February 11, 2008

Kendall Rogers
Rivals.com College Baseball Editor

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. ? With the college baseball season less than two weeks away, Rivals.com is pleased to announce its 2008 Preseason All-America teams.

Vanderbilt and San Diego each placed three players on our All-America teams, while Arizona State, Rice, Florida State and South Carolina each had two representatives.

Top-ranked Arizona State is represented by juniors Brett Wallace and Petey Paramore. Wallace earned first-team honors as a designated hitter, while Paramore earned second-team honors as catcher.

Twin brothers Matt and Scott Gorgen also earned Preseason All-America honors. Matt is a standout reliever at California, while Scott is a premier starting pitcher at UC Irvine.

C Buster Posey, Florida State, 6-2, 200 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Leesburg, Ga. (Lee County)
BUZZ: Posey played shortstop as a freshman two seasons ago, but made the move to catcher last season. That change turned out beautifully for Posey and the Seminoles. An elite defensive catcher, Posey also possesses an impressive bat. The junior batted .382 with three homers and 65 RBIs last season. He also hit 21 doubles and two triples, while slugging .520 with a .453 on-base percentage.

1B Yonder Alonso, Miami, 6-2, 215 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Coral Gables, Fla. (Coral Gables)
BUZZ: Alonso is the most important player for the Hurricanes and hopes to have another productive campaign this season. Alonso has had a fruitful career at Miami. As a sophomore last season, he batted .376 with 18 homers and 74 RBIs. He also hit 13 doubles and a triple, while slugging .705 with a .519 on-base percentage. Alonso led the 2007 team with 57 runs scored and 148 total bases.

2B Blake Stouffer, Texas A&M, 6-1, 190 Sr.
HIGH SCHOOL: San Antonio (Alamo Heights)
BUZZ: Despite getting drafted by Cincinnati in the fourth round of last year's MLB Draft, Stouffer decided to return for his senior season - a huge help for the Aggies. Stouffer is the Big 12's top returning hitter. As a junior, he batted .398 with 12 homers and 85 RBIs. He also hit 23 doubles and five triples. He finished 2007 slugging .668 with a .487 on-base percentage.

SS Ryan Flaherty, Vanderbilt, 6-3, 210 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Portland, Maine (Deering)
BUZZ: Flaherty flew under the radar for much of 2007, but his 35-game hitting streak ? which is still active ? garnered postseason honors. Flaherty hopes to increase his production this season. The veteran batted .381 with four homers and 57 RBIs last season. He also hit 23 doubles and three triples, while slugging .531 with a .438 on-base percentage. Flaherty is also an outstanding defender.

3B Pedro Alvarez, Vanderbilt, 6-2, 225 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: New York (Horace Mann)
BUZZ: Barring a major surprise, Alvarez will be one of the top five picks in this year's MLB Draft. He might even be the top overall selection. At any rate, Alvarez enters the spring as the nation's most feared hitter. He batted .386 with 18 homers and 68 RBIs last season. He also hit 21 doubles and three triples, while slugging .684 with a .463 on-base percentage. Vandy expects Alvarez to be even better this season.

OF Dominic de la Osa, Vanderbilt, 6-0, 205 Sr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Miami (Archbishop Carroll)
BUZZ: Despite being drafted last summer, de la Osa decided to return to Vanderbilt. Fresh off a phenomenal junior season, de la Osa hopes to continue his successful ways. In 2007, the veteran batted .378 with 20 homers and 62 RBIs. He also hit 23 doubles and two triples, while slugging .727 with a .452 on-base percentage. The senior hopes to rebound from a less-than-stellar summer.

OF Tommy Baldridge, Coastal Carolina, 6-1, 200 Sr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Fort Mill, S.C. (Fort Mill)
BUZZ: Coastal Carolina had a memorable 2007 campaign and hopes to build on that with the return of Baldridge. Baldridge joins fellow outfielder David Sappelt among the top hitters in college baseball. The senior batted .383 with 13 homers and 58 RBIs last season. The hard-hitting outfielder also hit 15 doubles and three triples, while slugging .633 with a .465 on-base percentage.

