Baseball Ranked No. 22 In Preseason Baseball America Top 25

Green Wave claim preseason distinction in conjunction with return to campus for 2008 season

Jan. 22, 2008

NEW ORLEANS, La. - One month before the Green Wave play their first game back on campus since 2005 at the new Greer Field at Turchin Stadium, the Tulane University baseball team claimed the No. 22 spot in the 2008 Baseball America Preseason Top 25.

The preseason ranking marks 10th consecutive year that the Green Wave claimed a spot in the Baseball America preseason poll. The last time Tulane did not earn a spot in the magazine's preseason Top 25 was in 1998 when the team sat 34th at the beginning of the year en route to a 48-15 record, Conference USA regular-season and tournament championships and a trip to the NCAA South II Regional.

"I feel that any time you're ranked by Baseball America, that speaks well of your program," Tulane head baseball coach Rick Jones said. "We have always felt that they are the most valid publication in our industry. They do a great job of research with all the resources that they can use - whether it be college coaches, pro scouts and summer-league coaches. They do such a good job that it speaks well of you if you're ranked by them.

"As we say every year, this is preseason. Certainly last year is one in which we did not live up to our preseason ranking for the first time in a long time. That may be part of the ranking because there is a certain motivation and sense of urgency that has been running throughout this program from the day we got back this fall to start anew and get back to the kind of teams that we are accustomed to. Those teams are ones that play better late, not worse. You can't predict and we have a tough schedule, but I think we're a little bit better than some people give us credit for. I certainly think Baseball America recognizes that."

As a team, Tulane returns 17 lettermen, including six starters, from last year's team and adds 14 newcomers. Of the returning players, the Green Wave bring a pair of top pitchers in 2007 All C-USA honoree Shooter Hunt (6-6, 2.62 ERA, 104 K) and 2007 All C-USA Freshman Team member Preston Claiborne (0-2, 2 Sv., 2.36 ERA, 45 K). Sophomore southpaw Aaron Loup (2-1, 4.37 ERA, 36 K) returns following a summer season with the Vienna Senators where he was named the No. 1 prospect in the Clark Griffith Baseball League by Baseball America. Other returning arms include Jonathan Garrett (0-0, 7.71 ERA, 4 K), Taylor Rogers (1-0, 6.75 ERA, 11 K) and Drew Zizinia (0-0, 3.00 ERA, 37 K).

Junior catcher Jared Dyer is the team's top returning hitter after batting .300 (48-for-160) with four doubles, a triple, two home runs and 17 RBI in 2007. Junior outfielder Aja Barto also returns after leading the club last season with six home runs while chipping in with 28 RBI and seven stolen bases. Other returning position starters are junior outfielders Warren McFadden (.296, 4 HR, 34 RBI) - the 2006 C-USA and Louisiana Freshman of the Year - and Anthony Scelfo (.277, 4 HR, 28 RBI), along with junior infielder Seth Henry (.256, 3 HR, 25 RBI).

The list of new faces consists of three Division I transfers, five junior college graduates and seven true freshmen. Shortstop Josh Prince, southpaw Matt Petiton and right-handed pitcher Josh Zeid come to Tulane from Texas, North Carolina and Vanderbilt, respectively, while outfielders Drew Allain (Delgado CC) and Andrew Rodgers (Navarro JC), infielder Sam Honeck (Grayson CC), catcher Steve Moritz (Grayson CC) and closer Mason Griffin (Grayson CC) join the Green Wave program via the JuCo route.

Highlighting the list of true freshman on the roster are local products Robby Broach (RHP/INF) and Kirk Cunningham (OF/RHP) of Archbishop Rummel, Karl Mundt (C) of Mandeville High School, Nick Boullosa (OF) of Covington High and Matt Ryan (INF) of Jesuit. Infielder/Right-Handed Pitcher Rob Segedin (Old Tappan, N.J./Northern Valley Regional HS) and right-hander Nick Pepitone (Katy, Texas/Katy HS) round out the Green Wave's freshman class.

One of the biggest stories of the Green Wave's 2008 season is the team's return to campus where it will play in the new Greer Field at Turchin Stadium. The last time Tulane played on campus was on June 13, 2005, when the Green Wave defeated Rice, 9-6, in game three of the NCAA New Orleans Super Regional to punch their ticket to the College World Series.

The new stadium has increased seating up to 10,000, including 2,700 chairbacks, and will feature private suites, a new padded outfield wall, new concession stands, new restrooms and an expanded merchandise sales area. In addition, the playing surface has gone from natural grass to FieldTurf - the same surface used by several Major League Baseball and NFL stadiums. The entire field, with the exception of the pitcher's mound and bullpen throwing areas, will be FieldTurf, which all but eliminates the possibility of inclement weather making the field unplayable.

Tulane is one of three teams from C-USA to earn a spot in the Baseball America preseason poll as Rice enters the year ranked 14th and East Carolina sits 24th. In addition, the Wave are one of two teams from Louisiana to earn a spot in the Preseason Top 25, joining No. 19 Louisiana-Lafayette.

The Green Wave begin the 2008 season on Friday, Feb. 22, when they open Greer Field at Turchin Stadium with a 7 p.m. first pitch against Illinois-Chicago. For more ticket information, contact the Tulane Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 861-WAVE. To make a donation to TAF, call the Tulane Athletics Fund office at (504) 865-5356.

2008 Baseball America Preseason Top 25
                            2007        2007
      Team                  Record      Final Ranking
  1.  UCLA                  33-28       22
  2.  Arizona               42-17       NR
  3.  Vanderbilt            54-13        6
  4.  Mississippi           40-25       17
  5.  North Carolina        57-16        2
  6.  Missouri              42-18       24
  7.  Oregon State          49-18        1
  8.  Michigan              42-19       19
  9.  Arizona State         49-15        5
 10.  Miami (Fla.)          37-24       NR
 11.  San Diego             43-18       18
 12.  South Carolina        46-20       10
 13.  Long Beach State      39-20       NR
 14.  Rice                  56-14        3
 15.  Baylor                35-27       NR
 16.  Texas                 46-17       11
 17.  Virginia              45-16       16
 18.  Fresno State          38-29       NR
 19.  Louisiana-Lafayette   45-17       NR
 20.  Wichita State         53-22       13
 21.  Texas A&M             48-20       12
 22.  Tulane                34-26       NR
 23.  Clemson               41-23       15
 24.  East Carolina         40-23       NR
 25.  Old Dominion          35-24       NR