Talking LSU, Arkansas, NCAA Regionals & More

As we get closer to conference tournaments and NCAA selections we will continue to go around the country and talks to people who cover college baseball.  This week Collegebaseball360.com Editor Sean Stires talks to NCBWA member Randy Rosetta, who covers LSU for the Baton Rouge Advocate.  The conversation starts with Mississippi’s recent sweep of LSU as well as the shaky performances of ace pitchers Drew Pomeranz and Anthony Ranaudo.  They also talk about Arkansas and how the SEC race is shaping-up, with a look toward NCAA Regional bids.

Interview

SLU’s Brock, ‘Bama’s Morgan Headline Primetime Performers Weekly Honor Roll … CollegeBaseball360.com has announced its fifth group of Primetime Performers, for action during the third week of March. St. Louis University senior first baseman Danny Brock (Loveland, Colo.) is the CB360 Primetimer Player of the Week while Alabama sophomore lefthander Adam Morgan (Marietta, Ga.) is the Primetime Pitcher of the Week.

Danny Brock

Adam Morgan

Brock and Morgan are joined by 14 other clutch players from throughout the nation in comprising the CB360 Primetime Performer Weekly Honor Roll for May 15-21.

BROCK – son of 10-year Major Leaguer Greg Brock (’82-86 Dodgers; ’87-’91 Brewers) – played a lead role in SLU’s doubleheader sweep of a Kansas team that was #25 in the CB360 Composite National Rankings (KU was fresh off a pair of wins at national power LSU). During the pair of convincing wins (12-8/8-5), the 3-hole hitter Brock smacked his 10th home run of the season while batting 4-for-8, reaching base two other times (BB, HBP) and factoring directly into half  of the Billikens’ 20 runs (6 RBI, 5 R).

Danny Brock scored or drove in 10 of SLU's 20 runs during the convincing doubleheader sweep of #25 Kansas.

The 6-1, 210-pount righthanded hitter led the way for a SLU offense that roughed up a pair of the KU pitching staff’s top righthanded starters – junior T.J. Walz (a 2009 all-Big 12 Conference performer) and senior Cameron Selik. Walz was touched for eight runs and nine hits in 6.1 innings (2BB-6K) while Selik surrendered seven runs and eight hits in 6.0 IP (2BB-7K). Walz was the Jayhawks’ game-1 winner one week earlier at LSU while Selik had started and won the series clincher vs. the defending national champions.

Brock’s three-run homer in the bottom of the 7th put SLU ahead for good in the opener vs. Kansas (3-for-4, 5RBI-3R-BB) and he tacked on another strong effort in the game-2 victory (1B-RBI-2R-HBP). He ended the week with a .405 season batting average and was the Atlantic 10 Conference leader in home runs (10), RBI (36), slugging percentage (.892), walks (17) and runs scored (24), plus third in the A-10 with a .525 on-base percentage. He entered this week with an eye-popping 1.417 season “OPS” (on-base plus slugging), through 20 games.

CLICK HERE to listen to a podcast interview with Brock.

MORGAN delivered #21 Alabama’s 4-1 opening victory in its series win vs. a Vanderbilt team listed 17th in the CB360 composite rankings. The 6-1/180-pound lefthander shut out the Southeastern Conference’s top offense through six innings, ultimately allowing only on run on six hits and three walks through 6.2 innings (3 Ks). The Commodores entered the game with a gaudy .352 team batting average while averaging nearly nine runs and 12 hits per game in the first 17 games of the season (VU was 15-2 before losing to Morgan and the Tide in game-1). Morgan did not allow a Vanderbilt runner to reach second base until there was two outs in the seventh, which also is when VU managed its only extra-base hit of the day vs. Morgan (an Anthony Gomez double; VU’s five other hits vs. Morgan included four 2-out singles with nobody on base).

Adam Morgan shut out the SEC's top offense (#17 Vanderbilt) through six innings, leading the Tide to a game-1 victory and eventual series win.

In addition to the challenge of facing the Vanderbilt hitters, Morgan had the added pressure of knowing that VU sophomore RHP Sonny Gray (a projected 1st-rounder in 2011) would be facing his teammates. Morgan proved up to the task, rolling up a 1-2-3 inning to start his outing, then allowing a leadoff walk to Jason Esposito but quickly erasing the runner on a pickoff play. Brian Harris had a 2-out single vs. Morgan in the third but was stranded at first, as was cleanup hitter Andrew Giobbi after his single in the fourth.

