TUCSON, Ariz. – Less than eight months removed from turning in one of its best seasons in school history, the UNCP baseball team was among 41 teams included in the preseason poll by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper released Monday afternoon by the online publication.
Having concluded the 2009 campaign in a tie for 30th in the final poll by the organization, the Braves will begin the 2010 season in a tie for 40th in the listing. UNCP is among five Peach Belt Conference teams included in the listing as USC Aiken (6th), Francis Marion (12th), North Georgia (24th) and Georgia College (27th) were also included. Columbus State and Armstrong Atlantic State also received votes in the poll.
UNC Pembroke broke nine school records last season, including registering a program-best 37 victories on the strength of a team-high .327 batting average and 70 home runs. In terms of winning percentage, the 37-17 (.685) record was the team's best win-loss clip since the 1973 club tallied a 28-10 (.750) clip.
The Braves will begin the 2010 season on February 1 at Coker. The Black and Gold is set to make its home debut with a 3-game series against Salem International, Feb. 13-14, at Sammy Cox Field.
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PRESEASON COLLEGIATE BASEBALL DIVISION II RANKINGS (DECEMBER 21) |
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| Rank | School | 2009 W-L | Points | Prev |
| 1 | Emporia State | 49-14 | 630 | 2 |
| 2 | Florida Southern | 41-16 | 618 | 8 |
| 3 | UC San Diego | 41-15 | 594 | 3 |
| 4 | Southern Arkansas | 52-11 | 586 | 4 |
| 5 | Mesa State | 44-15 | 572 | 5 |
| 6 | USC Aiken | 42-19 | 562 | 11 |
| t7 | Tampa | 40-17 | 522 | 26 |
| t7 | Ashland | 42-15 | 522 | 23 |
| 9 | West Chester | 46-12 | 520 | 7 |
| 10 | Lynn | 46-16 | 506 | 1 |
| 11 | Central Missouri | 44-15 | 488 | 10 |
| 12 | Francis Marion | 38-15-1 | 462 | 14 |
| 13 | Abilene Christian | 44-19 | 414 | 16 |
| 14 | Wayne State (Neb.) | 45-15 | 408 | 27 |
| 15 | Indianapolis | 43-21 | 394 | 21 |
| 16 | Franklin Pierce | 37-18 | 392 | NR |
| 17 | Tusculum | 36-18 | 368 | NR |
| 18 | Western Oregon | 34-13 | 352 | 18 |
| 19 | West Alabama | 38-16 | 350 | 17 |
| 20 | Grand Valley State | 45-16-1 | 344 | 9 |
| 21 | Angelo State | 45-20 | 300 | 19 |
| 22 | Cal State Chico | 35-21 | 280 | NR |
| 23 | Delta State | 38-16 | 272 | 22 |
| 24 | North Georgia | 34-24 | 270 | NR |
| 25 | Kutztown | 34-17 | 266 | NR |
| 26 | Valdosta State | 43-21 | 210 | 20 |
| 27 | Georgia College | 37-19 | 208 | NR |
| t28 | Cameron | 42-15 | 200 | 32 |
| t28 | Northern Kentucky | 41-22 | 200 | NR |
| 30 | Mount Olive | 33-18 | 162 | NR |
| 31 | Barry | 44-11 | 160 | 15 |
| 32 | Colorado State-Pueblo | 41-22 | 148 | NR |
| 33 | Southern Indiana | 39-19 | 130 | NR |
| 34 | Cal State Los Angeles | 32-17 | 122 | NR |
| 35 | Mercyhurst | 38-17 | 116 | 30 |
| 36 | Dowling | 35-18 | 96 | 12 |
| 37 | St. Mary's (Texas) | 36-17 | 88 | NR |
| t38 | Catawba | 36-18 | 62 | 24 |
| t38 | Slippery Rock | 36-15 | 62 | NR |
| t40 | UNC Pembroke | 37-17 | 30 | 31 |
| t40 | Dominican (N.Y.) | 38-14 | 30 | NR |
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OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: New Mexico Highlands (28), Rockhurst, West Florida (24), Texas-Permian Basin (22), Erskine, Belmont Abbey (16), Cal. St. Dominguez Hills (10), Shepherd, Florida Tech. (6), Minnesota St.-Mankato (4), Henderson St., Nova Southeastern, North Alabama, Barton, Columbus St., Armstrong Atlantic, Cal. St. Stanislaus, Bellarmine, Quincy, Wayne St. (MI), St. Joseph's, S.W. Minnesota, St. Edwards, Shippensburg, Concord, Missouri Southern, California (PA) (1). |
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DROPPED OUT: No. 6 Belmont Abbey, No. 13 Sonoma State, No 25 Armstrong Atlantic, No. 28 Nebraska-Omaha, No. 29 Texas-Permian Basin. |
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