CULLOWHEE, N.C. – On the heels of a record-setting season in 2013 that included 39 victories, including 23 in league play, the Western Carolina Catamount baseball team has been tabbed 31st in the national preseason poll as selected and released by Collegiate Baseball. The Collegiate Baseball newspaper poll is the oldest college baseball poll, as it debuted during the 1957 college baseball season.

It is the first time the Catamounts have appeared among the preseason rankings from Collegiate Baseball since 2008. WCU appeared in the “others receiving votes” section of the preseason poll in both 2006 and again prior to the 2008 season.

According to available research dating back to 1998, it also represents the highest preseason tabulation for the Purple & Gold.

WCU was joined in the poll by two fellow SoCon members as both Appalachian State and The Citadel earned nods in the “others receiving votes” portion of the poll. In addition to those two, five other of the Catamounts’ opponents in 2014 appeared among the national rankings including No. 21 Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Washington State and East Tennessee State.

Western Carolina will gear up for the 2014 season by hosting the fourth "Celebration of Catamount Baseball Fundraising Banquet" on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Hinds University Center. Former Catamount reliever and current Kansas City Royals closer Greg Holland is slated as the keynote speaker as WCU again celebrates its 2013 SoCon regular-season championship, introduces its 2014 squad and unveils this season's "Leggett No. 7 Legacy" recipient.

The Catamounts open their SoCon regular-season title defense on Feb. 14-16 by hosting the Ohio Bobcats at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium.