Troy University baseball players Blake Cavill and Jimmy Janicki have received preseason recognition from the Sun Belt Conference, according to an announcement made Wednesday. Cavill, a senior, was named the league’s Preseason Player of the Year and earned a spot on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team at first base. Janicki, a sophomore, was selected for the team as a utility player. The selections were determined by votes from the conference’s coaches.
Both Cavill and Janicki had previously been named to Perfect Game’s Preseason All–Sun Belt Team. Cavill also received Perfect Game’s Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year honor.
“It is a well-deserved preseason honor to have Blake be the Preseason Sun Belt Player of Year,” said head coach Skylar Meade. “He is one of the most respected hitters in all of the country, and we expect him to continue to produce at an elite level this spring. In addition, Jimmy being on the preseason All-Conference team shows such a high level of respect for what he has done and inevitably will do for the Trojans this spring.”
Cavill led all returning Sun Belt players last season in OPS (1.078) and wins above replacement (4.13). He posted a .320 batting average with a .516 on-base percentage—the highest in conference—along with 12 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, and 50 RBIs. His 65 walks ranked third nationally, and he was one of only two college baseball players nationwide to reach base in every game played last season.
Janicki is expected to play behind the plate this year after serving as Troy’s primary third baseman during his freshman season. He hit .280 with two home runs and 32 RBIs last year while tying Troy’s record for doubles by a freshman with 12. In conference games, he led Troy in both batting average (.327) and hits (35).
The Sun Belt Conference’s preseason coaches poll placed Troy third overall heading into this season. Last year, Troy finished third in conference play with an 18-12 record and went 39-21 overall, achieving its highest national ranking at No. 14 by Baseball America.
Returning offensive contributors include Steven Meier, Sean Darnell, and Houston Markham. The roster has also been strengthened by transfer additions that earned national recognition as the No. 19-ranked transfer portal class according to 64Analytics; new arrivals include hitters Nico Azpilcueta and Aaron Piasecki along with pitchers Tommy Egan, Benjamin Stubbs, and Blake Dean.
Troy will begin its season with a three-game series at Mercer from February 13-15 before hosting Campbell at Riddle-Pace Field from February 20-22 following a midweek game against Mississippi State on February 17.
The full list of Preseason All-Sun Belt honorees includes Cameron Flukey (Coastal Carolina), Hayden Johnson (Coastal Carolina), Colby Allen (Southern Miss), Ryan Lynch (Coastal Carolina), Tucker Stockman (Southern Miss), Joseph Zamora (App State), Patrick Engskov (Arkansas State), Chase Mora (Texas State), Ashton Quiller (Arkansas State), Dean Mihos (Coastal Carolina), Ben Higdon (Southern Miss), Kameron Miller (App State), along with Cavill and Janicki from Troy.
In addition to Coastal Carolina topping the coaches poll with twelve first-place votes followed by Southern Miss with one vote, Troy secured third place ahead of Marshall and Louisiana.
Preseason individual awards included:
Preseason Player of the Year: Blake Cavill, Troy
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Cameron Flukey, Coastal Carolina
