GREENSBORO– The Tar Heel baseball team has been picked second in the ACC Coastal division by the league’s 14 head coaches.

***Listen to the story***

Announced by the ACC office Friday, Virginia was tabbed the conference favorite. Ten coaches named the Cavaliers as the team to beat while Florida State received four first-place votes.

Carolina received two first-place votes to win its division, but Virginia took the top spot in the Coastal.

In the Atlantic Division, Florida State is the favorite, receiving nine of the possible 14 first-place votes. N.C.State was the alternate choice, collecting the other top line votes.

UNC Head Coach Mike Fox says the inclement weather this January has presented some obstacles to the preseason practice schedule, but he enjoys this time of the year as the pieces of the puzzle are put together.

And those pieces will look a little different this year. The Tar Heels lost some reliable pitching in Chris Munnelly and Kent Emanuel as well as the steady hitting of Chaz Frank and Cody Stubbs. But sophomore sluggers Skye Bolt and Trent Thornton, both preseason All-America selections, will hope to fill in the gaps this season.

Expectations always start with a trip to Omaha (College World Series) for the Tar Heels and the Carolina baseball team is nearing first pitch. The Tar Heels open up the 2014 season Friday, Feb. 14 at home against the College of Charleston.

The 2014 ACC Baseball Championship is scheduled for May 20-25 at NewBridge Bank Park in Greensboro, N.C.

2014 ACC BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL

OVERALL CHAMPION
1. Virginia (10)
2. Florida State (4)

COASTAL DIVISION
1. Virginia (12), 96
2. North Carolina (2), 84
3. Miami, 66
4. Georgia Tech, 57
5. Duke, 36
6. Virginia Tech, 35
7. Pitt, 18

 

ATLANTIC DIVISION
1. Florida State (9), 93
2. NC State (5), 88
3. Clemson, 70
4. Maryland, 48
5. Notre Dame, 40
6. Wake Forest, 36
7. Boston College, 17