LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – With just over 2 weeks until the scheduled season opener, the University of Louisville baseball team was ranked No. 6 nationally in the USA Today Sports coaches’ poll released on Thursday. The Cardinals, who have been ranked seventh or better in 5 of the 6 major preseason rankings, were one of 4 teams to receive first-place votes in the poll.
Louisville was 13-4 and ranked No. 2 in the nation when the 2020 season was cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Coach Dan McDonnell returns 6 position starters and 12 of the 14 pitchers from that team. Florida was ranked No. 1 in the USA Today poll, followed by UCLA, Vanderbilt, Texas Tech and Ole Miss.
Three Louisville players – third baseman Alex Binelas, catcher Henry Davis and outfielder Levi Usher – have received consensus All-American accolades from the major teams announced thus far. The Cardinals are scheduled to begin the season on Feb. 19 with a 3-game series against Bellarmine at Jim Patterson Stadium.
