Rice University Athletics
Owls Ranked 18th In Baseball America's 2011 Preseason Poll
1/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 27, 2011
DURHAM, N.C. - The Rice baseball team is 18th in the country in Baseball America's preseason rankings for the upcoming 2011 season, the publication announced from its headquarters in Durham, N.C., on Thursday (Jan. 27). Baseball America's full 2011 preseason poll appears below and at the publication's web site www.baseballamerica.com.
The Baseball America poll is on the eve of the Owls' first team practice of the 2011 season, Friday (Jan. 28) at Reckling Park. Rice returns 23 experienced lettermen to the roster in 2011, including five returning starters in the field and a host of veteran pitchers. In addition to junior third baseman Anthony Rendon, the 2010 Howser Trophy winner as the collegiate player of the year, the Owls have a highly-touted group of incoming freshmen players making their Division I debut this spring.
A year ago Rice went 40-23 and advanced to an NCAA Regional for a 16th-straight year. Under the direction of head coach Wayne Graham, who is now in his 20th season with the Blue & Gray, the Owls have won at least 40 games in each of the last 16 seasons and have won or shared 15-consecutive conference championships (including regular season and/or conference tournament titles).
Last month the Owls were ranked 21st in Collegiate Baseball`s preseason poll. Rice opens the 2011 season with a three-game home series at Reckling Park against No. 13 ranked Stanford on Feb. 18-20.
2011 Baseball America's Preseason Ranking (Jan. 27, 2011)
Rank School - '10 Final Record & Final Ranking
1. Florida 47-17 7
2. UCLA 51-17 2
3. Texas Christian 54-14 3
4. Vanderbilt 46-20 14
5. Oklahoma 50-18 5
6. Texas 50-13 9
7. South Carolina 54-16 1
8. Cal State Fullerton 46-18 11
9. Connecticut 48-16 NR
10. Clemson 45-25 10
11. Arizona State 52-10 4
12. Florida State 48-20 6
13. Stanford 31-25 NR
14. Oregon 40-24 25
15. Virginia 51-14 8
16. Baylor 36-24 NR
17. California 29-25 NR
18. Rice 40-23 21
19. Arizona 34-24 NR
20. Coll. of Charleston 44-19 NR
21. Texas A&M 43-21 23
22. Louisiana State 41-22 NR
23. St. John's 43-20 NR
24. Miami 43-20 15
25. Tulane 32-24 NR
