University of North Carolina Athletics
Baseball Team Recognized In Preseason By Baseball America
January 3, 2002 | Baseball
Jan. 3, 2002
The University of North Carolina baseball team is ranked No. 19 in the nation by Baseball America is its preseason Top 25 poll. The Tar Heels return seven starters from a team that went 31-26 a year ago and won five of its last six regular-season games.
Tar Heel second baseman Russ Adams was also recognized as a preseason first-team All-America by the publication. Scouting directors of major league clubs vote on the team and make their selections based on performance, talent and major league potential. Adams tied for second in votes on the preseason All-America team with 99 of a possible 108 points.
Adams blossomed into one of the top players in the Atlantic Coast Conference last year as sophomore, earning first-team All-ACC honors after batting .331. He is coming off an outstanding summer with the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod League, where he was named the top professional prospect in the prestigious summer league and earned MVP honors at the Cape's All-Star game.
UNC opens the 2002 season Feb. 15-17 in Chapel Hill with a three-game series against Seton Hall. The Tar Heels face five teams ranked in Baseball America's preseason poll, including home series against No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Miami and No. 6 Florida State.
For a complete listing of Baseball America's preseason All-America team and preseason Top 25, please visit Baseball America.com.
