SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Defending Southern Conference champion Appalachian State University baseball landed a league-high-tying three first-team selections on the SoCon’s coaches’ preseason all-conference teams, which were unveiled on Thursday. Appalachian State second baseman Hector Crespo, shortstop Will Callaway and outfielder Tyler Zupcic garnered the recognition, matching Elon for the most representatives on the first team.

Crespo hit .308 as Appalachian State’s leadoff batter and ranked among the top 25 nationally in stolen bases (30) and runs scored (63) last season. Callaway, who is also a third-team preseason all-America selection by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, hit .320 with 12 doubles, 53 RBI and 23 steals and Zupcic hit .338 with 17 doubles, four triples and 56 runs scored for the Mountaineers a season ago.

Appalachian State was not as highly touted in the Southern Conference’s preseason polls, however, as the Mountaineers were picked to finish fourth and sixth, respectively, in votes by the league’s media and coaches. Elon was tabbed as league favorite by the coaches while College of Charleston received the preseason nod from the media.

Ironically, Appalachian was picked to finish fifth (coaches) and sixth (media) in last year’s preseason SoCon polls before going on to a school-record 41 wins, claiming its first SoCon championship since 1987, earning its first NCAA regional berth since 1986 and coming within three victories of advancing to the College World Series for the first time in school history.

Appalachian State opens the 2013 campaign on Friday, Feb. 15 at NC State.