University of Houston Athletics
Baseball Picked Fifth in C-USA Preseason Poll
1/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 30, 2008
HOUSTON - The University of Houston baseball team was picked to finish fifth in the 2008 Preseason Coaches Poll, released by the league office Wednesday.
The Cougars received 38 votes to rank fifth in the poll, which was voted on by the league's head coaches. Rice was picked first with 81 points and received all but one first-place vote. East Carolina, which received the other first-place vote, ranked second with 61 points and was followed by Southern Miss (57) and Tulane (52).
UCF (26), Memphis (24), UAB (22) and Marshall (13) rounded out the rest of the league.
Individually, junior infielder Jimmy Cesario was the Cougars' lone selection on the Preseason All-Conference Team.
In 2007, the Metairie, La., native was earned All-Conference USA First-Team honors and was recognized as the league's Newcomer of the Year after batting .352 with 13 doubles, three home runs and 35 RBIs.
He compiled a 20-game hitting streak midway through the season, becoming only the fifth player in school history to reach that milestone.
Rice swept the preseason individual awards with junior outfielder/DH Aaron Luna being named the Preseason Player of the Year and sophomore righthander Ryan Berry collecting Preseason Pitcher of the Year accolades.
The Top Eight teams from Conference USA will head to Tulane's Turchin Stadium on May 21-25 for the annual C-USA Championship. The winner of the league's annual postseason event earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals, which begin May 30.
The Cougars begin the 2008 season with the start of practice on Friday. On Saturday, the program plays host to an Alumni Game beginning at 1 p.m. with an intrasquad scrimmage featuring the 2008 Cougar team to follow.
Both the Alumni Game and the scrimmage are free and open to the public.
Following the game, fans are invited to a picnic at Cougar Field where they can eat and enjoy good times with current and former Cougar players.
While the game is free and open to the public, fans must pay in advance and make reservations to attend the picnic. Fans who wish to attend the picnic must call or email Brandi Clark (713-743-9456 or brclark2@central.uh.edu). Prices to attend the picnic are $15 for adults and $7.50 for children 12 and under.
2008 PRESEASON BASEBALL COACHES POLL
(as selected by C-USA's head coaches)
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
Rank School (First Place Votes) Pts.
1. Rice (8), 80
2. East Carolina (1), 61
3. Southern Miss, 57
4. Tulane, 52
5. Houston, 38
6. UCF, 26
7. Memphis, 24
8. UAB, 22
9. Marshall, 13
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Aaron Luna, Rice (Junior, Outfielder/Designated Hitter)
PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Ryan Berry, Rice (Sophomore, Righthander)
ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
P • Ryan Berry • So. • Rice
P • T.J. Hose • Sr. • East Carolina
P • Shooter Hunt • Jr. • Tulane
RP • Cole St.Clair • Sr. • Rice
C • Adam Zornes • Sr. • Rice
IF • Stephen Batts • Jr. • East Carolina
IF • Jimmy Cesario • Jr. • Houston
IF • Brian Dozier •Jr. • Southern Miss
IF • Trey Sutton • Sr. • Southern Miss
IF • Kiko Vasquez • Jr. • UCF
OF • Tyson Auer • Sr. •UCF
OF • K.K. Chalmers • Sr. • Memphis
OF • Harrison Eldridge •Sr. • East Carolina
DH • Aaron Luna •Jr. • Rice
