University of Delaware Athletics
Three Blue Hens Receive Preseason All-CAA Accolades; Blue Hens No. 6 in Coaches Poll
1/21/2015 12:54:00 PM | Baseball
Delaware, who finished fourth in CAA last season, was picked to finish in sixth place in the conference. The All-CAA teams and predicted order of finish were selected by a vote of CAA head coaches.
Jim ShermanDefending conference champion Charleston was selected as the preseason favorite with 64 points and eight first place votes. UNCW was second with 52 points and received the only other first place vote.
William & Mary was picked to finish third with 51 points, followed by CAA newcomer Elon (43), Northeastern (37), and Delaware (29).
Hofstra and James Madison were tied for seventh in the preseason predictions with Towson picked to finish in last place in the conference.
Jim Sherman, will open their 2015 campaign with a doubleheader
on Feb. 13 as UD will take on Bucknell at 2 p.m. and then face Wake Forest at 6 p.m. Both games will be played at Wake Forest's Gene Hooks Field in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Lopes (above left) (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum) was the only Blue Hen to receive first team All-CAA honors in 2014. The infielder was also voted the team's Most Outstanding Fielder.
During his junior campaign, Lopes was second on the team with a .320 batting average and notched 22 multi-hit games.
Giacchino (West Chester, Pa./Malvern Prep) was selected third team All-CAA in 2014 and was the Blue Hens leadoff hitter for most of the season.
During Giacchino's junior season, the outfielder led the team in runs scored with 39 and in triples with five. Giacchino (above right) was second on the team in hits with 65 and in doubles with 14. He 
received the Perry E. Buckett Triple Play Award for dedication, inspiration, and perseverance and was also selected to the CAA Academic Honor Roll.
Donkin (Folsom, Pa./Ridley) was named second team All-CAA, Team MVP, and selected Most Outstanding Offensive Player in his first season with the Blue Hens in 2014.
After transferring from Harford Community College to Delaware, Donkin saw most of his playing time in the outfield last season, but also made six appearances on the mound in relief for UD.
Donkin (left) led the team in hits (66), doubles (16), and in stolen bases (10). He made an immediate impact with the Blue Hens as Donkin tallied at least one hit in 13 of his first 16 games with Delaware.
William & Mary placed a conference-high four players on the All-CAA team, while Elon's Casey Jones was selected CAA Preseason Player of the Year.
