Rambling Wreck Returns to the Diamond with Championship Aspirations

There’s a familiar noise bellowing throughout Midtown amidst the usual racket of cars methodically cruising on the congested interstate and city streets.

It’s the vibrating sound of a line drive belted off an aluminum bat. It’s the thump of leather gloves smacking the dirt from infielders digging out grounders in the hole. These are the melodic tunes that sing the praises of baseball's return to  Georgia Tech’s .

The Yellow Jackets, who are ranked 19th in the preseason polls, usher in the 2011 season seeking to improve upon last year’s remarkable 47-15 record and 21-9 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). In addition to its national ranking, Georgia Tech is predicted to finish second in the Coastal Division behind Virginia.

“Being ranked in the preseason doesn’t really mean anything. You have to earn your keep once you start playing,” said head coach Danny Hall. “Our program has been ranked for a long time, so we know what to expect. To lose as many guys as we did last year to the draft, and still be ranked, shows that Georgia Tech baseball has a lot of respect around the country.”

Georgia Tech opens the 2011 season at home versus Kent State, Feb. 18-20. Pitching is the strength for this year's squad and the Yellow Jackets have three solid flame throwers on the mound in their debut series.

Junior right-hander and Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American Third Team member Mark Pope is the Opening Day starter. Junior southpaw Jed Bradley, who was named to Baseball America’s Preseason All-America Second Team, takes the hill on Saturday, Feb. 19. Sophomore Buck Farmer pitches in the series finale.

“I’m ready to get on the mound and get things going,” said Pope. “We have a lot of good pitchers on our team. Jed (Bradley), Buck (Famer) and myself are going in the opening series. I feel we can win any game with us on the mound.”

Along with an arsenal of quality hurlers, Georgia Tech has some pop in the batter’s box that will give the pitching staff plenty of run support led by infielders Matt Skole (2010 First Team All-ACC) and Jacob Esch, catcher Zane Evans as well as outfielder Brandon Thomas.

After the opening series, the team heads down to Statesboro to face Georgia Southern, Feb. 22 and 23. Following this trip, the Yellow Jackets will host a slate of non-conference games against St. John’s, Georgia State, Rutgers and Kennesaw State to close out February.

Georgia Tech begins the ACC portion of its schedule March 11-13 with a three-game set versus Maryland.