:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/34761725/Sign_Large.0.JPG)
This past baseball season has been historic in many ways (see previous article on that topic). With the conclusion of the College World Series (CWS) and thus the release of the final national rankings, the Terps can add one more accolade to their successful season: highest-ever national rank. Up to now Maryland had only thrice been ranked at the conclusion of the season. In 1965 the Terps were 16 - 8 and came in at #30 in the final poll. The 1970 team achieved the previous watermark rank of 16 after going 26 -14 during the season. That team followed up 1970 with a 15 - 10 record in 1971 and a #22 ranking.
Below is the Collegiate Baseball News (CBN) poll. While other worthy polls exist, the CBN is the poll most often cited.
Rank |
Team (2014 Record) |
Points |
1. |
Vanderbilt (51-21) |
496 |
2. |
Virginia (53-16) |
495 |
3. |
Texas (46-21) |
493 |
4. |
Mississippi (48-21) |
487 |
5. |
Texas Christian (48-18) |
484 |
6. |
U.C. Irvine (41-25) |
482 |
7. |
Louisville (50-17) |
480 |
8. |
Texas Tech. (45-21) |
478 |
9. |
Louisiana-Lafayette (58-10) |
477 |
10. |
Oklahoma St. (48-18) |
475 |
11. |
Houston (48-18) |
472 |
12. |
Pepperdine (43-18) |
469 |
13, |
Kennesaw St. (40-24) |
466 |
14, |
Maryland (40-23) |
464 |
15, |
Stanford (35-26) |
461 |
16. |
Coll. of Charleston (44-19) |
457 |
17. |
Oregon St. (45-14) |
455 |
18. |
Miami, Fla. (44-19) |
453 |
19. |
Cal. Poly (47-12) |
450 |
20. |
Indiana (44-15) |
449 |
21. |
Louisiana St. (46-16-1) |
445 |
22. |
Washington (41-17-1) |
442 |
23. |
Florida St. (43-17) |
440 |
24. |
Florida (40-23) |
437 |
25. |
South Carolina (44-18) |
434 |
26. |
Rice (42-20) |
430 |
27. |
Oregon (44-20) |
427 |
28. |
Mississippi St. (39-24) |
425 |
29. |
Cal. St. Fullerton (34-24) |
423 |
30. |
Arkansas (40-25) |
420 |
There is only one ACC team in the CBN top 30 that is ranked higher than Maryland: Virginia (#2). The Wahoos, who lost last night 3 - 2 to Vanderbilt in the championship game of the CWS, were 10 - 5 in post-season play; 8 - 3 against teams outside the state of Maryland. Two other ACC teams were ranked in the top 30, with FSU coming in at 23 and Miami at 18. Stop a second and let that sink in.... Maryland was ranked higher than almost all of the so-called ACC "elite". Our soon-to-be rivals in the B1G didn't fare well at all. Indiana was the only B1G team in the top 30, ranked #20. But they just lost their head coach who bolted for the job at Arizona State.
UPDATE: College Baseball Central ranks the Terps at #12, the Coaches Poll has the Terps at #20, and Perfect Game gives the Terps a #14 ranking.
Maryland’s swan song season in this last of all sports to be concluded made Terrapin fans everywhere proud. In fact, I think I saw Testudo with a B1G grin on his face.
UPDATE: Perfect Game