Owls Ranked 7th In Baseball America Preseason Poll
1/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 20, 2009
DURHAM, N.C.-- The Rice baseball team was ranked 7th in the nation in the Baseball America preseason poll for 2009, the publication announced on Tuesday (Jan. 20).
The editorial staff of Baseball America determined the Top 25 rankings. Rice baseball is coming off a third-straight trip to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Since 1996 the Owls have won 13-consecutive conference championships spanning three different college baseball leagues. Rice was ranked third in earlier preseason polls by Collegiate Baseball magazine and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).
The team's first practice, under head coach Wayne Graham in his 18th season at the helm of the program, is set for Feb. 1. The 2009 Rice baseball season begins with a three-game weekend series on the road against Cal Poly beginning on Feb. 20. The Owls' official home-opener at Reckling Park is set for Feb. 25 against crosstown rival Houston at 4 pm.
The full 2009 Baseball America Preseason Poll is as follows:
1. Texas A&M
2. Louisiana State
3. North Carolina
4. Texas
5. Cal State Fullerton
6. Mississippi
7. Rice Owls
8. Baylor
9. UC Irvine
10. Missouri
11. San Diego
12. UCLA
13. Arizona State
14. Georgia
15. Stanford
16. Oklahoma
17. Pepperdine
18. Kent State
19. Clemson
20. Georgia Tech
21. Alabama
22. Arkansas
23. Louisville
24. Florida State
25. Oregon State