Huskers Ranked Ninth in Preseason Poll

Lincoln ? The University of Nebraska baseball team earned its first preseason ranking of the season, while two Husker baseball players were honored, as Collegiate Baseball released its preseason poll and All-American team on Friday.

 

The Huskers, who finished the 2006 season with a 42-17 record, were picked ninth in the preseason poll and were one of three Big 12 teams ranked in the top 25 by the publication. The Huskers return 22 letterwinners, including six everyday starters and 12 pitchers, from a squad that that reached an NCAA regional for the seventh time in the past eight seasons.

 

The Husker returnees are highlighted by junior left-hander Tony Watson and junior shortstop Ryan Wehrle, who were both named preseason All-Americans. Watson, a second-team selection, compiled a 10-2 record with a 2.78 ERA in 2006, ranking among the Big 12 leaders in wins, innings and opponent batting average (.236) en route to first-team All-Big 12 accolades last spring. Watson was drafted in the 17th round by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2006 MLB Draft, but elected to return for his junior campaign. 

 

Wehrle, a third-team preseason All-American, returns after hitting .367 with eight homers and 48 RBIs a year ago. The Papillion, Neb., native also ranked among the Big 12 leaders with 22 doubles and was a perfect 14-of-14 on stole base attempts in 2006. Wehrle, the first Husker shortstop since 1985 to earn first-team all-conference honorees, was picked in the 18th round by the Cincinnati Reds, but elected to return to NU for this upcoming season.

 

The Huskers will face a daunting 2007 schedule, as four Big 12 teams are in the preseason poll, led by seventh-ranked Texas. In addition to the Longhorns, who visit Lincoln for a three-game series in April, Baylor (No. 21), Oklahoma State (No. 24) and Oklahoma (No. 34) are all nationally ranked. In addition, the Huskers will also face top-ranked Rice in Houston on Feb. 24.

 

The Huskers will open spring practice in mid-January and will open the 2007 campaign in Arlington, Texas,  on Feb. 16, against New Mexico.

 

Collegiate Baseball Newspaper's NCAA Div. I Pre-Season Poll (As of Dec. 22, 2006)             

Rank School ('06 Final Record)       Points                                    Final '06 Rank

1. Rice (57-13)                                     497                                         3

2. Clemson (53-16)                            492                                         5

3. South Carolina (41-25)                  490                                         12

4. Arkansas (39-21)                            488                                         25

5. North Carolina (54-15)                   487                                         2

6. Miami, Fla. (42-24)                          483                                         6

7. Texas (41-21)                                  482                                         17

8. Vanderbilt (38-27)                           479                                         -

9. Nebraska (42-17)                           477                                         22

10. Virginia (47-15)                             474                                         20

 

11. Georgia Tech. (50-18)                 472                                         8

12. Cal. St. Fullerton (50-15)             469                                         4

13. Florida St. (42-21)                         467                                         24

14. Arizona St. (37-21)                        464                                         -

15. Texas Christian (39-23)              462                                         -

16. Tulane (43-21)                              459                                         27

17. Wichita St. (46-22)                        456                                         -

18. Tennessee (31-24)                      453                                         -

19. Pepperdine (42-21)                      450                                         30

20. Mississippi (44-22)                      448                                         11

 

21. Baylor (37-26)                               447                                         26

22. Georgia (47-23)                            444                                         7

23. Stanford (33-27)                            441                                         15

24. Oklahoma St. (41-20)                  438                                         23

25. Southern California (25-33)        435                                         -

26. UCLA (33-25)                                                433                                         -

27. Arizona (27-28)                              431                                         -

28. Evansville (43-22)                         429                                         19

29. Oral Roberts (41-16)                    426                                         14

30. Long Beach St. (29-27)               424                                         -

 

31. Louisiana St. (35-24)                   421                                         -

32. Mississippi St. (37-23)                                420                                         -

33. Houston (39-22)                           417                                         21

34. Oklahoma (45-22)                        414                                         10

35. Troy (47-16)                                   412                                         -

36. San Francisco (39-23)                 409                                         -

37. Winthrop (46-18)                           407                                         -

38. Michigan (43-21)                           406                                         -

39. Notre Dame (45-17-1)                 403                                         -

40. Ohio St. (37-21)                             401                                         -

 

Other Teams Receiving Votes: Oregon St., Kentucky, Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Hawaii, McNeese St., Missouri St., Jacksonville, Maine, North Carolina St., Wake Forest, U.C. Irvine, Fresno St., San Jose St., Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Missouri, San Diego, Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara, Florida Atlantic, Louisiana-Lafayette, South Alabama, Stetson, North Florida, Washington, Washington St., California, Western Carolina, College of Charleston, Rhode Island, Louisville, Minnesota, Cal. Poly-SLO, U.C. Riverside, Old Dominion, Southern Mississippi, East Carolina, Memphis, Central Michigan, Kent St., Ball St., Creighton, San Diego St., Samford, Army.