For the first time in school history, the Bishop Badger baseball team was selected No. 1 in the state 2A division by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association preseason poll.

The selection was made at a recent statewide convention held in Waco by the THSBCA.

The criteria considered for the poll is the success the team had last year, returning starters, and input from coaches at the convention.

District Chairmen and Regional Chairmen submit information for their respective areas to THSBCA members and voting is done by the coaches attending the convention.

“Region four is a great region with several teams that can reach the state tournament,” THSBCA 1A- 3A Director Keith Sitton said.

“The preseason poll is the most difficult to develop because many coaches do not participate in the input process and you can only work with information you have at time of convention,” Sitton said.

Needless to say, the news about the No. 1 selection spread around campus and the community like wildfire.

At a recent Badger basketball game, I could hear several fans discussing the poll and how excited and anxious they were to see the baseball season get started.

The Badgers earned the high ranking by reaching the regional finals last year, falling short to the eventual state champions from Danbury.

The Badgers will be returning eight starters to the diamond, which includes three players that were selected to the 2010 South Texas High School All-Star Team that was sponsored by the Corpus Christi Hooks.

The team began practice this past Friday, but several players were missing as they are still competing in basketball.

“I think several teams in our district could have been on that poll, our district is very competitive and we push each other to be the best we can be,” Bishop Badger Head Coach Nathan Borden said.

Borden went on to say that he had a meeting with the players about not letting the No. 1 ranking get to their heads.

It seems the team received the message loud and clear as it was all business at Monday’s practice and everyone was working hard to prove the poll right.

“The ranking doesn’t mean anything, it is just a number and we still have to play the game,” senior outfielder Patrick Ramirez said at Monday’s practice.

The Badgers will open the season with a scrimmage against the Sinton Pirates at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 9 in Sinton.

Bishop’s district season starts on March 16 with the Badgers hosting the Premont Cowboys in Bishop.