Dec. 20, 2001

WACO, Texas - Collegiate Baseball ranked the Baylor baseball team 18th in the nation in the publication's 2002 preseason poll, released Thursday.

Six Big 12 Conference schools were listed in Collegiate Baseball's Preseason Top 40: Oklahoma State (10th), Nebraska (13th), Texas (15th), Baylor (18th), Texas Tech (26th) and Texas A&M (30th).

Four other opponents on the Bears' 2002 schedule made the rankings. Southern California, whom the Bears play at Dodger Stadium Feb. 15-17, are ranked fourth in the country. Other top opponents are Rice (12th), Oral Roberts (31st) and Winthrop (36th).

Collegiate Baseball also named junior pitcher Steven White a third-team preseason all-American.

With 19 of 24 letterwinners returning from a year ago, the Bears will have plenty of experience on which to build. All-Big 12 selections White, Justin Taylor and Paul Thorp return to lead the pitching staff, while all-conference outfielder Chris Durbin will patrol center field and anchor the Baylor lineup.

The Bears, who hold the best cumulative record in the Big 12 since the league began in 1997, will also depend on steady seniors Tim Hartshorn (OF/2B) and Ron Zboril (1B/DH) and junior Mike Huggins (1B/OF).

The Baylor pitching staff returns almost intact from a year ago, having lost just one key member. White and Taylor fill the first two spots in the rotation. Potential third starters include senior Kyle Edens, junior Jared Theodorakos, and freshman Trey Taylor, a third-round draft pick out of high school who spurned the pros to attend Baylor.

Baylor begins its 2002 schedule Feb. 5 at home against Southwest Texas before heading to Houston's Enron Field and the Astros College Classic Feb. 7-9.

For the complete poll and a list of preseason all-Americans, go to http://www.baseballnews.com/.