OF Kyle Russell, Texas, 6-5, 185 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Tomball, Texas (Tomball)
BUZZ: After a monstrous sophomore campaign, Russell was drafted by St. Louis in the fourth round of the 2007 MLB Draft. Much to the Longhorns' delight, Russell decided to return. The hard-hitting outfielder batted .336 with 28 homers and 71 RBIs. He also hit 11 doubles and five triples, while slugging .807 with a .456 on-base percentage. Russell hopes to lead the way for UT.

DH Brett Wallace, Arizona State, 6-1, 245 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Sonoma, Calif. (Justin-Siena)
BUZZ: With the exception of Vanderbilt's Pedro Alvarez, there isn't a more electrifying hitter in college baseball than Wallace. After earning All-America honors at first base last season, Wallace may play third base this season. In 2007, the veteran batted .404 with 16 homers and 78 RBIs. He also hit 17 doubles and five triples, while slugging .687 with a .484 on-base percentage. Wallace led ASU with 182 total bases.

UT Zach Putnam, Michigan, 6-2, 215 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Pioneer)
BUZZ: The Wolverines made a giant leap forward last season, and Putnam was a key contributor both on the mound and at the plate. He batted .330 with eight homers and 59 RBIs. He also slugged .518 and had a .397 on-base percentage. As a pitcher, he went 8-5 with a 3.87 ERA in 102 1/3 innings of work. He also struck out 87 and walked 38, while opponents hit .248 against him.

SP Jacob Thompson, Virginia, 6-6, 215 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Danville, Va. (Tunstall)
BUZZ: Thompson entered 2007 with high hopes, but surpassed all expectations with a dominant campaign. As a sophomore last season, the right-hander went 11-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 114 innings of work. He also struck out 101 and walked 32, while opponents hit him at a .198 clip. Thompson also threw a pair of complete games in 16 starts. With Virginia hoping to get to Omaha, he is the key.

SP Preston Guilmet, Arizona, 6-2, 190 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Citrus Heights, Calif. (Oakmont)
BUZZ: There are few pitchers who can boast a more impressive resume than Guilmet. In his second season with the Wildcats, Guilmet was dominant. The talented right-hander went 12-2 with a 1.87 ERA in 135 innings of work last season. He also struck out 146 and walked 34, while opponents hit him at a .205 clip. Guilmet also threw five complete games in 17 starts. He is the most important piece of the puzzle for Arizona.

SP Brian Matusz, San Diego, 6-5, 200 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Cave Creek, Ariz. (St. Mary's)
BUZZ: The Toreros had a banner 2007 campaign that ended with a national seed. While USD had several important players, the talented left-hander was a key cog. In 2007, Matusz went 10-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 123 innings of work. He also struck out 163 and walked 37, while opponents hit him at a .214 clip. Matusz threw a complete game and made 18 starts. Look for Matusz to have a great season in 2008.

SP Lance Lynn, Mississippi, 6-5, 260 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Brownsburg, Ind. (Brownsburg)
BUZZ: The Rebels had an outstanding one-two punch last season with Lynn and Will Kline leading the charge. Kline is now a professional, while Lynn is back in Oxford. In 2007, the veteran right-hander went 8-5 with a 2.85 ERA in 123 1/3 innings of work. He also struck out 146 and walked 44, while opponents hit him at a .209 clip. Lynn threw three complete games in 18 starts.

RP Pat Venditte, Creighton, 6-1, 190 Sr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Omaha, Neb. (Central)
BUZZ: An ambidextrous pitcher, Venditte has had a sensational career at Creighton. Despite being drafted last summer, the switch-pitcher decided to return to Omaha for his senior season. In 2007, Venditte made 38 appearances and had a 1.88 ERA in 95 2/3 innings of work. The veteran switch-pitcher also struck out 99 and walked 22, while opponents hit him at a low .189 clip.