Gomez managed a 2-out single in the fifth, but was forced out at second. Bryan Johns earned a leadoff walk vs. Morgan in the sixth, but he was caught stealing and Giobbi later was stranded at first following his 2-out single. Vanderbilt’s only run came in the seventh, courtesy of two more 2-out hits.

Similar to the weekly awards presented on sister site CollegeSoccer360.com, the CB360 Primetime Performer honors various players based on any/all of the following “primetime” criteria…not solely based on raw stats.

Primetime Performer Award Criteria
• Must have been playing for or against a CB360 top-50 team (in the Composite National Rankings)  or performed a high level in a game that could be key to a team’s conference/NCAA postseason qualification.
• Involved in clutch performances, such as late game-winning hits, noteworthy comebacks, game-changing plays, team leadership, etc.
• Performing at a top level against a team rated highly nationally (or within its conference), with bonus consideration given for key performances away from home field and vs. traditional rivals.
• Overcoming adversity or extreme circumstances (for the team and/or individual).
• Any accomplishment that is rare, historic, record-setting, etc., on a national level.
The other 14 members of the CB360 Primetime Performer Weekly Honor Roll include: Utah sophomore catcher C.J. Cron (Phoenix, Ariz.), Arkansas jr. CF/RHP Brett Eibner (Houston, Texas), Ball State righthanded reliever Perci Garner (Dover, Ohio), Maryland 1B/RH closer Dan Gentzler (Berwyn, Pa.), Stanford jr. catcher Zach Jones (Draper, Utah), LSU so. LHP Chris Matulis (Lake Worth, Fla.), Florida State jr. RF/RH closer Mike McGee (Port St. Lucie, Fla.), Mississippi LHP Drew Pomeranz (Collierville, Tenn.), Fordham 5th-yr. sr. DH Angelo Ponte (Old Tappart, N.J.), Arizona fr. LF Robert Refsnyder (Laguna Hills, Calif.), High Point jr. RF Nate Roberts (Spring Grove, Ill.), San Diego jr. SS Tony Strazzara (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Florida so. 1B Preston Tucker (Tampa, Fla.) and Charlotte senior catcher Zane Williams (Claremore, Okla.).

C.J. Cron

Brett Eibner

Perci Garner

Dan Gentzler

Zach Jones

Chris Matulis

Mike McGee

Drew Pomeranz

Angelo Ponte

Robert Refsnyder

Nate Roberts

Tony Strazzara

Preston Tucker

Zane Williams

The 16 honorees include three two-way players (RHP/RF; CF/RHP; 1B/RHP), four other pitchers (three of them lefties), three catchers, two first basemen, a shortstop, leftfielder, rightfielder and DH. The selections feature a 5th-year senior, three seniors, seven juniors, four sophomore and the freshman Refsnyder. Three of the players are Florida natives and two are Arizona products, with all of the others coming from different home states: California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah.

Primetime Performer Weekly Honor Roll #5 (March 15-21)

(presented by CollegeBaseball360.com)
“It’s not so much what you do, as it is when you do it.”

Player (Pos.) … School … Yr. … Hometown … Stats & Notes
*Danny Brock (1B) … St. Louis … Sr. . … Loveland, CO
Smacked 10th HR of season while batting 4-8 from 3-hole and factoring into 10 runs (6RBI-5R; BB-HBP) during sweep of #25 Kansas (12-8/8-5)

C.J. Cron (C) … Utah … So. . … Phoenix, AZ
Went 6-10 with 10 RBI (7R-2HR-2B) from cleanup spot, in pair of wins over #29 New Mexico (16-2/9-8 in 10)

Brett Eibner (CF/RHP) … Arkansas … Jr. . … Houston, TX
Homered twice (4 RBI) in gm-1 win at  #6 LSU; started series finale on mound (6IP-3R/2ER-7H-2BB-7K)

Perci Garner (RHP) … Ball State … Jr. . … Dover, OH
Flamethrower posted 4-inning win at #8 Louisville (R-2H-6K; 5-1/UL’s 2nd loss in ’10)

