UCLA baseball ranked No. 1
For the first time in program history the UCLA baseball team has earned a No. 1 preseason ranking, taking the top slot in Baseball America's poll as several former local stars play leading roles.
The last time the Bruins were ranked No. 1 in the nation was during the 1997 season --the last time they reached the College World Series-- when Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball both tabbed UCLA as the No. 1 team in early March.
UCLA returns seven starting position players and two starting pitchers from a 2007 squad that reached the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time since 2000. Those returnees include juniors Brandon Crawford (.335, 7 HR, 55 RBI), Cody Decker (.307, 14 HR, 57 RBI) and Jermaine Curtis (.329, 4 HR, 33 RBI) and sophomore Gabe Cohen (.345, 10 HR, 36 RBI/ El Camino Real), each All-Pac-10 selections last year.
Cohen's former teammate at El Camino Real, righthander Garett Claypool, is coming off a year in which he went 3-1 with a 3.54 ERA in 24 appearances and will be one of the Bruins' top returning pitchers.
Three other Pac-10 teams join UCLA in the poll's top 10, with Arizona at No. 2, Oregon State No. 7 and Arizona State No. 9
UCLA opens its season Feb. 22 at home against Oklahoma.