Kats among PerfectGame.org ?Next 30?
1/29/2014 10:01:00 AM | Baseball
The Sam Houston State baseball team was not selected as a member of the 2014 Perfect Game Preseason College Top 25, but the Bearkats were chosen as one of the next 30 teams in college baseball.
Selected among one of this season's opponents, TCU, as well as last season's NCAA Regional opponent Louisiana-Lafayette, the Kats are the eighth team listed by Perfect Game.
David Pierce's Bearkats made some noise in the Baton Rouge Regional last season and are expected to be good once again this season.
SHSU welcomes back a very solid weekend rotation even with the departures of Caleb Smith and Cody Dickson. Junior righthanded pitcher Tyler Eppler is an arm to watch after he tallied a 3.41 ERA last season and blossomed during the fall with a fastball up to 94, while Andrew Godall had a 3.10 ERA in 81 1/3 innings last season.
Meanwhile, reliever Jason Simms is back for another season and the bulk of the offense is back with Carter Burgess, Colt Atwood and Anthony Azar leading the way. SHSU also welcomes back hard-hitting Luke Plucheck, who finished last season with nine homers.
Rice (17), Texas A&M (19) and Texas (25), all on the Kats 2014 schedule, are ranked in the preseason top 25.
The Bearkats were also a team receiving votes in the Collegiate Baseball's NCAA Division I pre-season poll.
The 2014 season opens at home Feb. 14 with a four-game series against Northern Colorado. Fans can purchase season tickets for the baseball or softball by clicking here or calling 936-294-1729.
The 2014 Perfect game Preseason College Top 25
| Rk | Team | Final 2013 record | Final 2013 ranking |
| 1 | Virginia | 50-12 | 11 |
| 2 | Cal State Fullerton | 51-10 | 8 |
| 3 | Oregon State | 52-13 | 4 |
| 4 | Florida State | 47-17 | 10 |
| 5 | Indiana | 49-16 | 8 |
| 6 | Mississippi State | 51-20 | 2 |
| 7 | South Carolina | 43-20 | 13 |
| 8 | UCLA | 49-17 | 1 |
| 9 | Oregon | 48-16 | 17 |
| 10 | North Carolina State | 50-16 | 7 |
| 11 | Vanderbilt | 54-12 | 10 |
| 12 | Louisiana State | 57-11 | 5 |
| 13 | North Carolina | 59-12 | 3 |
| 14 | Clemson | 40-22 | NR |
| 15 | Florida | 29-30 | NR |
| 16 | Louisville | 51-14 | 9 |
| 17 | Rice | 44-20 | 16 |
| 18 | Arizona State | 37-22 | 21 |
| 19 | Texas A&M | 34-29 | NR |
| 20 | Miami (Fla.) | 37-25 | NR |
| 21 | Alabama | 35-28 | NR |
| 22 | Kansas State | 45-19 | 14 |
| 23 | Oklahoma State | 41-19 | 23 |
| 24 | Florida Atlantic | 42-22 | 20 |
| 25 | Texas | 27-24 | NR |
