Alabama Baseball Ranked No. 21 in Baseball America and Perfect Game USA Preseason Polls

Alabama will open the 2014 season ranked No. 21 in the nation by both Baseball America and Perfect Game USA, as announced on Monday morning. The Crimson Tide opens the season on Friday, Feb. 14 against Saint Louis in game one of a three-game series from Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

The Tide returns 21 players, including five position starters and four starting pitchers, from the 2013 NCAA Regional squad. Highlighting the list of returners are 2013 freshmen All-Americans Mikey White at shortstop and Ray Castillo on the mound, along with 2013 gold glove second baseman Kyle Overstreet.

Alabama also returns starters in junior right fielder Ben Moore, sophomore center fielder Georgie Salem and sophomore Chance Vincent, who ended the 2013 season as the team’s designated hitter. On the mound, the Tide returns 2013 weekend starters Spencer Turnbull and Justin Kamplain, along with a host of players in the bullpen including, Tucker Hawley, Jay Shaw, Jake Hubbard, Mitch Greet, Jon Keller and Mike Oczypok.

In the Baseball America preseason poll, Alabama is one of eight Southeastern Conference schools ranked in the Baseball America Preseason Top 25 poll. Also ranked are South Carolina (No. 7), Mississippi State (No. 8), LSU (No. 9), Vanderbilt (No. 10), Florida (No. 23), Texas A&M (No. 24) and Arkansas (No. 25). Virginia is the preseason No. 1 team.

Seven teams from the SEC are included in the Perfect Game USA preseason poll. Also ranked are Mississippi State (No. 6), South Carolina (No. 7), Vanderbilt (No. 11), LSU (No. 12), Florida (No. 15) and Texas A&M (No. 19).

To be part of the excitement of the 2014 Alabama baseball season, purchase tickets at RollTide.com or call the ticket office at 1.877.TIDETIX. Single game and Mini Packs will go on sale on February, 2014.