Rice University Athletics
Owls Seventh In Baseball America Preseason Poll
1/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Baseball America's 2006 Top 25 pdf
Baseball America's 2006 preseason all-America teams pdf
Jan. 5, 2006
DURHAM, NC - Shortly after the Rice baseball team took the field for its first practice of the 2006 season Thursday at Reckling Park, Baseball America picked the Owls seventh in the country in its annual preseason top 25. The publication also selected the Owl tandem of sophomore Joe Savery and junior Josh Rodriguez to its 2006 preseason all-America teams.
Savery and Rodriguez were tabbed as preseason all-America picks after a pair of outstanding seasons in 2005 that culminated with their selection to the United States' national team last summer. The versatile Savery was named to the publication's preseason all-America first team as a utility player. A year ago he hit .382 with 43 RBI and a .559 slugging percentage as a true freshman. The Houston native from nearby Lamar High School also went 8-5 on the mound with a 2.43 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 119 innings of work. Rodriguez was named third team all-America at shortstop. The standout from South Houston High School hit .345 last season and was among the best in the Western Athletic Conference with 11 home runs, 54 RBI and nine steals.
Baseball America has Rice ranked seventh overall. The Owls were ranked 13th in its final 2005 poll. A total of 20 lettermen return from the 2005 team that went 45-19, won the Baton Rouge Regional and came within four outs of reaching the College World Series.
A number of publications project Rice to be among the elite teams for 2006. Collegiate Baseball picked the Owls fifth and RosenblattReport.com ranked the team second in the country heading into the 2006 campaign.
The Blue and Gray gets the 2006 season underway with its biennial Varsity-Alumni Game at home at Reckling Park on Jan. 28. The team's first official game is Feb. 4 at home against Central Missouri State. Rice baseball has won 10-consecutive conference championships spanning two different leagues. The Owls compete in Conference USA for the first time in 2006. Rice is scheduled to host the C-USA postseason tournament May 24-28.
View the different polls the following publication's web sites.
Collegiate Baseball
Baseball America
RosenblattReport.com
ATTENTION All Rice Baseball Lettermen! It's not too late to sign up for the Varsity-Alumni Game, but the event is fast approaching! Download the form listed above and return it to the baseball or marketing office TODAY.
