Fall Sports

Winter Sports

Spring Sports

Information

CALDWELL AND WILMINGTON RANKED IN NCBWA PRESEASON BASEBALL POLL

February 11, 2008

NEW HAVEN, CT --Caldwell College and Wilmington University are ranked according to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) Division II Northeast Region preseason poll. Franklin Pierce University is the unanimous choice atop the poll, while Caldwell is fifth and Wilmington is sixth.

Caldwell won the CACC regular-season championship last season with an 11-5 record and finished second at the CACC Tournament. The Cougars advanced to the NCAA Division II Northeast Region Tournament, where they won their opening game over UMass-Lowell before being eliminated with two losses. Caldwell concluded the season with a 25-15 record. The Cougars lost just one starter while returning 19 players from that team, including three All-CACC first team selections in sophomore starting pitcher Robert Casal, senior catcher Chris Chiarappa and sophomore outfielder Adric Saxon. Saxon was named the CACC Rookie of the Year last season. Caldwell will be guided by 2007 CACC Coach of the Year, Chris Reardon.

Wilmington won the CACC Tournament Championship last year over Caldwell and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Regional Tournament. The Wildcats tied for second in the CACC regular-season standings at 10-6 and concluded the season 30-20 overall. The Wildcats are led by senior right-handed pitcher Joe Matterer and senior utility player Brian Testa. Both Matterer and Testa were named to the All-CACC first team in 2007.

The NCBWA's Northeast Regional committee for 2008 is Doug Monson, Sports Information Director at Franklin Pierce (coordinator), Ken Johnson, SID at Saint Anselm, John Tagliaferri, SID at Pace, Jennifer Mischke, SID at Molloy, Chuck Sadowski, SID at Bridgeport, Adam Siepiola, Assistant SID at Adelphi, Bob Heller, Assistant AD/SID at USP, Matt McLagan, SID at Caldwell and Matt Connors, Assistant SID at Philadelphia.

The NCBWA Division II Northeast Regional poll is in no way affiliated with the NCAA Division II Tournament selection committee rankings.

NCBWA Northeast Region Preseason Poll

Rk. School Pts --Record

1. Franklin Pierce (9) 90 --49-11

2. Adelphi 73 --35-17

3. Bryant 70 --35-24

4. UMass Lowell 66 --33-20

5. Caldwell 49 --25-15

6. Wilmington 37 --30-20

7. LIU-C.W. Post 26 --30-19

8. Pace 24 --30-26

9. Bridgeport 21 --21-14

10. New Haven 18 --28-18

Receiving Votes: Dowling (13), Felician (4), Dominican (3), Stonehill (1).

() - first place votes