Multiple Outlets Tab Terps as B1G Favorites
1/26/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The Maryland baseball team was picked to finish atop the Big Ten standings by multiple outlets Thursday.
D1Baseball.com and Perfect Game both selected the Terps as their choice to win the conference. Maryland is the only Big Ten team included in either outlet's respective preseason poll. Kevin Smith is each outlet's preseason Big Ten Player of the Year choice.
The Terps, who won 30 games and made an appearance in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals in 2016, return two weekend starting pitchers and seven members of its everyday lineup. Four of those players, junior right-handed pitcher Taylor Bloom, junior right-handed pitcher Brian Shaffer, sophomore second baseman Nick Dunn and sophomore outfielder Marty Costes, were All-Big Ten selections. Dunn and Costes were tabbed freshman All-Americans.
Smith enters his third campaign in College Park after a spectacular summer that saw him named a Cape Cod All-League honoree along with the MVP of the CCBL Championship Series. The junior shortstop was one of 10 Terps named an all-league selection in their respective summer leagues. He was named a preseason All-American by Perfect Game.
Along with Smith, Shaffer and right-handed pitcher Mike Rescigno were included on Perfect Game's Preseason All-Big Ten team.
Maryland head coach John Szefc has led Maryland to 30-plus wins in each of his four seasons, and guided the Terps to consecutive NCAA Super Regional appearances in 2014 and 2015.
Maryland is ranked in three preseason polls entering the 2017 season; D1Baseball (22), Baseball America (24) and Perfect Game (23).
The Terps open their season at the Clearwater Tournament in Clearwater, Fla. The Terps will take on Ball State in its opener on Friday, February 17 at 7 p.m. at Spectrum Field.
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