Steven Strausbaugh (1st team, NCBWA) and (2nd team, Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball)
2005 - Jared Greenwood (2nd team, Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball)
