Baeball Ranked Ninth In Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll

Dec. 22, 2000

Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – The University of Miami will begin the 2001 season ranked No. 9 according to the Collegiate Baseball newspaper Preseason Fabulous 40 Poll. The Hurricanes’ No. 9 preseason ranking marks the fifth time under Head Coach Jim Morris that Miami has placed within Collegiate Baseball’s preseason top 10.

The Collegiate Baseball newspaper NCAA Division I poll is the nation’s oldest college baseball poll, beginning in 1957.

Additionally, junior left-handed pitcher Brian Walker and sophomore third baseman Kevin Howard were each named to Collegiate Baseball’s Preseason All-America Third-Team.

Walker led the pitching staff in 2000 with a 12-2 record, while posting a 3.26 ERA and 88 strikeouts. Walker was also named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Preseason All-America Third-Team.

Howard was named Collegiate Baseball’s Co-Freshman of the Year in 2000 after leading the Hurricanes with a .413 batting average. Additionally, Howard was named Freshman of the Year by Baseball America as well as First-Team Freshman All-American by every publication last season.

The Hurricanes, who finished as high as 13th in the 2000 final college baseball polls, begin the 2001 season with Florida Atlantic on January 25th at Mark Light Stadium. Call 1-800 GO CANES or 305-284-CANES in Miami-Dade County for further ticket information. Keep up with all news on Miami Baseball on UM’s official athletics website, www.hurricanesports.com.