Tuesday, February 02, 2010

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FORT MYERS, Fla. – The preseason accolades continue to roll in for the FGCU baseball team, as the Eagles have earned recognition in two more 2010 preseason polls. The Blue and Green are ranked 25th in the Ping! Baseball rankings and received five votes in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Poll, tying FGCU for 44th in the nation with Boston College and James Madison University.

Including the previously-released NCBWA Preseason Poll and the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Preseason Poll, the Eagles have now received votes in four preseason polls. FGCU is the only school in the Atlantic Sun Conference that has received any votes in any 2010 preseason polls.

“We are excited for Ping Baseball to select us as the 25th ranked team in the country in their preseason poll,” head coach Dave Tollett said. “Our fans should be excited for the 2010 season, especially after all of the recognition we have already received.”

Here is what Ping! Baseball had to say about FGCU baseball:

“The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles joined DI just two years ago and won the Atlantic Sun regular season title both years. Despite their conference crowns, they haven't been eligible to complete in the postseason. That changes in 2010 and head coach Dave Tollett has a club stocked with talent. The most heralded Eagle is starter Chris Sale (7-4, 2.72), a big 6'6" lefty who was both the Cape Cod League's All Star and league pitching MVP over the summer. Not only does Sale have plenty of other pitching to back him up, but an impressive offensive contingent as well. Zach Maxfield (.383, 20, 66) and Tim Roberson (.349, 19, 65) are just two weapons which make FGCU competitive.”

Ping! Baseball Top 30 2010 Preseason Rankings

1. Texas
2. Florida State
3. Cal State Fullerton
4. Virginia
5. Rice
6. Florida
7. LSU
8. Arizona State
9. UC Irvine
10. Georgia Tech
11. Arkansas
12. Clemson
13. Louisville
14. San Diego
15. Oregon State
16. Coastal Carolina
17. Vanderbilt
18. Ole Miss
19. TCU
20. East Carolina
21. Miami
22. Kentucky
23. North Carolina
24. Ohio State
25. FGCU
26. South Carolina
27. Middle Tennessee State
28. Southern Miss
29. Wichita State
30. Minnesota

About Ping! Baseball: Originally a labor of love and small clandestine operation in a basement just a stone’s throw from Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Nebraska, Ping!Baseball has grown to become a robust group whose dynamic membership celebrates the athletes, excitement and emotion of the game.

Ping! Baseball's goal is to appeal to not just hardcore fans, but to casual and new fans as well, providing profiles and news in an informative, yet simple and entertaining manner. We are open to any comments, suggestions or inquiries that you may have.

USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Preseason Poll

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.