After again slugging their way past a quality ranked SEC opponent (then-#21 Vanderbilt), Kentucky was rewarded with its highest Baseball America ranking ever, No. 11. Among SEC teams, only #6 Alabama -- the SEC West leader -- is stationed higher.
The two weekend victories in Nashville were the Bat Cats' fifth and sixth wins in their last seven games, and leave Kentucky (34-11, 13-8 SEC) sitting nicely atop the SEC East with South Carolina. John Cohen's UK boys are a whopping 12-6 against the top 25 this season.
In other rankings, Collegiate Baseball placed the Cats a season-high (for this publication) 15th, up three spots. The Rosenblatt Report -- a Rivals site -- placed the Cats at #14. The USATODAY coaches' poll has Kentucky at #14, up from 19.
It doesn't get any easier for the Cats with a home series against yet another ranked team in Ole Miss (BA's #18). Meanwhile, at least one Website is beginning to look at NCAA tournament projections, and the Cats look pretty rosy in the latest installment. This projection has them in Austin playing Southern California, with the winner meeting #7 Texas or upstart Monmouth. Given the Cats' history in the NCAAs (there is one?), a number 2 seed would be a real honor and a great place from which to build towards a College World Series berth.
Update [2006-5-2 17:59:36 by JL Blue]:The Kentucky Rivals folks just posted today a great profile piece on Kentucky junior slugger Ryan Strieby, who has helped lead the Bat Cats' hitting renaissance. It's a great read, and a good look into what is becoming a great story in the UK baseball Cats.