The Prairie View A&M University Panther baseball team has recently been ranked number one by the Black College Baseball Poll. Jackson State previously held the number one position, but after losing five games in a two week span the Tigers fell to number four. The Panthers two-game victory over Texas Southern is what pushed them to the number one ranking. The BCB poll is released bi-weekly and features the top black college baseball programs, coaches, and players. Prairie View is off to its best start within the past few years, their undefeated home record (11-0) is the best in the conference. This is one of the many accolades to dwindle down on the Panthers after having a respectable 2005 season. Most recently sophomore pitcher Wrandal Taylor, junior pitcher Matthew Chase and senior outfielder Anton Daley were selected to the SWAC preseason first team. Taylor is currently 3-0.
Juniors Eugene Edwards and Michael Richard lead the team in home runs with three each. Miami native Calvin Lester leads the team in stolen bases (27) and runs scored with a total of 25. Not too far behind was Edwards, who touched home plate 24 times.
The Panthers recently defeated the Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions (1-4, 3-8) in a three game sweep over the past weekend. The Golden Lions are second conference opponents to be slaughtered by the Panthers.
Prairie View’s next opponent will be the Grambling State Tigers. This will be a two game series on Saturday and Sunday. Grambling currently has a losing record of 3-5, which includes a 1-6 loss to Arkansas Pine Bluff.