Clemson Tabbed ACC Baseball Preseason Favorite

Jan. 19, 2007

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Clemson Tigers have been selected as the overall preseason favorite to capture the Atlantic Coast Conference baseball championship in Jacksonville, Fla., in May, as determined by a vote of the league’s 12 head coaches. The Tigers were also chosen by the coaches to win the Atlantic Division title, while the North Carolina Tar Heels, last year’s national runner-up, were picked as the favorite to capture the Coastal Division crown. This is the second year for divisional play in the ACC as Clemson and North Carolina won their respective divisions a year ago.

Clemson, who claimed the ACC Championship with an 8-4 victory over NC State last year, tallied 71 points including 11 of 12 first-place votes to receive the top spot in the Atlantic Division. The Tigers made their 11th appearance in the College World Series a season ago, finishing 2006 with a record of 53-16. Clemson went undefeated (15-0) at home during league play last season en route to posting a conference ledger of 24-6.

North Carolina was picked to win the Coastal Division title, receiving 60 points including four first-place votes. The Tar Heels edged out Miami, who collected 58 total points and two first-place votes, for the top spot in the division. UNC capped the 2006 season with a berth in the championship series of the College World Series, falling to Oregon State in a best of three series, 2-1. The Tar Heels posted a record of 54-15 overall, 22-8 in ACC play last year, to claim the Coastal Division title.

Below is a listing of the preseason coaches’ poll by divisions with 2006 records.

Atlantic DivisionSchool……………..Points……..Record 1. Clemson (11)………..71…………53-16, 24-6 ACC 2. Florida State (1)……55…………44-21, 16-13 ACC 3. NC State……………48…………40-23, 16-13 ACC 4. Wake Forest…………40…………33-22, 16-13 ACC 5. Boston College………20…………28-25-1, 9-21 ACC 6. Maryland……………18…………26-30, 8-22 ACC

Coastal DivisionSchool……………..Points……..Record 1. North Carolina (4)…. 60…………54-15, 22-8 ACC 2. Miami (2)…………..58…………42-24, 17-13 ACC 3. Virginia (4)………..54…………47-15, 21-9 ACC 4. Georgia Tech (2)…….44…………50-18, 19-11 ACC 5. Virginia Tech……….22…………20-33, 4-25 ACC 6. Duke……………….14…………15-40, 6-24 ACC

ACC Overall Champion: Clemson – 9 Georgia Tech – 2 Virginia – 1