Five PBC Baseball Teams Ranked in Preseason Top 40

AUGUSTA, GA -- Five Peach Belt Conference baseball teams have been ranked among the top 40 in the nation according to a preseason poll released by Collegiate Baseball magazine. Columbus State, Georgia College & State University, North Georgia, Francis Marion and USC Aiken all appear in the poll. With five teams in the poll, the Peach Belt is tied with the Gulf South Conference, the Sunshine State Conference and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference for the most members represented.

Columbus State will begin the 2008 season ranked #2 in the nation after reaching the national championship game in 2007 where they fell to Tampa, who is the preseason #1. The Cougars finished 51-19 a year ago, 22-8 in the PBC.

GCSU won the 2007 PBC Championship and is ranked 14th in the preseason poll. The Bobcats will have new head coach Tom Carty to guide them through 2008 after finishing 41-16 in 2007.

North Georgia is ranked in a Division II poll for the first time after completing the transition to full NCAA status begining this year. The Saints finished fourth in the PBC standings in 2007 and were 34-22 overall.

Francis Marion reached the NCAA Division II World Series in 2006 and finished third in the PBC in 2007 with a 36-18 overall record. The Patriots are ranked 25th in the preseason poll.

USC Aiken comes in 31st in the poll after reaching the championship game of the PBC Tournament last year. The Pacers finished the season 39-24 after earning a spot in the South Atlantic Regional.

The Peach Belt will release its own coaches poll in the coming weeks. The 2008 baseball season begins on Feb. 1 and continues through to the 2008 PBC Tournament May 8-11 at Roberto Hernandez Stadium on the campus of USC Aiken.

View the top 40 poll here.