Feb. 17, 2009
IRVING, Texas - The back-to-back Big 12 champion and No. 1-ranked Texas A&M baseball team was picked to defend its 2008 regular-season crown in a vote of the league's head coaches, the conference office announced Tuesday.
It marked the second time in the 13-year history of the league, and the first time since 1999, that the Aggies claimed the top spot in the preseason poll.
A&M (81 points) received nine of the possible 10 first-place votes to edge out '08 postseason champion Texas, which earned 69 points. Baylor and Oklahoma State were tied for third followed by Missouri, Oklahoma and Nebraska. Texas Tech, Kansas State and Kansas fill the remaining spots in the poll. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams.
Six of the schools in the Big 12 are ranked nationally, including four in the top 10. The Aggies lead the way at No. 1, followed by Texas (No. 4), Baylor (No. 8), Missouri (No. 10), Oklahoma State (No. 13) and Oklahoma (No. 16).
Fourth-year head coach Rob Childress' squad will start the year with one of the nation's deepest pitching staffs. On the mound, 84 percent of the innings pitched are back off a staff that finished 19th nationally in earned run average. Overall, 41 of A&M's 46 wins--or 89 percent--return, led by the entire weekend rotation of sophomores Brooks Raley and Barret Loux and junior Clayton Ehlert. The back end of the bullpen, anchored by senior Kyle Thebeau and junior Travis Starling, also remains intact.
The top offensive leaders returning in 2009 are a pair of first-team All-Big 12 picks in senior first baseman Luke Anders and senior center fielder Kyle Colligan. Last year the Aggies hit 81 home runs, averaged just under eight runs per game and stole 91 bases.
A&M returns 14 letterwinners, four position starters and eight pitchers from a 2008 squad that went 46-19, won the Big 12 regular-season title and the NCAA College Station Regional championship. The season begins Friday at 6:35 p.m. against Wright State at Olsen Field. Tickets are available at the gate, by calling 888-99-AGGIE or online at aggieathletics.com.
2009 BIG 12 CONFERENCE BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
Rk Team (First-place votes) Pts 1. Texas A&M (9) 81 2. Texas (1) 69 3. Baylor 59 Oklahoma State 59 5. Missouri 51 6. Oklahoma 42 7. Nebraska 38 8. Texas Tech 25 9. Kansas State 15 10. Kansas 11