#1, #3, and #4
Posted by UFreak in 
SEC East rules baseball poll
Three of the nation’s top five teams reside in the SEC Eastern Division, according to the latest Baseball America rankings released Monday.
And the three teams — South Carolina (44-12), Florida (41-15) and Vanderbilt (44-9) — also share the SEC title.
South Carolina became the fourth team to hold the No. 1 position this season, joining Florida, Vanderbilt and Virginia. The Cavaliers saw their five-week stretch as the nation’s top team come to an end after getting swept on the road by then-No. 17 North Carolina. Virginia, now at No. 5, still won a share of the ACC regular-season title, tying Georgia Tech.
UF (41-15) jumped from No. 6 to No. 3, while Vanderbilt is ranked No. 4. Texas (40-13) is the No. 2 team.
The staff of Baseball America determines the Top 25 rankings. It’s the poll The Gainesville Sun uses in its stories.
The third-seeded Gators face sixth-seeded Mississippi State (34-21) on Wednesday afternoon at Regions Park in the second game of the double-elimination SEC Tournament In Hoover, Ala.
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SEC PLAYER OF THE YEAR?:
Sophomore catcher Mike Zunino, who led Florida to a share of the SEC regular-season title, was named the conference’s player of the year Tuesday in a vote of the league’s 12 coaches.
Zunino is only the second Gator to win the award, joining Matt LaPorta, who won it twice (2005 and 2007).
“It’s a great honor,” Zunino said from Hoover, Ala., where he and the Gators play Mississippi State Wednesday in the SEC Tournament. “I really didn’t expect it. I’m just trying to help my team as much as I can.
“The whole team had a great year. I had guys hitting in front of me and behind me who had great seasons. It helped me out and helped everyone out. (The award) is a great reflection of our team and the season we’ve had.”
Zunino and five other UF players were named to the All-SEC team. Zunino, outfielder Preston Tucker and pitcher/designated hitter Brian Johnson are on the first team, while shortstop Nolan Fontana, second baseman Josh Adams and pitcher Hudson Randall are on the second team. Pitcher Karsten Whitson and third baseman Zack Powers made the All-Freshman team.
Zunino had a huge season at the plate for the Gators, batting .422 with 33 RBI, 14 doubles and eight home runs in league play (30 games). Zunino also is a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award and the Dick Howser Trophy.