RP Cole St. Clair, Rice, 6-5, 225 Sr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Santa Ana, Calif. (Foothill)
BUZZ: Despite getting drafted by Cleveland in the seventh round of last year's MLB Draft, the dominant left-hander decided to return to Rice for his senior season. The Owls expect to use St. Clair as a weekend starter, but that experiment could be short lived. In 2007, St. Clair made 16 appearances and had a 1.91 ERA in 28 1/3 innings of work. He also struck out 26 and walked eight, while opponents hit .214 against him.

Rivals.com 2008 Second Team All-Americans

C Petey Paramore, Arizona State, 6-2, 215 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Allen, Texas (Allen)
BUZZ: The Sun Devils made a splash by getting Paramore out of the state of Texas a few years ago. The addition has certainly paid off. He enters 2008 as one of the nation's top players. The veteran batted .379 with six homers and 52 RBIs last season. He also slugged .549 and had a .500 on-base percentage. Additionally, he finished the year with 18 doubles and a triple. He had 123 total bases.

1B Justin Smoak, South Carolina, 6-4, 215 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Goose Creek, S.C. (Stratford)
BUZZ: South Carolina has long had an impressive offensive tradition. It will only continue this season with the return of hard-hitting first baseman Justin Smoak. The impressive junior had a successful 2007 campaign. He batted .315 with 22 homers and 72 RBIs. He also hit 16 doubles and had a .631 slugging percentage and a .434 on-base percentage. Smoak is expected to have another great year.

2B Johnny Giavotella, New Orleans, 5-8, 185 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Harahan, La. (Jesuit)
BUZZ: The Privateers took a huge step forward last season with an NCAA Tournament berth. Giavotella led the offensive charge. As a sophomore last season, Giavotella batted .385 with 15 homers and 65 RBIs. He also hit 19 doubles and four triples. Additionally, he finished the year slugging .676 with a .497 on-base percentage. With the return of Giavotella and others, the Privateers are in good shape.

SS Beamer Weems, Baylor, 5-10, 176 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Virginia Beach, Va. (Princess Anne)
BUZZ: After a pair of successful seasons in Waco, Texas, Weems is ready to guide the Bears back to the College World Series. Weems is the complete package at shortstop. As a sophomore last season, he batted .321 with nine homers and 59 RBIs. He also hit 17 doubles and five triples. Additionally, Weems slugged .566 and had a .414 on-base percentage. He also boasted a .956 fielding percentage.

3B James Darnell, South Carolina, 6-2, 195 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Danville, Calif. (San Ramon Valley)
BUZZ: The Gamecocks welcome back one of the nation's most productive lineups, and Darnell is the ringleader. As a sophomore last season, Darnell spearheaded the South Carolina offense. He batted .331 with 19 homers and 63 RBIs. He also hit seven doubles and three triples, while slugging .615 with a .450 on-base percentage. Darnell also finished 2007 with 147 total bases.

OF Jack Rye, Florida State, 6-1, 200 Sr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Irvine, Calif. (Woodbridge)
BUZZ: Rye may miss the first three weeks of the season because of an injury, but will likely be back in time for conference play. In his three seasons with the Seminoles, Rye has been one of the team's most consistent hitters. As a junior last season, he batted .372 with 10 homers and 61 RBIs. He also hit 12 doubles and had a .551 slugging percentage and a .451 on-base percentage.

OF Aaron Luna, Rice, 5-11, 200 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Southlake, Texas (Carroll)
BUZZ: Luna has had a successful career at Rice, but for the first time he will be the offensive headliner for the Owls. After being used as an infielder and outfielder in the past, Luna is expected to stay in the outfield this season. As a sophomore last season, he batted .315 with 13 homers and 66 RBIs. He also slugged .570 and had a .447 on-base percentage. Luna also hit 15 doubles and three triples to help the cause.

OF Mike Bianucci, Auburn, 6-1, 215 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Fairfax, Va. (Woodson)
BUZZ: With a talented team back in the mix this season, Auburn hopes to make a splash on the national stage. In order to accomplish their goals, the Tigers need a productive campaign from the veteran outfielder. Last season, Bianucci batted .326 with 14 homers and 51 RBIs. He also hit 11 doubles and a triple. Additionally, he slugged .640 and had a respectable .427 on-base percentage.

