UVA baseball recruiting class ranked ninth nationally by Collegiate Baseball

The 2014 UVA baseball recruiting class has been ranked ninth nationally by collegiate baseball magazine, as announced Monday by the publication. Virginia boasts the highest-ranked recruiting class among ACC schools this year.

Virginia’s class consists of 13 freshmen, including three who were selected in the 2014 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Right-handed pitcher Derek Casey (Mechanicsville, Va.) was a 22nd round selection by the Cardinals, first baseman/left-handed pitcher Pavin Smith (Jupiter, Fla.) was selected in the 32nd round by the Rockies and right-handed pitcher Tommy Doyle (Vienna, Va.) was taken in the 35th round by the Nationals.

In addition to the drafted newcomers, Virginia also welcomes infielder Ernie Clement (Rochester, N.Y.), infielder Charlie Cody (Chesapeake, Va.), left-handed pitcher Riley Cummins (Vienna, Va.), infielder Jack Gerstenmaier (Richmond, Va.), left-handed pitcher/outfielder Adam Haseley (Windermere, Fla.), outfielder Christian Lowry (Chesapeake, Va.), infielder/catcher Justin Novak (Tokyo, Japan), right-handed pitcher Mark Ostbye (Haddonfield, N.J.), left-handed pitcher Bennett Sousa (North Palm Beach, Fla.) and left-handed pitcher Riley Wilson (Midlothian, Va.).

The coaching staff of head coach Brian O’Connor, associate head coach Kevin McMullan and assistant coach Karl Kuhn now are in their 12th year together with the UVa program. Virginia has racked up 514 wins during the previous 11 seasons, including an NCAA-best 298 victories over the last six seasons as UVa has made three appearances in the College World Series, including a runner-up finish in 2014.

Virginia opened its fall practice schedule on Sept. 5. The Cavaliers have a pair of exhibition games on their fall docket at Davenport Field: the Ontario Blue Jays at 4 p.m. Tuesday (Sept. 23) and Towson at noon Sunday (Sept. 28). The Cavaliers’ seven-game fall intrasquad series, the Orange & Blue World Series, begins Sept. 30 and runs through Oct. 18.

Admission is free to all Virginia fall baseball games.

1. Louisiana State

2. Wichita State

3. Florida

4. San Diego

5. Oklahoma State

6. Mississippi State

7. Texas

8. Stanford

9. Virginia

10. Cal State Fullerton