Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Coach: Danny Hall (737-328-1 in 18 seasons at Tech)
Last year's finish: 47-15, second in ACC Coastal Division
Prediction: Second in division
Returning stars: P Jed Bradley (9-5, 4.83 ERA), P Mark Pope (8-1, 3.78 ERA), 3B Matt Skole (.335, 20 HRs)
Key newcomers: C Zane Evans, DH/OF Daniel Palka, P/OF DeAndre Smelter
What to expect: Hall lost a school record-tying 10 players in the draft, including ace and first-round pick Deck McGuire (9-4, 2.96), and brought in a top-10 recruiting class to replace them. Hall thinks as many as seven freshmen could start. The Jackets will need production and leadership from Pope, who will be the Jackets' Friday pitcher, and veterans Skole and 2B Jacob Esch, their two returning position starters, to try to catch Coastal-favorite Virginia.
Quotable: "I think it's hard for me to tell where we're going to be offensively." -- Hall
