Wednesday, February 6, 2008
With three to four teams in almost every preseason ranking, the Big 12 South might enhance a conference that has already been successful in recent years.
While on Baseball America’s poll the University of Missouri ranks the highest of any Big 12 team at sixth, the South still features a number of quality teams. These teams have been knocking on the Championship door the past couple of years and this might be the year that they kick it down.
BAYLOR
The Bears are ranked 15th and have one of the youngest teams in the country this year. With only one senior in their projected starting lineup, the Bears will feature four sophomores in the infield. The only non-sophomore in the infield is their best and most prolific player, short stop Beamer Weems. Weems knows what it takes to get to the College World Series having been there before and will look to carry his younger teammates back to the promised land.
TEXAS
Behind Baylor is the 16th ranked Texas Longhorns. While being ranked lower, the Longhorns are still a favorite to win the conference and contenders to win a national title. With the best outfield in the Big 12, the Longhorns return with right fielder Kyle Russell and center fielder Jordan Danks, both juniors. Russell hit .336 last year and put 28 balls in the stands, as Danks hit .332 and had exceptional range in center. The formula to the Longhorns success this year will be their pitching. They will go as far as their untested starting rotation will take them.
TEXAS A&M
Completing the trio of the three headed monster in the South conference, is Texas A&M. Unlike Baylor, the Aggies will feature an all junior and senior starting lineup. After finishing 48-19 last year, the Aggies may be ready to surprise some people and contend to win the conference. The Aggies will look to make their run behind senior second basemen Blake Stouffer, who averaged .398 last year. Stouffer and the four other seniors in the starting lineup will look to use past experience as a tool for success. While Baylor, Texas and Texas A&M will take the higher ranking in the preseason, look for teams to make a run at them.
OKLAHOMA STATE
Oklahoma State is a team that will enter the season under the radar and a team that may be able to contend. Having their best two players starting on the corners in the infield, first basemen Rebel Ridling and third basemen Matt Hague will look to take the Cowboys on a Big 12 Championship voyage.
OKLAHOMA
The Sooners will look to try and compete this year behind starting pitcher Stephen Porlier. The Sooners finished the 2007 season with a 11-16 Big 12 record and a 34-24 record overall. If the Sooners can put up some runs to back their decent pitching, they may be able to compete.
TEXAS TECH
The Red Raiders will return some players this year who had to sit out last year due to injury and those players may be the X-factor. Texas Tech will be pretty thin on pitching and will need to light up the scoreboard if they wish to contend.
As the 2008 season approaches rapidly, it appears to be one full of excitement and possibilities.
— Edited by Patrick De Oliveira
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