April 15, 2012. DURHAM — Appalachian State University baseball added another monumental achievement to its ever-growing 2012 resume on Monday when it entered Baseball America’s college top-25 poll for the first time. Appalachian comes in at No. 24 nationally in this week’s Baseball America rankings.
The No. 24 ranking not only marks Appalachian’s first appearance in the prestigious Baseball America poll — which dates back to 1981 — but also gives the Mountaineers their first-ever top-25 recognition in any major college baseball poll. Appalachian has been nationally ranked five previous times in its Division I history (1972-), including four weeks this season, but always among the final five teams in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and/or National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association top-30 polls.
Appalachian (36-12, 20-7 SoCon) enters the Baseball America poll with its first Southern Conference championship in 25 years in sight. The Mountaineers’ magic number to clinch no less than a share of their first conference title since 1987 and the No. 1 seed in next week’s SoCon Tournament is two, meaning that any combination of two ASU wins at Western Carolina and/or College of Charleston losses at UNC Greensboro this weekend will give the Apps the title. Both three-game series are slated for Thursday-Saturday.
Prior to the final weekend of SoCon play, the Mountaineers close out the home portion of their schedule on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. when they host Gardner-Webb at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium. Bring the whole family out as Appalachian athletics celebrates Fan Appreciation Night, with inflatable rides, food and fun for the whole family.
Baseball America’s Top 25
Rk. Team W-L Last Week Prev.
1. Florida State 40-10 1-3 1
2. South Carolina 38-13 2-1 4
3. Florida 38-14 3-1 6
4. Kentucky 41-11 4-0 7
5. Rice 36-14 3-1 5
6. Oregon 37-14 3-0 9
7. Baylor 39-11 1-3 2
8. Cal State Fullerton 32-15 2-1 8
9. Louisiana State 39-13 1-2 3
10. Texas A&M 37-14 3-0 10
11. UCLA 35-13 4-0 11
12. North Carolina 38-13 4-0 12
13. North Carolina State 36-13 3-1 13
14. Arizona 33-15 3-0 14
15. Purdue 39-10 4-1 15
16. Central Florida 40-12 3-1 16
17. Stanford 32-14 3-0 17
18. Arizona State 32-17 3-0 19
19. Virginia 34-15 3-1 21
20. Texas Christian 32-16 3-0 24
21. San Diego 38-13 2-2 18
22. Louisville 35-17 2-2 22
23. Oregon State 32-17 2-2 23
24. Appalachian State 36-12 2-1 NR
25. Mississippi 34-18 3-0 NR
You must be logged in to post a comment.