Dan Gentzler (1B/RHP) … Maryland … Sr. . …  Berwyn, PA
Homered twice (4RBI-3R-BB) and took mound in 9th for save (man on 3rd; 1-3 groundout/KL/4-3), in 5-2 win over #12 Ga. Tech

Zach Jones (C) … Stanford … Jr. . … Draper, UT
9-hole hitter who went 8-12 (2 RBI-3R) in sweep of Pepperdine (9-8/10-6/11-6)

Chris Matulis (LHP) … LSU … So. . … Lake Worth, FL
Starting pitcher in series finale 5-1 win vs. #13 Arkansas (5.1IP-R-5H-4BB-6K)

Mike McGee (RF/RHP) … Florida State … Jr. . … Port St. Lucie, FL
3-hole hitter who went 4-for-9 (RBI, R) and saved both wins (1.2 total shutout IP; 4-3/5-3) in series at #19 UNC

*Adam Morgan (LHP) … Alabama … So. . … Marietta, GA
Held SEC’s top offense to one run, in 4-1 series opener at #17 Vanderbilt (6.2IP-6H-3BB-3K)

Drew Pomeranz (LHP) … Mississippi … Jr. . … Collierville, TN
Logged 6.0 shutout innings in 9-0 opener at #28 Kentucky (H-2BB-9K)

Angelo Ponte (DH) … Fordham … 5th-Yr.-Sr. . … Old Tappart, NJ
Factored into all of Rams’ runs (3RBI-R) during 4-3 win at #20 Miami

Robert Refsnyder (LF) … Arizona … Fr. . … Laguna Hills, CA
Hit 6-10 with 8 RBI (2R) in dominating DH vs. #32 Wichita St. (13-5/19-0)

Nate Roberts (RF) … High Point … Jr. . … Spring Grove, IL
Went 3-4 (3RBI-2R) as 3-hole hitter in 13-12 win over #24 East Carolina, then 2-4 (RBI-3R) vs. #42 VMI (15-14)

Tony Strazzard (SS) … San Diego … Jr. . … Scottsdale, AZ
2-hole hitter who went 4-for-9 (4R-RBI) in pair of wins over #22 Rice (6-4/6-5 in 10)

Preston Tucker (1B) … Florida … So. . … Tampa, FL
#3 hitter who had 4 RBI and went 2-for-4 (HR, BB) in 8-5 rivalry win over #7 Florida St.;  batted 5-12 (4 RBI-3R-2 HR-2B) in sweep of #43 Mississippi St. (7-2/5-4/4-1)

Zane Williams (C) … Charlotte … Sr. . … Claremore, OK
Factored into 5 runs (4RBI-R-2B-2 BB) during 11-10 win over #5 Clemson

* – Brock is the CB360 Primetime Player of the Week and Morgan the Primetime Pitcher of the Week … note that rankings above refer to the CB360 top-50 … class years are based on academic standing (some players may have an extra year of eligibility)

Three New Teams In BA Top 25

A By The Numbers Look At The First Full Week Of The Season

Jason Mitchell (UTA photo)

0…Hits allowed in five innings of relief by UT pitcher Cole Green.  He fanned 6 with no walks in the series finale.

18…Strikeouts by UT Arlington pitcher Jason Mitchell in Friday’s win over Missouri State.  Mitchell lost a no-hitter with one out to go in the game, which the Mavericks won 1-0 in 14 innings.   The 18 Ks breaks a school and Southland Conference record.  He struck out at least two batters in all but the 8th inning (1).

0…Runs allowed in 5 innings of relief in that same game by Arlington reliever Adam Boydston, who fanned 8 himself with just one walk and one hit allowed.

2…Wins in three games  by TCU at Cal State Fullerton over the weekend.

4…Home losses by the Titans already this season.

8…Home losses by Fullerton in 2009.

2…Losses in his first two starts by Cal State Fullerton pitcher Daniel Renken after allowing 3 ER in 6 IP in Friday’s loss to the Horned Frogs.

3…Losses by Renken all of last year.

2…Wins by #19 Coastal Carolina over #4 UC Irvine on Saturday in Myrtle Beach, SC.

9…Runs in the 8^th inning of game two of the doubleheader by the Chanticleers to beat the Anteaters 13-6.

