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Baseball: UL baseball ranked No. 14 by Baseball America – Standing is Highest Ever For ProgramTim Buckley, Daily Advertiser, Jan. 28, 2014 The 2014 University of Louisiana at Lafayette baseball team is getting big-time national notice before it has even taken the field. The Ragin’ Cajuns are ranked No. 14 in Baseball America’s preseason Top 25 poll, released Monday. The ranking is the highest ever for UL’s baseball program in the preseason poll, and it marks the Cajuns’ first appearance in Baseball America’s preseason Top 25 since 2008, when it started the season at No. 18. LSU is ranked No. 9 and Virginia, which returns eight starters and has reached the 50-win plateau in three of the last four years, is No. 1 in this year’s poll. Oregon State is No. 2 and Indiana is No. 3. The Southeastern Conference leads all conferences with eight teams cracking the poll, including four among the top 10, topped by South Carolina at No. 7. The Baseball America Top 25, compiled by staff of the publication, is one of college baseball’s most highly regarded nationally polls. Earlier this month, Collegiate Baseball — another well-regarded national poll — had the Cajuns at No. 23 in its preseason rankings. UL coach Tony Robichaux is happy to see his team nationally ranked, but he doesn’t want it to rest on preseason laurels. “It’s good to be rewarded for the coaches’ and players’ hard work,” Robichaux said in a statement. “To get to the point of being recognized is an honor. “We have to make sure that we don’t get caught up in everything, and that we continue to work to be the best we can be,” he added. “The most important ranking to us is the one at the end of the year.” Except for starting right fielder and leadoff-hitter Dex Kjerstad, the Cajuns return all of their major pieces in the field from a 43-20 team that was eliminated by LSU from NCAA Regional postseason play a season ago. That includes senior outfielder Caleb Adams, who late last month was named to the Louisville Slugger’s Preseason All-America Third Team. Adams ranked ninth in the nation in home runs with 16 last year, when he also hit .339 with 55 RBIs. The Cajuns return all three of their weekend starters from last year in Austin Robichaux (9-2 with a 3.05 ERA), Ryan Wilson and Cody Boutte. They also added to their pitching depth with additions including ex-LSU righty Carson Baranik and the return of Chris Griffitt, a senior lefty who missed all of last year due to injury. The Cajuns open their regular season with a four-game series against Eastern Illinois that opens Feb. 14 at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field. “We have to go out and play,” coach Robichaux said. “You don’t get crowned a champion off of rankings. We are getting prepared for that, and hopefully the rest will fall into place.” Athletic Network Footnote: Team 2013 Record Final 2013 Ranking
1. Virginia 50-12 11
2. Oregon State 52-13 4
3. Indiana 49-16 7
4. Cal State Fullerton 51-10 10
5. North Carolina State 50-16 6
6. Florida State 47-17 12
7. South Carolina 43-20 14
8. Mississippi State 51-20 2
9. Louisiana State 57-11 5
10. Vanderbilt 54-12 9
11. Oregon 48-16 17
12. UCLA 49-17 1
13. Clemson 40-22 NR
14. Louisiana 43-20 NR
15. Rice 44-20 16
16. Miami 37-25 NR
17. North Carolina 59-12 3
18. Texas 27-24 NR
19. Texas Christian 29-28 NR
20. Louisville 51-14 8
21. Alabama 35-28 NR
22. Kansas State 45-19 13
23. Florida 29-30 NR
24. Texas A&M 34-19 NR
25. Arkansas 39-22 18
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