HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker College baseball team will begin the 2014 season ranked No. 25 in the nation, according to the 2014 Collegiate Baseball News Preseason Poll. It is the highest preseason ranking in Coker baseball history since becoming NCAA affiliated.

"Being in a preseason poll is always a great honor," said head baseball coach Dave Schmotzer. "To be ranked in the top 25 after losing so many seniors speaks volumes of the talent we have returning."

Coker is coming off a 38-win season that produced its first-ever trip to the NCAA Division II National Finals. The Cobras also captured the 2013 Conference Carolinas tournament and 2013 NCAA Division II Southeast region tournament championships.

Returning for the Cobras are all-conference selections Fico Kondla and Andrew Goot, ABCA gold glove winner T.J. Giczkowski and NCAA Southeast region all-tournament selection Ernie Kirkwood. The quartet will be looked upon to lead the team in its first season in the South Atlantic Conference.

Coker opens its season at home on Saturday, Feb. 1 with a three-game series against Chowan University.

Release written by sports information graduate assistant Sharod Williams '13.