DH Dustin Ackley, North Carolina, 6-1, 182 So.
HIGH SCHOOL: Walnut Cove, N.C. (North Forsyth)
BUZZ: Few freshmen have the ability to be premier hitters in their first season, but Ackley was an exception. In his first season with the Tar Heels, Ackley caught everyone's attention. The talented infielder batted .402 with 10 homers and 74 RBIs. He also hit 20 doubles and three triples, while slugging .591 with a .448 on-base percentage. After playing first base last season, Ackley may change positions this year.

UT Josh Romanski, San Diego, 6-0, 185 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Corona, Calif. (Norco)
BUZZ: The Toreros have their eyes on Omaha this season and Romanski is one of several players leading the charge. The talented junior is a contributor both on the mound and at the plate. In 2007, Romanski went 9-1 with a 3.05 ERA in 112 innings of work. He also struck out 92 and walked 24. As a hitter, Romanski batted .335 with three homers and 30 RBIs. He also slugged .438 and had a .402 OBP.

SP Scott Gorgen, UC Irvine, 5-10, 190 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Concord, Calif. (Clayton Valley)
BUZZ: With Gorgen leading the way, the Anteaters were the story of the year in 2007. Besides compiling impressive numbers, Gorgen garnered attention for his gritty attitude. As a sophomore last season, he went 13-3 with a 2.83 ERA in 136 2/3 innings of work. He also struck out 117 and walked 41, while opponents hit him at a .235 clip. Gorgen also threw six complete games in 19 starts.

SP Anthony Shawler, Old Dominion, 6-3, 185 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Chesapeake, Va. (Oscar Smith)
BUZZ: Until now, Shawler has been one of the nation's most underrated pitchers. The talented right-hander has had a fruitful career for the Monarchs. He hopes to put together another impressive campaign this season. In 2007, Shawler went 11-2 with a 2.20 ERA in 114 2/3 innings of work. He also struck out 130 and walked 29, while opponents hit him at a .224 clip. He also threw eight complete games.

SP Tyson Ross, California, 6-6, 225 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Oakland, Calif. (Bishop O'Dowd)
BUZZ: California hopes to make a huge splash this season, and Ross will go a long way in determining the Bears' success. The talented junior is one of the nation's top prospects and is primed for another impressive campaign. In 2007, Ross went 6-6 with a 2.49 ERA in 115 2/3 innings of work. He also struck out 120 and walked 39, while opponents hit him at a .241 clip. Ross threw one complete game in 17 starts.

SP Aaron Crow, Missouri, 6-3, 194 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Wakarusa, Kan. (Washburn Rural)
BUZZ: After an impressive sophomore campaign and summer, Crow enters 2008 as one of the nation's most highly touted pitchers. After the Tigers failed to get to Omaha last season, Crow hopes to carry the team this year. In 2007, Crow went 9-4 with a 3.59 ERA in 117 2/3 innings of work. He also struck out 90 and walked 33. The talented righty also threw a pair of complete games in 18 starts.

RP AJ Griffin, San Diego, 6-5, 215 So.
HIGH SCHOOL: El Cajon, Calif. (Grossmont)
BUZZ: It isn't often that a freshman steps in and becomes a premier closer in his first season. However, Griffin was an exception last season. The talented right-hander had a season to remember. Griffin made 34 appearances and recorded 11 saves. He also had a 2.70 ERA in 63 1/3 innings of work. Griffin struck out 65 and walked 23, while opponents hit him at a .212 clip.

RP Matt Gorgen, California, 6-0, 205 Jr.
HIGH SCHOOL: Concord, Calif. (Clayton Valley)
BUZZ: Great pitching appears to be a Gorgen family tradition. Matt is the twin brother of Scott, who is an All-American pitcher at UC Irvine. While Scott earned many headlines last season, Matt will come to the forefront this season. The talented right-hander made 31 appearances last year and earned nine saves. He also had a 2.51 ERA in 61 innings of work. He struck out 75 and walked 22.