June 26, 2012

STANFORD, Calif.-- Stanford Baseball (41-18) finished the regular season at No. 12 in the national USA Today / Coaches poll, No. 13 in Baseball America and No. 14 in Collegiate Baseball, the 25th time since 1981 the Cardinal have finished the season in the top-15.

Stanford finished in the Super Regional for the second-straight time and ninth time overall (since 1999), playing in its 31st NCAA playoff all-time.

Arizona, the 2012 national champions, were No. 1 in the final poll, joining No. 5 UCLA, No. 10 Oregon (No. 11 in BA), the No. 12 Cardinal (No. 13 in BA) and No. 22 Oregon State (No. 25 in BA) among Pac-12 schools in the top-25. The conference has combined to win an NCAA-best of 27 national titles in baseball, with six of its members capturing at least two titles since 1947.

Stanford features six players who were drafted in the major league amateur draft, headlined by first round picks RHP Mark Appel (10-2, 2.56 ERA) and 3B/LF Stephen Piscotty (.329, 56 RBIs / 6-2, 3.05 ERA). Fellow starters SS Kenny Diekroeger, CF Jake Stewart and and C Eric Smith have signed professional contracts, as has LHP Brett Mooneyham. LF Tyler Gaffney, along with Appel were all drafted, but have yet to sign.

The Cardinal next year are slated to return its leading home run hitter in right fielder Austin Wilson (.285, 10 homers), freshman All-American and third baseman Alex Blandino (.294, 8 homers) and first baseman Brian Ragira (.329, 50 RBIs). On the mound, AJ Vanegas will anchor the staff after a 4-0 record, 2.62 ERA and five saves.

Final Top-25 USA Today/Coaches Poll
1. Arizona (48-17) 775
2. South Carolina (49-20) 744
3. Arkansas (46-22) 693
4. Florida State (50-17) 678
5. UCLA (48-16) 649
6. Florida (47-20) 603
7. Kent State (47-20) 578
8. Stony Brook (52-15) 543
9. Baylor (49-17) 515
10. Oregon (46-19) 481
11. LSU (47-18) 434
12. Stanford (41-18) 399
13. North Carolina State (43-20) 377
14. Oklahoma (42-25) 350
15. TCU (40-22) 318
16. St. John’s (40-23) 312
17. North Carolina (46-16) 246
18. Texas A&M (43-18) 170
19. Kentucky (45-18) 166
20. Rice (41-19) 145
21. Purdue (45-14) 139
22. Oregon State (40-20) 126
23. Virginia (39-19-1) 104
24. Central Florida (45-17) 87
25. Vanderbilt (35-28) 82

Baseball America Final Top-25
1. Arizona
2. South Carolina
3. Florida
4. Florida State
5. UCLA
6. Arkansas
7. Stony Brook
8. Kent State
9. LSU
10. Baylor
11. Oregon
12. North Carolina State
13. Stanford
14. Oklahoma
15. St. John's
16. TCU
17. North Carolina
18. Rice
19. Texas A&M
20. Kentucky
21. CS Fullerton
22. Mississippi State
23. Purdue
24. Oregon State
25. Virginia

Collegiate Baseball Top-30              
1. Arizona (48-17)                498                5
2. South Carolina (49-20)        494                2
3. Arkansas (46-22)                492                6
4. Florida St. (50-17)                491                3
5. UCLA (48-16)                        489                4
6. Kent St. (47-20)                488                8
7. Florida (47-20)                486                1
8. Stony Brook (52-15)                482                7
9. Louisiana St. (47-18)        480                9
10. Baylor (49-17)                477                10

11. Oregon (46-19)                475                11
12. N.C. State (43-20)                473                12
13. Oklahoma (42-25)                470                13
14. Stanford (41-18)                466                14
15. St. John's (40-23)                465                15
16. Texas Christian (40-22)        464                16
17. North Carolina (46-16)        463                17
18. Rice (42-18)                        461                18
19. Texas A&M (43-18)                459                19
20. Arizona St. (36-20)                458                20

21. Kentucky (45-18)                456                21
22. Ca. St. Fullerton (36-21)        454                22
23. Purdue (45-14)                453                23
24. Mississippi St. (40-24)        451                24
25. Oregon St. (40-20)                448                25
26. Central Florida (45-17)        447                26
27. Virginia (39-19-1)                445                27
28. Pepperdine (36-23)                443                28
29. Appalachian St. (41-18)        441                29
30. Louisville (41-22)                439                30