Our Honor Defend

The 2010 season is officially underway with practice in full swing as the defending Big Ten champions prepare to defend their crown while also looking to take the next step on a national level.

With the season opening in 16 days as the Buckeyes take on North Florida to kick off one of their most highly anticipated seasons in recent years, there is plenty of time to preview and dig into the 2010 version of the Scarlet & Gray.

For now lets recap all of the preseason buzz...

All-Americans

When you capture Big Ten Player and co-Pitcher of the year as sophomores you'll have a spotlight on you entering your junior season. When you spend your summer perfecting your craft in the Cape Cod League and prove to be among the best at your position, that spotlight only gets brighter.

The junior battery of RHP Alex Wimmers and C Dan Burkhart picked up a few preseason honors headed into that all important junior season.

First the National College Baseball Writers Association, selected both Wimmers and Burkhart to their second-team All-America squad.

The honor was followed by Wimmers being named a second-team Louisville Slugger All-American.

With Ping! Baseball tabbing Wimmers as a first-team AA selection, while Burkhart once again receives a second-team mention.


Preseason polls
2010 will not be a season Ohio State sneaks up on anyone.

As the six major preseason polls were released, the Bucks found homes in five of them, barely missing a ranking in Baseball America's top 25.

The high water mark was set by Collegiate Baseball who penciled the Buckeyes in at 14th.

The Coaches in their ESPN/USAToday Poll determined the Buckeyes to be the 21st best team entering the new year.

Kendall Rogers of Rivals.com/Yahoo Sports gave the Bob Todd and his team a 22nd ranking.

The NCBWA were right in line with the previous two polls, slotting the Scarlet & Gray at 23rd.

Ping! rounds out the quintet of rankings, as they gave the Bucks a preseason ranking of 24 in their 30 team poll.


Now what?

As previews start to be released nationally, some with more insight and value say College Baseball Today than others I'll keep you in formed on that.

Otherwise I'll start previewing the Bucks as they enter 2010 with one word on their mind: Omaha. Over the next two and a half weeks.