 Delaware
Baseball Picked No. 4 in Colonial Athletic
Association Preseason Coaches
Poll
RICHMOND,
VA (January 20, 2005)-- The University of
Delaware baseball team was picked fourth
in the 2005 preseason coaches poll
released by the Colonial Athletic
Association on Wednesday. defending
conference champion UNC Wilmington was
picked first with five first place votes
and 60 overall points, followed by George
Mason with four first place votes and 57
overall points and William & Mary with
48 overall points.
Delaware
received 45 total points in the poll and
returns 15 of its 18 letterwinners from
last season. The Blue Hens also return
eight of nine position starters and six of
eight pitchers and will begin the 2005
campaign with a road trip to UNC
Greensboro for a three-game series
scheduled to begin on February
18.
The
2004 Blue Hens finished the season 33-24
(12-11 CAA) earning them a spot in the
conference post season tournament. In the
tournament, they posted a record of 3-2
and advanced to the final day before being
defeated by UNC Wilmington.
Senior
co-captains Dave Harden (Wilmington,
DE/Dickinson-topright) and Scott Rambo
(Downingtown, PA/Downingtown), in addition
to junior Brian Valichka (Frederick,
MD/Oklahoma State), return for the Blue
Hens and will take over the leadership
roles left behind by 2004 captains Mike
Mihalik and Steve Van Note.
"We
have great leadership on this year's team
and have a lot of confidence," said head
coach Jim Sherman. "An all-conference
player like Brian Valichka and senior
co-captains Scott Rambo and Dave Harden
will give us a lot of great leadership.
"
Named
the Blue Hen Baseball Club Defensive
Player of the Year, Valichka also captured
All-CAA Tournament honors last season and
was a Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All American
nominee. He finished the season with with
68 hits, a .362 batting average, seven
home runs, 17 doubles, eight stolen bases,
and 27 RBI.
Rambo,
also a Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All
American nominee, was also named to the
CAA All Tournament team. He pitched 83.1
innings and finished with a 7-6 record,
striking out 79 batters. Rambo finished
the 2004 season with a 5.29
ERA.
Harden
batted.311. in 2004 leading the team with
14 home runs. The right fielder had 70
hits, 13 doubles, and added 16 stolen
bases.
Other
key position players returning to the
Delaware lineup this season are seniors
Brock Donovan (New Castle, DE/William
Penn), Ryan Graham (Danville, IL/Triton),
and Kelly Buber (Yuba City, CA/Yuba
Community). Juniors Todd Davison (Somers
Point, NJ/St. Augustine) and Brent Rogers
(Claymont, DE/Mt. Pleasant) plan to
continue to make an impact while sophomore
Bryan Hagerich (Somerset, PA/Somerset)
looks to make his presence felt once again
after a successful freshman
campaign.
Returning
to the bullpen will be a healthy group of
young and talented starters and relievers
as well. Chris Garrick (Nesconset,
NY/Smithtown) returns for his senior
season while Jason Rogers (New Castle,
DE/William Penn) returns as a junior after
sitting out last season due to injury.
Sophomores Mitch Heckert (Harrisburg,
PA/Central Dauphin), Billy Harris (Bear,
DE/Salesianum), and Chad Kerfoot (Owings
Mills, MD/Northern) are expected to be
relied on heavily this season after seeing
action as freshmen.
"I
think we've got a team that can compete
for the conference championship this
year," said Sherman. "Coming off the last
third of the season and the playoff run we
had last year, I think these kids are
itching to get right back into
it."
2005
CAA BASEBALL PRESEASON PREDICTED ORDER OF
FINISH
1.-UNC
Wilmington, (60, 5 first place votes);
2.-George Mason, (57, 4 first place
votes); 3.-William & Mary (48);
4.-Delaware (45); 5.-Virginia Commonwealth
(40); 6.-James Madison (25); 7.-Old
Dominion (21); 8.-Towson (17); 9.-Hofstra
(11).
-DDD-
Copyright,
© 2005, University of Delaware. All
rights reserved.
Please
direct Athletics questions to the
Athletics
Media
Relations
office.
|
