POPLARVILLE, Miss. – It's only January and the Pearl River Wildcats are already doing quite well in the polls.
As preseason polls begin to be released more than two weeks before the start of the junior college baseball season, the reigning MACJC champs are commanding plenty of attention.
Perfect Game National Scouting Supervisor Brian Sakowski released the top 26 teams in PG's Preseason Top 50 on Tuesday, with PRCC nabbing the 26th spot. One of the big differences in PG's ranking is it combines all of the country's junior college leagues.
"Coming off of a state championship in 2018, poised for another big year in '19," Sakowski tweeted. "Shemar Page and Miles Smith are expected to lead the way on the mound, while Matt Taylor leads the offense with frosh Dexter Jordan and Austin Izzio expected to play huge roles."
The NJCAA also released its Division II preseason poll, with the Wildcats coming in at No. 8; PRCC finished 2018 ranked No. 4.
The NJCAA's first regular season poll will drop March 5.
Prep Baseball Report later released its preseason rankings, with PRCC slotted at No. 6 in D-II.
It's perhaps not a surprise that the Wildcats have garnered so much attention this offseason. In addition to ripping off a 37-9 overall record and a MACJC title, the Wildcats had 11 sophomores sign with four-year programs during the early signing period.
The Wildcats are in the midst of preseason practice. They open the season Feb. 10 with a doubleheader against NJCAA DI powerhouse Jefferson College, which was ranked No. 5 in the NJCAA's preseason poll.
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