Area briefs: Coastal baseball 19th in USA Today's poll

CONWAY -- The Coastal Carolina baseball team is ranked 19th in the ESPN/USA TODAY Preseason Coaches' poll that was released Friday.

The Chanticleers received 203 points in the poll. The capsule in the USA TODAY says: "With 11 key players returning, the Chanticleers want to atone for last year's early exit from the NCAA regionals. OFs Adam Rice, Daniel Bowman and Rico Noel combined for 18 HRs and 158 RBIs. C Jose Iglesias (.306) and IF Steve Davis (.308) are veteran defenders."

Coastal had already been ranked in polls by Baseball American (12th), Ping! Baseball (16th) and the College Baseball Newspaper (17th).

The Chanticleers open the season at 4 p.m. Feb. 19 against West Virginia in the Caravelle Resort Tournament.

College baseball

Coastal Carolina baseball season tickets go on sale Monday.

There are two season-ticket packages available: the $200 and $125 levels.

For more information on the season-ticket packages or prices for games in general, contact the CCU Athletic Ticket Office at 843-347-TIXX (8499) or 1-877-4-CHANTS (1-877-424-2687).

Minor league baseball

Former Myrtle Beach Pelicans outfielder Jason Heyward has been named the top prospect in Minor League Baseball in MLB.com's rankings of the top 50 prospects in the game.

Heyward, who was named the 2009 Minor League Player of the Year by both USA Today and Baseball America, began last season with the Pelicans before moving up to Double-A Mississippi in July and ten Triple-A Gwinnett late in the season.

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans announced Friday that their 2010 FanFest will take place from 2-5 p.m. March 6 at BB&T Coastal Field.

FanFest will feature national anthem tryouts, an afternoon-long edition of catch on the field, ballpark tours from Pelicans personnel and various other events.

The team's amusements area will be open for kids with inflatable toys, games and other activities throughout the day. Enrollment will be open for the Pelicans Kids Club as well.

The Pelicans Pro Shop will also be open all day with the newest Pelicans apparel, merchandise and other memorabilia.

Myrtle Beach opens the season against the Wilmington Blue Rocks April 8 at BB&T Coastal Field.

College track and field

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.Coastal Carolina junior Shelby Donahue finished third in the mile on Friday at the UNC Tarheel Invitational, finishing with a time of 5 minutes, 13.51 seconds. CCU teammate Christian Johnson finished eighth in 5:18.81.

Coastal's second event of the indoor season was abbreviated due to concerns over impending winter weather in the Chapel Hill area.

Coastal Carolina will return to cometition next weekend at the Penn State Inviational.

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