Baseball notes courtesy of UA Media Relations:

TUSCALOOSA — Alabama sophomore second baseman Ross Wilson has been named to the 2009 Baseball America Preseason All-American Team, the publication announced today.

He hit .295 with 15 home runs and 47 RBI last season as a true freshman. The 15 home runs tied the Alabama freshman single-season record. Ross was also named to the 2008 NCAA Conway Regional All-Tournament Team, after swatting three home runs in three games for the Tide.

Wilson and Tennessee centerfielder Kentrail Davis are the only two SEC players named to Baseball America’s first-team squad. In all, 10 SEC players were recognized on the publications three preseason All-American teams.

Baseball America has the Tide ranked 21st in preseason its poll and picked the Tide to finish second in the SEC Western Division this season. Alabama is also tabbed as one of eight SEC teams projected to make the NCAA Regionals this season.

TIDE PICKED THIRD IN SEC WEST: The Alabama Crimson Tide is picked to finish third in the 2009 SEC Western Division standing this season as the league office unveiled its annual preseason coach’s poll on Monday.

The projected order of finish in the SEC Western Division includes LSU, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn and Mississippi State. The SEC Eastern Division is projected to be Georgia, Florida, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky.

LSU is the projected overall conference champion, with Georgia and Ole Miss also receiving first-place votes.

FOUR PLAYERS NAMED ALL-SEC: Alabama put four players on the 2009 SEBaseball.com Preseason All-SEC Team on Monday. Sophomore shortstop Josh Rutledge and Wilson were first-team All-SEC selections, while senior right fielder Kent Matthes and junior infielder/outfielder Brandon May were second-team All-SEC picks.

Alabama was also rated the top power unit in the SEC this season by SEBaseball.com. The Crimson Tide hit 83 home runs last season and returns seven starters off that unit.

“The Crimson Tide has a deep, powerful lineup that should terrorize pitching staffs all season long,” SEBaseball.com editor Mark Etheridge wrote in his Monday conference preview.

Rutledge (.369, 31 RBI) and May (.365, 9 HR, 50 RBI) were listed as the second-best hitting tandem in the league by SEBaseball.com.

Meanwhile, Alabama’s series with Georgia, Ole Miss, Florida and LSU were among the 20 best conference series this season, according to SEBaseball.com.

SEASON TICKETS: The Athletic Ticket Office shipped baseball season tickets on Friday, Feb. 13. The tickets were shipped via UPS (two-day delivery) and should start arriving today. Season ticket holders who have not received their tickets by Wednesday, Feb. 18 should call the Athletic Ticket Office at 205.348.2262.