Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

RICHMOND, Va. The University of Delaware baseball team was selected fifth in the Colonial Athletic Association Coaches Poll, while three Blue Hens earned Honorable Mention Preseason All-Conference honors as selected in a vote by the league head coaches.

James Madison was picked as the preseason favorite after earning nine first-place votes and 99 total points. UNC Wilmington, which received the remaining two first-place votes, placed second in the poll, while Georgia State, Old Dominion, and Delaware rounded out the top-five.

The Blue Hens will be led into action by seniors Carlos Alonso and Ryan Cuneo as well as sophomore Rich O’Donald (at right). All three returning standouts earned a spot on the honorable mention preseason All-Conference squad for their performances last season.

Alonso, a senior third baseman, earned second team All-Conference honors last year and was named the Pape Lukk team MVP. He led Delaware with a .380 batting average and ranked sixth in the CAA with a .480 on-base percentage. During the season, he reached base safely in every game, becoming the first Blue Hen in program history to accomplish that feat.

Cuneo, a senior first baseman, will once again provide a powerful punch and help spearhead the Delaware lineup. Last season, he ranked second in the conference with 17 home runs and eighth with 56 RBI. He knocked in at least two runs in 17 games, including a season-high six on April 10 when he tied a school-record with three home runs against Hofstra.

O’Donald, a sophomore starting pitcher, pieced together an outstanding freshman campaign last season that saw him earn a spot on the conference’s All-Rookie team. During the year, he led all Hens and ranked third in the league with a .244 batting-average-against. He also tossed three complete games, including the program’s first nine-inning shutout in over eight years.

Along with the three Blue Hens, 24 other players were selected to the preseason All-Conference teams. James Madison’s Trevor Knight led the way, earning preseason Player of the Year honors.

Delaware returns 14 letterwinners from last year’s team that finished 28-20 and advanced to the third day of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament. The squad will be led by an experienced pitching staff that boasts nine returners, highlighted by O’Donald and Brian Rorick.

Delaware will kick off the 2010 season on February 19 when the squad travels to Charleston, South Carolina for a four-team tournament hosted by the Citadel. The Hens will open up against Kansas State at noon.

AGATE:

2010 CAA Baseball Coaches Poll

1. James Madison (9 first-place votes), 99.
2. UNC Wilmington (2), 91.
3. Georgia State, 75.
4. Old Dominion, 66.
5. Delaware, 61.
6. George Mason, 54.
7t. Towson, 42.
7t. VCU, 42.
9. Northeastern, 40.
10. William & Mary, 24.
11. Hofstra, 11.

First-Team Preseason All-CAA

Cody Stanley (C, UNC Wilmington), Bradley Logan (1B, Georgia State), Ryan Soares (2B, George Mason), David Herbek (SS, James Madison), Jake McAloose (3B, Old Dominion), Matt Browning (OF, James Madison), Kevin Collins (OF, Towson), Matt Townsend (OF, James Madison), Trevor Knight (Utility, James Madison), Robbie Monday (UNC Wilmington, DH), Kevin Crum (SP, George Mason), Ryan Moore (Georgia State, SP), Kevin Munson (James Madison, RP).

Honorable Mention Preseason All-CAA

Chris Forsten (C, William &  Mary), Ryan Cuneo (1B, Delaware), Mike Fabiaschi (2B, James Madison), Chris Wychock (2B, Towson), Nick Natoli (SS, Towson), Mike Rooney (SS, UNC Wilmington), Carlos Alonso (3B, Delaware), Grayson Evans (OF, UNC Wilmington), Austin Harclerode (Utility, Towson), Shane Davis (DH, George Mason), Turner Phelps (P, James Madison), Rich O’Donald (P, Delaware), Stephen Harrold (RP, UNC Wilmington), Justin Malone (RP, Georgia State).