Greg Van Horn

The College of Wooster came in at No. 17 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association/D3baseball.com's preseason top-25 poll, the website announced recently. Wooster ended 2010 ranked No. 16 and with a 34-9 record.

The Fighting Scots will bring a young team to the diamond this spring, featuring 23 freshmen, several of whom are expected to play prominent roles. They do have three position starters back, headlined by shortstop Greg Van Horn, who was selected as a second-team preseason All-American by D3baseball.com. Van Horn, also named the preseason NCAA Div. III Player of the Year by Baseball America recently, batted .486 with 19 doubles, eight triples, eight home runs, 56 RBI, and 16 stolen bases during 2010.

While its position players are a bit inexperienced, Wooster can rely on a pitching staff that includes three of the top-four hurlers from last season. Anchoring the group will likely be Justin McDowell, a senior right-hander who was a D3baseball.com first-team All-American as a sophomore (13-3, 2.38 ERA) and added an 8-3 record and 2.64 ERA last spring.

The Scots' 2011 season begins at LaGrange College on March 13.