Clemson Baseball Picked Third in ACC Coaches Preseason Poll

by CU Athletic Communications - Fri Jan 25 10:54:03 GMT-04:00 2013

GREENSBORO, N.C. – NC State has been selected as the 2013 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball preseason favorite in a vote of the league's 12 head coaches.

The Wolfpack was named by six coaches as this year's ACC team to beat, while North Carolina received four votes, and Florida State and Virginia one each.

NC State, which returns 2012 ACC Pitcher and Freshman of the Year Carlos Rodon, along with preseason All-America infielder Trea Turner, was also named by 10 coaches as the likely Atlantic Division winner. Defending division champion Florida State and Clemson each received one first-place vote.

North Carolina received the nod to repeat as the Coastal Division champion. The Tar Heels received nine of the possible 12 first-place votes while totaling 69 total points (six points for each first-place vote, five for each second-place vote, etc). The Tar Heels were followed in the overall Coastal Division voting by Georgia Tech (55), while Virginia (50) placed third and Miami (39) fourth. Virginia Tech (27) placed fifth, followed by Duke (12).

Two coaches named Virginia as the likely Coastal Division winner, and defending ACC champion Georgia Tech received one vote.

NC State (69) and Florida State (60) were picked 1-2 in the overall Atlantic Division voting, followed by Clemson (50), Wake Forest (34), Maryland (22) and Boston College (17).

All 12 ACC teams open their seasons with non-conference games on Friday, Feb. 15. The 2013 ACC Baseball Championship is scheduled for May 22 through 26 at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C.

Twelve ACC student-athletes have been named 2013 preseason All-Americans by at least one publication, and five conference teams have been ranked among the top 25 of at least one major preseason poll.

With Florida State reaching the College World Series last season, the ACC has placed a total of 15 teams in Omaha since 2006. Seven ACC teams received NCAA Tournament berths in 2012, and at least five conference teams have been selected for postseason play each of the past 11 seasons.

2013 ACC BASEBALL COACHES PRESEASON POLL

OVERALL CHAMPION: NC State (6)

Also receiving votes: North Carolina (4), Florida State (1), Virginia (1)

ATLANTIC DIVISION

TeamPoints

NC State (10)69

Florida State (1)60

Clemson (1)50

Wake Forest34

Maryland22

Boston College17

COASTAL DIVISION