NEWS DIGEST, JAN. 27

Virginia No. 1; USC 7th; Clemson 13th, 14th in polls
Preseason polls from two of the major college baseball rankings were announced today.
Virginia was ranked No. 1 in both the PerfectGame.org and Baseball America rankings. South Carolina was No. 7 in both rankings. Clemson was ranked No. 13 by Baseball America and No. 14 by PerfectGame.org.
BA

PGUSA

Coker picked fourth in SAC
Coker has been picked finish fourth in the South Atlantic Conference this season in a vote by the league's baseball coaches. The Cobras won the SAC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Division II College World Series in 2013. Newberry is picked fifth and Anderson 10th in the poll today. Catawba is picked to win the league.

Also, Newberry placed four players on the coaches' preseason first-team all-conference team. They are first baseman Albert Baur, third baseman Ryan Cranmer, designd hitter Eric Barbieri and starting pitcher Jonathan Rosenberger. Wolves catcher Chas Goodwin and outfielder Jermale Paige, Coker first baseman Fico Kondla, shortstop Shea Bell and starting pitcher Andrew Goot and Anderson relief pitcher Landon Beck were second-team choices.
SAC

Erskine adjusts schedule
Erskine has adjusted its schedule for Feb. 28 and March 1. Instead of playing two games at home against Clarion, the Flying Fleet will now play host to Georgia Regents University Augusta (formerly Augusta State) on Feb. 28 and at GRU Augusta March 1.
Fleet

Tigers begin quest for Omaha
Here's ClemsonTigers.com's coverage of the opening of practice for Clemson's baseball team.
Tigers

Chanticleers open work
Here's GoCCUSports.com's coverage of the first practice for Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers will play their home games at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark as their Conway facility is being renovated. Coastal's first game, against Pittsburgh, will be played in Florence Feb. 14.
Chants

Cougars start work toward season
Here's CofCSports.com's report on the first day of practice for the College of Charleston. The Cougars are competing in the Colonial Athletic Association beginning this season.
Cougars

Terriers under way
Here's Wofford's report on the beginning of preseason workouts.
Wofford

Bradley, Owings ranked
Former USC standout Jackie Bradley Jr. is ranked the No. 23 prospect on the Top 101 prospects list compiled by BaseballProspectus.com. He is in the Boston Red Sox organization. Gilbert native Christian Owings of the Diamondbacks organization is No. 28. Several players recruited by Clemson and USC are on the list.
Prospects

Updating team previews
Here's the status of 2014 team previews for Palmetto State Baseball:
* Received and published: Anderson, Benedict, Clemson, Coker, Florence-Darlington Tech, Francis Marion, Furman, Limestone, The Citadel, USC Salkehatchie, USC Sumter, Voorhees, Winthrop.
* Received, not yet published: Southern Wesleyan.
* No response yet: Charleston Southern, Claflin, Coastal Carolina, College of Charleston, Erskine, Lander, Morris, Newberry, North Greenville, Presbyterian, South Carolina, Spartanburg Methodist, USC Aiken, USC Beaufort, USC Lancaster, USC Upstate, Wofford.
* I've been unable to make contact with anyone from Gray Military.