Tigers Ranked #6 in Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll

Dec. 29, 2005

Clemson is ranked #6 in Collegiate Baseball’s 2006 preseason poll, released on Tuesday. It is the program’s 18th consecutive year ranked in that publication’s preseason top 25. The Tigers, who were 43-23 and came within one game of the College World Series in 2005, are the highest-ranked ACC team. Clemson has made 19 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, tied for the third-longest streak in NCAA history, and returns all eight positions starters in the field.

Texas is atop the poll, while Florida, Oregon State, Nebraska, and Rice round out the top five. Other ACC teams ranked in Collegiate Baseball’s top-25 poll include #7 North Carolina, #8 Florida State, #10 Georgia Tech, and #11 Miami (FL), giving the ACC five of the top-11 teams. Clemson finished the 2005 season ranked #13 by Collegiate Baseball.

Sophomore second baseman Taylor Harbin was also named a preseason first-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball. In 2005, the Travelers Rest, SC native hit .343 with 10 homers, 28 doubles, and 63 RBIs in 66 games. He was named a Collegiate Baseball Second-Team All-American, becoming the first Tiger freshman to earn All-America honors in school history. The First-Team All-ACC selection also led the ACC in doubles, while committing just nine errors for an outstanding .974 fielding percentage.

The Tigers open their 2006 schedule on February 17 against James Madison at Doug Kingsmore Stadium.