2…Combined losses by Irvine pitchers Daniel Bibona and Eric Pettis in Saturday’s twin bill.

3…Combined losses by Bibona and Pettis in 2009.

109…Pitches thrown in 5 1/3 IP by Bibona in his loss.

119…Pitches thrown in 6 2/3 IP by Pettis in his loss.

5…RBIs by Coastal Carolina catcher Jose Iglesias in the doubleheader sweep.  He was 6-for-8 at the plate in the games.

6…Runs scored by Irvine in the 8th inning on Sunday to beat James Madison 15-9 for their only win in Myrtle Beach.  In addition to their losses to Coastal Carolina the Anteaters also fell to North Carolina State.

Greg Peavey (OSU photo)

8…Strikeouts and earned runs allowed in 3 ½ innings by Tennessee’s Bryan Morgado in Friday’s 17-1 loss

to Oregon State.

0…Runs allowed with 9 strikeouts by Oregon State’s Greg Peavey in Sunday’s 1-0 win over the Vols.  Peavey allowed just three hits with one walk in his first win of the season.

0.64…Peavey’s ERA in his first 14 innings pitched this season.

9…Strikeouts in 6 innings by Louisville pitcher Thomas Royse in Friday’s 2-0 win over Michigan.

10…Strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings by Todd McInnis in 26th ranked Southern Mississippi’s 8-2 loss to LeMoyne.

2 of 3…Games Southern Miss. dropped to LeMoyne after falling 12-11 in the series finale.

20…Runners left on base by the Golden Eagles in the pair of defeats.

5…RBIs by Dolphin LF Chris Edomonson in the 12-11 win over USM.

84…Runs scored by Arizona State in its 7-0 start to the season.

18…Runs allowed by the Sun Devils (two unearned) for a 2.36 staff ERA.

15…Runs and hits by Georgia Tech in Saturday’s 15-0 win over Xavier.

1…Win over a top 10 team in the history of Xavier baseball after Sunday’s 7-6 win over #4 Georgia Tech.

4 & 3…Respective errors and unearned runs allowed by the Yellow Jackets in their first loss of 2010.

13…Errors in three games committed by Notre Dame en-route to a 1-2 weekend at the Big Ten/Big East Challenge.

Maine's Jeffrey Gibbs

6…Of those errors committed by the Fighting Irish in Sunday’s 8-7 10-inning win over Penn State.

1…Win this season for Maine (1-5) after Saturday’s 5-3 upset of #12 North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

1…Career win for Black Bear pitcher Jeffrey Gibbs, who earned the win vs. the Tar Heels.  He struckout seven and allowed 2 ER in 5 1/3 IP.

2…Career starts by Gibbs-a 6’4-190 lb. freshman from Toronto, Ontario.

12…Strikeouts in 7 IP by Virginia sophomore Danny Hultzen in a 13-0 win over Rhode Island.  The lefty allowed no runs and no walks on two hits to improve to 2-0.

43…Runs scored by the Cavs in their 3-game sweep of URI while allowing just 7 runs to improve to 6-1.

Manhattan's John Soldinger

0…Runs allowed in 4 IP by Manhattan freshman reliever John Soldinger in Sunday’s 12-7 win over the 10th ranked Miami Hurricanes.

7…Earned runs allowed in 5 IP by Jasper starting pitcher Mike Gazzola who got credit for the win after exiting with his team leading 9-5.

7 & 9…Combined runs scored and RBIs, respectively, by Manhattan 2-5 batters Mark Onorati, Mike McCann, Chad Salem, and Austin Sheffield in the upset of the Hurricanes.  The quartet also combined to hit .500 (10-for-20).

6-0…Washington State’s record after Sunday’s 10-7 win over Texas Tech in Lubbock, TX.  It’s Wazzou’s best start since going 9-0 to start the 1988 season.

Brian Fletcher (Auburn photo)

4, 11 & 13…Home runs, RBIs & runs scored by New Mexico State shortstop Ryan Aguayo.  The junior hit .440 with an 1.120 slugging percentage in six games last week.

3…Of Aguayo’s home runs that came in one game-a 17-5 win over Akron.  He hit half of the Aggies’ 6 HRs in the contest.

