Virginia baseball tabbed second in preseason ACC Coastal Division poll

The Virginia baseball team was voted second in the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coastal Division in the 2016 ACC Preseason Coaches Poll, released Wednesday by the conference office.

Miami was picked to win the Coastal Division, totaling 97 points. Virginia was second with 80 points, followed by North Carolina (71), Georgia Tech (58), Duke (38), Virginia Tech (30) and Pitt (18).

Louisville was a unanimous selection as the team to beat in both the Atlantic Division and in the conference. Florida State was picked second in the division with 74 points, followed by NC State (72), Notre Dame (50), Clemson (46), Wake Forest (35) and Boston College (17).

Coming off the program’s first NCAA championship in 2015, Virginia returns 17 letterwinners and welcomes 17 newcomers this season. Virginia boasts a pair of preseason All-Americans in starting pitcher Connor Jones (Jr., Chesapeake, Va.) and catcher Matt Thaiss (Jr., Jackson, N.J.).

All-ACC shortstop Daniel Pinero (Jr., Toronto, Ontario) and 2015 Freshman All-Americans Pavin Smith (So., Jupiter, Fla.) and Adam Haseley (So., Windermere, Fla.) also are back for Virginia, which returns seven of its nine starting positions players from its national championship squad.

Led by 13th-year head coach Brian O’Connor, Virginia owns the most wins in Division I baseball over the last seven seasons with 342 and also has won 40 NCAA tournament games in that span (second most nationally). UVA has led the country by winning six regional championships and making four trips to the College World Series since 2009.

The Cavaliers open the 2016 season on Friday, Feb. 19, against Kent State in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The team’s home opener at Davenport Field is Tuesday, Feb. 23, versus VMI.

2016 ACC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll

Atlantic Division

1. Louisville (14) – 98
2. Florida State – 74
3. NC State – 72
4. Notre Dame – 50
5. Clemson – 46
6. Wake Forest – 35
7. Boston College – 17

Coastal Division

1. Miami (13) – 97
2. Virginia (1) – 80
3. North Carolina – 71
4. Georgia Tech – 58
5. Duke – 38
6. Virginia Tech – 30
7. Pitt – 18

Overall Champion

1. Louisville (14)

**first-place votes in parentheses