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Jan. 4, 2007
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – – Virginia is ranked No. 9 in Baseball America’s 2007 preseason poll which was released Thursday. It is the program’s highest ever preseason ranking. The Cavaliers earned a No. 10 preseason ranking by Collegiate Baseball in December.
Rice is atop the poll, while Miami (Fla.), Clemson, Texas, and North Carolina round out the top five. Other ACC teams ranked in Baseball America’s top-25 poll include #9 Virginia, #12 Georgia Tech, and #18 Florida State, giving the ACC six of the top-18 teams. Clemson finished the 2006 season ranked #5 in all three major polls.
Four Atlantic Coast Conference teams are ranked in the top 10 with No. 2 Miami, No. 3 Clemson, No. 5 North Carolina joining the Cavaliers. Rice earned the No. 1 spot while No. 4 Texas is the only other non-ACC school in the top five. South Carolina, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Wichita State round out the top 10.
No. 12 Georgia Tech and No. 18 Florida State give the ACC six of the nation’s top 18 teams.
The Cavaliers finished the 2006 season with a school record 47 wins and 21 conference wins as UVa finished 47-15 and 21-9 in the ACC, which was third in the league. Virginia finished No. 14 in the final USA Today/Sports Weekly coaches poll. The Cavaliers ranked third nationally in team ERA (3.04) and 19th in team batting average (.322).
Besides Doolittle, the Cavaliers return All-ACC second team selections right-handed pitcher Jacob Thompson and outfielder Brandon Marsh. UVa also returns 2006 freshmen All-Americans shortstop Greg Miclat, second baseman David Adams, Thompson and third baseman Jeremy Farrell. Virginia also returns one of the nation’s best closers in Casey Lambert and reliever Michael Schwimer, who set a Virginia single season record for appearances (36).
The Cavaliers open the 2007 season Feb. 9-11 at the Springmaid Beach Resort Tournament hosted by Coastal Carolina.
Baseball America Preseason Top 25
1. Rice
2. Miami
3. Clemson
4. Texas
5. North Carolina
6. South Carolina
7. Arkansas
8. Vanderbilt
9. Virginia
10. Wichita State
11. Tennessee
12. Georgia Tech
13. UCLA
14. Cal State Fullerton
15. Tulane
16. Oregon State
17. Nebraska
18. Florida State
19. Pepperdine
20. Arizona State
21. Evansville
22. Oklahoma State
23. Winthrop
24. TCU
25. Mississippi