Perfect Game–a highly-touted amateur baseball website–released its annual college conference previews on Monday, selecting UNC to repeat atop the ACC Coastal Division.

In addition, three Tar Heel sophomores were placed on the site’s preseason All-ACC team after posting breakout years in their first collegiate campaigns.

Designated hitter Ashton McGee–last season’s ACC Freshman of the Year–joins starting pitcher Gianluca Dalatri and closer Josh Hiatt in receiving the honor.

McGee pounded seven home runs in 2017 to go along with 46 RBIs and a .327 batting average.

The 6-foot-6-inch Dalatri, meanwhile, established himself right from the jump last season as the Tar Heels No. 2 starter behind future MLB first-rounder JB Bukauskas. He ultimately finished the year with 85 strikeouts in 97 innings, while keeping his ERA low at 3.34.

After redshirting his first year on campus, Hiatt became the Tar Heels’ bullpen workhorse in 2017. He led the team in saves while also striking out 64 hitters over 52 innings with a microscopic 1.90 ERA.

Looking ahead to 2018, this trio is expected to help UNC challenge once again for the ACC Coastal Division–and also another national seed for the NCAA Tournament.

The season kicks off with a three-game home series at Boshamer Stadium against South Florida from Feb. 16-18.

 

 

 

Photo via Jeffrey A. Camarati (UNC Athletics)

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