4 & 9…Home runs and RBIs by Eastern Kentucky’s Anthony Ottrando in the Colonel’s season-opening 3-game series vs. Western Carolina.

11…RBIs with 3 home runs in 3 games by Auburn’s Brian Fletcher.  His 10th inning walk-off home run gave the Tigers a Friday win over Boston College.

15…Strikeouts in 7 IP by Ole Miss lefty Drew Pomeranz in a win over Oakland.  He allowed just a run on a solo HR.

8-0…The deficit top-ranked LSU faced in the middle of the 6th inning at home Saturday vs. William & Mary. The Tigers scored 8 runs in the bottom of the 6th and then added two more runs in the 7th to win 10-9.

22…Years since LSU had overcome as big a deficit.  They came back from 10 runs down to beat Ole Miss in 1988.

13 1/3…Total innings pitched in two outings last week by Kansas pitcher Cameron Selik.  The junior allowed just one earned run with 10 strikeouts vs. Eastern Michigan and Sacramento State.

Virginia Is Number One For The First Time

LSU Is New Number One

DALLAS – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association continues
its tradition of NCAA Division I polls for the 13th year with its 2010
weekly surveys. Weekly polls will be circulated from Feb. 22-June 29
following the 64th annual NCAA World Series in Omaha, Neb., and final
CWS competition at historic Rosenblatt Stadium.

The poll voters come from 40 college baseball writers and related media
persons from throughout the nation. This week’s poll has representation
by 11 different conferences among the 302 baseball-playing schools in
the 2010 NCAA Division I ranks, and there have been 12 circuits in the
initial surveys this season. Last year there were 17 different leagues
(from 30 in NCAA Division I) among the Top 30 polls. For more
information or to join the NCBWA, please go to
www.ncbwa.com< target=_blank href=”http://www.ncbwa.com/”>http://www.ncbwa.com/>.

Rank School Conference Overall Record Previous Rank
1 LSU Southeastern 3-0 2
2 Florida State Atlantic Coast 3-0 6
3 Virginia ACC 2-1 3
4 UC Irvine Big West 3-0 7
5 Georgia Tech ACC 3-0 9
6 Arizona State Pacific-10 3-0 8
7 Florida SEC 3-0 10
8 Texas Big 12 1-2 1
9 TCU Mountain West 3-0 11
10 Miami (Fla.) ACC 3-0 12
11 Cal State Fullerton Big West 1-2 4
12 North Carolina ACC 3-0 13
13 Clemson ACC 3-0 14
14 Rice Conference USA 0-3 5
15 Louisville Big East 3-0 19
16 Arkansas SEC 2-1 15
17 Stanford Pac-10 3-0 30
18 South Carolina SEC 3-0 21
19 Coastal Carolina Big South 2-1 17
20 Oregon State Pac-10 2-1 18
21 East Carolina C-USA 1-2 16
22 Oklahoma Big 12 4-0 25
23 Ohio State Big Ten 3-0 23
24 Mississippi SEC 2-1 20
25 San Diego West Coast 3-1 24
26 Southern Miss C-USA 2-1 22
27 UCLA Pac-10 3-0 27
28 Texas A&M Big 12 3-0 28
29 Kentucky SEC 3-0 NR
30 Vanderbilt SEC 3-0 29

Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Others receiving votes
(listed alphabetically): Alabama (2-0), Army (2-1), Baylor (3-1), Boston
College (2-1), Connecticut (0-0), Dallas Baptist (3-0), Elon (3-0),
Florida Gulf Coast (3-0), Florida International (3-0), Fresno State
(3-0), Georgia (2-2), James Madison (0-0), Kansas (0-0), Lamar (3-0),
Middle Tennessee (1-1), Mississippi State (3-0), New Mexico (2-1), Notre
Dame (3-0), Old Dominion (3-0), Oral Roberts (0-0), Oregon (2-1),
Pepperdine (2-1), USF (0-3), St. John’s (3-0), Tennessee (3-0), Texas
State (3-0), Texas Tech (4-0), UC Riverside (3-0), UCF (3-0), UNC
Wilmington (2-1), Washington State (2-0), Western Kentucky (2-1),
Wichita State (0-0), Winthrop (3-0).
Dropped Out: Georgia (26).

