University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Picked Fourth in CAA Preseason Poll; Four Blue Hens Named to All-CAA Team
1/25/2017 5:02:00 PM | Baseball
RICHMOND, Va.—The baseball program of University of Delaware was picked fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association Baseball Preseason Poll and placed four players on the Preseason All-CAA Team, the league announced Wednesday.
Sophomore first baseman Nick Patten, sophomore starter Brandon Walter, and senior outfielder Jordan Glover were the UD representatives on the first team, while sophomore Kyle Baker was named honorable mention.
Overall, the Blue Hens received 39 points, falling just eights points behind third place College of Charleston.
Reigning CAA regular season champions UNCW received 64 points (eight of nine first place votes) while William & Mary was slotted second (52 points, one first-place vote). Elon finished fifth (36 points) followed James Madison, Northeastern, Towson, and Hofstra.
Delaware's three first team All-CAA Preseason selections ranked second as only UNCW (5) had more selections.
Jim ShermanVoted a third team 2017 Preseason Collegiate Baseball All-American earlier this month, Glover projects to be one of the top hitters on the east coast this spring.
Last season, the Marlton, N.J. native batted .360 with 5 home runs, 52 RBIs (4th in CAA) and 20 doubles (T-4th in CAA). His performance, in the batters box in particular, earned him a slot on the 2016 All-CAA first team and a second team honor on the All-East (ECAC) team.
A Butler Pa. native, Patten was one of the top power hitters in the CAA last season. Overall the righty batted .285 in his first collegiate season, socking a team high 12 home runs (T-4th in CAA) and connecting on 28 extra-base hits. He was named to the Louisville Slugger/CBM Freshman All-American team a year ago.
The lone Delaware pitcher representative was Walter (Hodgson Vo-Tech HS), who posted a 7-3 record with an ERA of just 3.63 as a freshman. He, like Patten, was named to the Louisville Slugger/CBM Freshman All-American team a year ago.
The lanky left-hander struck out 85 batters (T-4 in CAA), and his seven wins were tied for the fifth most in the conference. His .232 BAA (batting average against) was good for fourth in the CAA a year ago.
Another local, Baker (Wilmington Charter HS) was one of the top freshmen in the CAA last season, batting .346 with 15 extra-base hits.
His accomplishments on the diamond earned the righty multiple postseason honors, including spots on the CAA All-Rookie Team, All-CAA third team, and a selection to the Louisville Slugger/CBM Freshman All-American squad.
Last season, the Blue Hens finished 32-22 (10-14 CAA) and finished two games behind sixth place Charleston, just missing out on a postseason berth.
Overall, Delaware returns its top eight hitters and 10 of its 11 top pitchers from last season's squad.
The Blue Hens open the 2017 season on Feb. 17against Atlantic Coast Conference foe Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh Tournament in Kissimmee, Fla.
2017 Colonial Athletic Association Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll
1. UNCW (8 first‐place votes) - 64
2. William & Mary (1 first‐place vote) - 52
3. College of Charleston - 47
4. Delaware - 39
5. Elon - 36
6. James Madison - 34
7. Northeastern - 28
8. Towson - 14
9. Hofstra - 10
2017 Preseason All-CAA Team
C - Nick Feight, UNCW
1B - Brett Johnson, James Madison
1B - Nick Patten, Delaware
2B - Brian Mims, UNCW
SS - Richie Palacios, Towson
3B - Daniel Stack, UNCW
OF - Jordan Glover, Delaware
OF - Ky Parrott, James Madison
OF - Robbie Thorburn, UNCW
UT - Dupree Hart, Col. of Charleston
DH - Ryder Miconi, William & Mary
DH - CJ Young, Elon
SP - Bailey Ober, Col. of Charleston
SP - Alex Royalty, UNCW
SP - Brandon Walter, Delaware
RP - Carter Love, Col. of Charleston
CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Nick Feight, UNCW
Honorable Mention: Erven Roper, C, Col. of Charleston; Cullen Large, 2B, William & Mary; Ryne Ogren, SS, Elon; David Leiderman, 3B, Hofstra; Charlie McConnell, 3B, Northeastern; Kyle Baker, OF, Delaware; Casey Golden, OF, UNCW; Ryan Hall, OF, William & Mary; Kyle Jackson, OF, Elon; Cam Walsh, OF, Northeastern; Terence Connelly, UT, UNCW; Mike Fitzgerald, SP, Northeastern; Dan Powers, SP, William & Mary; Michael Evans, RP, James Madison; Austin Magestro, RP, UNCW
MEDIA INFORMATION: Contact Andrew Stern| Andrew.Stern94@gmail.com | Office: 302-831-6519 | Cell: 914-589-9666
