Juwan Fitch leads five from Xavier University of Louisiana baseball who earned 2022 preseason honors Tuesday from the website blackcollegenines.com.
In the small-school division — NCAA Division II and NAIA members — Fitch was chosen Pitcher of the Year and named to the first team. Teammate Jamal Allen, a relief pitcher, also was named to the first team.
Named to the second team were pitchers Blair Frederick and Nigel Mayfield and outfielder Co Co Simoneaux.
XULA will open its season with a 1 p.m. game Feb. 5 against Tougaloo at Wesley Barrow Stadium (6500 Press Drive, New Orleans LA 70126). The Gold Rush and Bulldogs will play a noon doubleheader at Barrow the following day.
Playing baseball for the first time since 1960, XULA in 2021 finished 27-11, placed second in the Black College World Series and third in the Association of Independent Institutions Championship tournament. XULA ranked 54th out of 186 NAIA teams in the Bo Chip Power Index.