By conference: SEC 7, ACC 6, Pac-10 4, Big 12 3, C-USA 3, Big West 2,
Big East 1, Big South 1, Big Ten 1, MWC 1, WCC 1.

LSU Takes Over Top Spot In First Regular Season Rankings

Texas Tops Another Preseason Poll

DALLAS - The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association continues
its tradition of NCAA Division I polls for the 13th year with its 2010
preseason predictions and weekly surveys. Weekly polls will continue
from Feb. 22 through June 29 following the NCAA World Series in Omaha,
Neb.

The poll voters come from 40 college baseball writers and related media
persons from throughout the nation. After a preseason Top 35 listing,
the remainder of the polls will feature a national Top 30.

Texas is the preseason NCBWA poll choice for the third time in history.
Last year coach Augie Garrido’s crew finished second to LSU (No. 2 in
the NCBWA pre-2010 survey) in the NCAA World Series during the
next-to-last venue at historic Rosenblatt Stadium, which will be razed
after the ’10 CWS. The Longhorns also earned top billing in 2003 and ’06
while North Carolina managed its first preseason top rating in 2009.

LSU held down the No. 1 slot in both the 1998 and 2001 NCBWA preseason
selections while other No. 1 placers in the initial polls are Southern
California (1999), Miami (Fla.) (2000), Stanford (2002), Cal State
Fullerton (2005), Rice (2004, 07), and Arizona State (2008). The three
final No. 1 choices prior to LSU in 2009 have come from the Far West in
Fresno State (2008) and two-time NCAA champ Oregon State (2006 and ’07).

This week’s poll has representation by 12 different conferences among
the 302 baseball-playing schools in the 2010 NCAA Division I ranks. The
polls of 2009 had teams from 16 different DI conferences rated at least
one week. For more information or to join the NCBWA, please go to
www.ncbwa.com.

Rank-School-2009 Record-Final ’09 Poll Place

1 Texas  Big 12 50-16-1 2

2 LSU  SEC 56-17 1

3 Virginia  ACC t 48-15-1 6

4 Cal State Fullerton  Big West 47-16 7

5 Rice   Conference USA 43-18 9

6 Florida State   ACC 45-18 10

7 UC Irvine   Big West 45-15 13

8 Arizona State  Pac-10 51-14 3

9 Georgia Tech ACC 38-19-1 19

10 Florida SEC 42-22 14

11 TCU   Mountain West 40-18 11

12 Miami (Fla.)   ACC 38-22 20

13 North Carolina   ACC 48-18 4

14 Clemson  ACC 44-22 15

15 Arkansas  SEC 41-24 5

16 East Carolina   C-USA 46-20 16

17 Coastal Carolina   Big South 47-16 21

18 Oregon State   Pac-10 37-19 24

19 Louisville   Big East 47-18 17

20 Mississippi   SEC 44-20 12

21 South Carolina   SEC 40-23 23

22 Southern Miss   C-USA 40-26 8

23 Ohio State   Big Ten 42-19 NR

24 San Diego   West Coast 29-25 NR

25 Oklahoma   Big 12 43-20 18

26 Georgia   SEC 38-24 26

27 UCLA   Pac-10 27-29 NR

28 Texas A&M   Big 12 37-24 25

29 Vanderbilt   SEC 37-27 29

30 Stanford   Pac-10 30-25 NR

31 Wichita State  Missouri Valley 30-27 NR

32 Alabama   SEC 37-21 30

33 Kansas   Big 12 39-24 NR

34 Kansas State   Big 12 43-18-1 22

35 Minnesota   Big Ten (40-19) NR

Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Army (26-21), Auburn
(31-25), Bethune-Cookman (32-28), Cal Poly (37-21), Charlotte (33-22),
Connecticut (36-24), Dallas Baptist (38-17), Dayton (38-19), Elon
(41-18), Florida Gulf Coast (36-18), Florida International (34-23),
Fresno State (32-30), George Mason (42-14), James Madison (30-24),
Kentucky (28-26), Long Beach State (25-29), Middle Tennessee State
(44-18), Mississippi State (25-29), Notre Dame (36-23), Oklahoma State
(34-24), Oral Roberts (33-15), Pepperdine (31-23), Rhode Island
(37-20-1), San Diego State (41-23), South Florida (34-25), Tennessee
(26-29), UCF (22-35), UNC Wilmington (31-23), Washington State (32-25),
Western Kentucky (42-20), Xavier (39-21) .

