Diamond Hawks Are Coaches Choice In 2013

Courtesy: UNCW Athletic Communications
Release: 01/23/2013

Courtesy: Joe Browning

Senior outfielder Tyler Molinaro was one of six Seahawks selected to the CAA preseason all-conference squad.

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Bolstered by the return of five starters in the field and a pair of weekend starters on the mound, UNCW has been picked by the league’s coaches to defend its Colonial Athletic Association baseball title in 2013.

The Seahawks captured their third tournament crown in 2012 and played in their fifth NCAA tournament.

UNCW, which received five first-place votes, totaled 75 points while Hofstra and Delaware received three and two votes, respectively. The Pride was selected to finish second followed by James Madison and Delaware. George Mason rounded out the top-five.

Old Dominion was picked sixth followed by William & Mary, Towson, Northeastern and Georgia State.

The league also released its preseason all-conference team that included five Seahawks.

Hofstra’s Jared Hammer and Delaware’s Jimmy Yezzo were selected Co-Players-of-the-Year.

Earning spots on the preseason all-conference squad were senior infielder Michael Bass (.326/33R/33RBI/20SB), senior outfielders Tyler Molinaro (.273/16HR/48RBI) and Hunter Ridge (.340/4HR/41RBI) and junior pitchers Mat Batts (6-5, 3.04 ERA) and Kelly Secrest (5-2, 2.12ERA). Sophomore Corey Dick (.308/8HR35RBI) was named honorable mention.

The Seahawks open the 2013 against College World Series participant Kent State on Feb. 15. Season tickets can be purchased by contacting the UNCW Athletics Ticket office at 1-800-808-UNCW or online at UNCWsports.com.

2013 CAA Preseason Prediction of Finish
1.	UNCW (5 first-place votes) 75
2.	Hofstra (3) 69
3.	James Madison 62
4.	Delaware (2) 57
5.	George Mason 49
6.	Old Dominion 32
7.	William & Mary 30
8.	Towson 28
9.	Northeastern 27
10.	Georgia State 21

2013 Preseason All-CAA Baseball Team

Player, School	Pos.	Cl.	Hometown	2012 Stats
John Puttress, Northeastern	C	Sr.	New Providence, N.J.	.323, 0 HR, 29 RBI
Jared Hammer, Hofstra	1B	Sr.	Flemington, N.J.	.376, 4 HR, 66 RBI
Jimmy Yezzo, Delaware	1B	Jr.	Cherry Hill, N.J.	.358, 8 HR, 46 RBI
Michael Bass, UNCW	2B	Sr.	Fairmont, N.C.	.326, 33 RBI, 20 SB
Dalton Rouleau, Hofstra	SS	Sr.	Lompoc, Calif.	.328, 31 RBI, 26 SB
Ryan Lindenmuth, William & Mary	3B	Jr.	Burke, Va.	.376, 5 HR, 48 RBI
Aaron Barbosa, Northeastern	OF	Jr.	Dracut, Mass.	.352, 20 RBI, 14 SB
Tyler Molinaro, UNCW	OF	Sr.	Charlottesville, Va.	.273, 16 HR, 48 RBI
Hunter Ridge, UNCW	OF	Sr.	Asheboro, N.C.	.340, 4 HR, 41 RBI
Brendan Butler, Towson	Util.	So.	Bel Air, Md.	.308, 34 RBI, 14 SB
Connor Brown, James Madison	DH	Jr.	Richmond, Va.	.338, 3 HR, 33 RBI
Mat Batts, UNCW	SP	Jr.	Winston-Salem, N.C.	6-5, 3.04 ERA, 90 SO
Michael Trionfo, Towson	SP	Sr.	Jacksonville, Md.	11-3, 3.35 ERA, 52 SO
Kelly Secrest, UNCW	RP	Jr.	Mt. Airy, N.C.	5-2, 1 Sv, 2.12 ERA, 45 SO

CAA Preseason Co-Players of the Year: Jared Hammer, Hofstra and Jimmy Yezzo, Delaware

Honorable Mention (players receiving multiple votes): Matt Reistetter, C, Hofstra; Ty Warrington, C, Delaware; D.J. Long, 2B, Delaware; Caden Bailey, So., SS, Georgia State; Jason Vosler, 3B, Northeastern; Blaise Fernandez, 3B, George Mason; Ty McFarland, 3B, James Madison; Kenny Jackson, OF, Hofstra; ColeMcInturff, OF, James Madison; Corey Dick, DH, UNCW; Chad Kuhl, SP, Delaware; John Tiedemann, SP, Hofstra; John Farrell, RP, William & Mary; Brandon Smith, RP, Old Dominion

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