Jan. 4, 2007

Baseball America web site

DURHAM, N.C. -- Led by the return of all-America selections Brian Friday, Tyler Henley, Aaron Luna, Cole St.Clair and Joe Savery, part of a talented squad of 18 lettermen returning from the 2006 team that compiled a 57-13 record and finished tied for third at the College World Series, the 2007 Rice baseball team has been picked as the number one team in the nation by Baseball America magazine in its annual preseason poll for the upcoming year.

The publication announced its preseason poll of the country's top teams from its headquarters in Durham, N.C., on Thursday (Jan. 4), the same day the Owls were scheduled to take the field for their first practice of 2007. Rain in the Houston area, however, pushed the first day of practice back to Friday morning (Jan. 5).

Only two weeks ago another national publication, Collegiate Baseball, tabbed the Owls for the nation's top spot for 2007. The respective number one rankings are Rice's highest preseason ranking since the 2004 team was coming off the national championship season of 2003. Baseball America had Rice seventh in the preseason a year ago and the Blue & Gray responded by reaching the semifinals of the College World Series in Omaha.

Under the direction of head coach Wayne Graham, now in his 16th season at the helm of the Rice baseball program, Baseball America cited the Owls' "deep staff and dangerous lineup" as its choice for the top ranking. Graham has seven starters returning to the regular lineup as well 11 experienced pitchers back in 2007. The newcomers making their Rice debut in 2007 were tabbed as among the best recruiting classes in the country by a host of baseball publications.

The Owls already had a challenging schedule in place for 2007 well before the number one ranking. Rice is scheduled to play 16 games against nine teams in Baseball America's preseason poll. Rice gets the new season underway on Feb. 3, 2007, at home in Reckling Park against Central Missouri State. First pitch is slated for 2 pm.

Rice baseball has won 11-consecutive conference championships spanning three different leagues. Baseball America's 2007 preseason poll appears below and at the above link.

Baseball America's NCAA Div. I Pre-Season Top 25 (Jan. 4, 2007)

Rank School ('06 Final Record)
1. RICE OWLS (57-13)
2. Miami, Fla. (42-24)
3. Clemson (53-16)
4. Texas (41-21)
5. North Carolina (54-15)
6. South Carolina (41-25)
7. Arkansas (39-21)
8. Vanderbilt (38-27)
9. Virginia (47-15)
10. Wichita St. (46-22)
11. Tennessee (31-24)
12. Georgia Tech. (50-18)
13. UCLA (33-25)
14. Cal. St. Fullerton (50-15)
15. Tulane (43-21)
16. Oregon State (50-16)
17. Nebraska (42-17)
18. Florida St. (42-21)
19. Pepperdine (42-21)
20. Arizona St. (37-21)
21. Evansville (43-22)
22. Oklahoma St. (41-20)
23. Winthrop (46-18)
24. Texas Christian (39-23)
25. Mississippi (44-22)