By conference: SEC 9, ACC 5, Big 12 5, Pac-10 4, Conference USA 3, Big
West 2, Big Ten 2, WCC 1, Big East 1, Big South 1, MVC 1, MWC 1.

Texas Tops The First Coaches’ Poll Of The Season

The preseason coaches poll has just been released, and, like the other preseason polls, Texas is number one.  Here’s a look at the rest of the Top 25:

Jan. 29, 2010 — preseason poll

Rank	School (first-place votes)	Record	Points	Final 2009 rank
1	Texas (18)	50-16-1	760	2
2	LSU (10)	56-17	721	1
3	Cal State-Fullerton (2)	47-16	671	7
4	Virginia (1)	49-15-1	665	5
5	Florida State	45-18	575	10
6	Rice	43-18	547	9
7	UC Irvine	45-15	534	16
8	Arizona State	51-14	497	3
9	Florida	42-22	489	13
10	Georgia Tech	38-19-1	484	18
11	North Carolina	48-18	456	4
12	TCU	40-18	367	12
13	Miami (Fla.)	38-22	355	20
14	Oregon State	37-19	350	NR
15	Clemson	44-22	334	14
16	Arkansas	41-24	289	6
17	Mississippi	44-20	249	11
18	East Carolina	46-20	224	15
19	Coastal Carolina	47-16	203	23
20	Louisville	47-18	192	17
21	Ohio State	42-19	131	NR
22	Oklahoma	43-20	127	19
23	San Diego	29-25	95	NR
24	Southern Mississippi	40-26	94	8
25	Stanford	30-25	79	NR

Others receiving votes: South Carolina (40-23) 75; Vanderbilt (37-27) 75; UCLA (27-29) 73; Texas A&M (37-24) 51; Georgia (38-24) 48; Minnesota (40-19) 48; Arizona (30-25) 33; Kansas (39-24) 24; Kansas State (43-18-1) 19; Wichita State (30-27) 19; Oral Roberts (33-15) 18; Pepperdine (31-23) 15; Middle Tennessee (44-18) 13; Fresno State (32-30) 9; Missouri (35-27) 9; Oklahoma State (34-24) 9; Alabama (37-21) 6; North Carolina-Wilmington (31-23) 6; Boston College (34-26) 5; Florida Gulf Coast (36-18) 5; James Madison (30-24) 5; Kentucky (28-26) 4; Long Beach State (25-29) 4; Cal Poly (37-21) 3; Gonzaga (36-18) 3; St. John’s (30-22) 3; Florida International (34-23) 2; Jacksonville (37-22) 1; Nebraska (25-28) 1; Western Kentucky (42-20) 1.

The USA TODAY/ESPN Board of Coaches is made up of 31 coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the American Baseball Coaches Association.

The 2010 board: The USA TODAY/ESPN Board of Coaches is made up of 31 coaches at Division I institutions. All are members of the American Baseball Coaches Association. The board for the 2010 season: Terry Alexander, Jacksonville; John Anderson, Minnesota; Ed Blankmeyer, St. John’s; Rob Cooper, Wright State; Sherman Corbett, Texas-San Antonio; Tim Corbin, Vanderbilt; David Eldredge, Southern Utah; Mike Gaski, North Carolina-Greensboro; Nino Giarratano, San Francisco; Gary Gilmore, Coastal Carolina; Keith Guttin, Missouri State; Danny Hall, Georgia Tech; Daniel Heefner, Dallas Baptist; Loren Hibbs, Charlotte; Charlie Hickey, Central Connecticut State; George Horton, Oregon; Steve Jaksa, Central Michigan; Omar Johnson, Jackson State; Rick Jones, Tulane; Steve Kittrell, South Alabama; Paul Kostacopoulos, Navy; Kevin Leighton, Manhattan; Gary McClure, Austin Peay; Mervyl Melendez, Bethune-Cookman; Gary Powers, Nevada; Mark Scalf, North Carolina-Wilmington; Jim Schlossnagle, TCU; Matt Senk, Stony Brook; Doug Smith, UC-Riverside; Steve Smith, Baylor; Bob Whalen, Dartmouth.