ODU'S Wright Headlines Preseason All-CAA Baseball Team
RICHMOND, Va. (January 27, 2012) – Old Dominion senior shortstop Josh Wright was selected as the 2012 CAA baseball preseason Player of the Year in voting by the league’s head coaches.
Wright earned first-team All-CAA honors in 2011 after batting .369 with 12 home runs, 44 RBI and 18 stolen bases. He led the Monarchs and was fifth in CAA with 53 runs scored and was also among the league’s top 10 in slugging percentage (.682) and on-base percentage (.454).
Wright headlines the 2012 preseason All-CAA baseball team, which includes 12 players who were all-conference selections a year ago. Joining Wright in the infield are Towson junior catcher Andrew Parker (.304, 37 RBI), UNCW junior first baseman Hunter Ridge (.354, 60 RBI), George Mason junior second baseman Chris Cook (.340, 29 RBI) and Georgia State senior third baseman Brandon Williams (.342, 46 RBI).
The outfield includes Northeastern sophomore Aaron Barbosa (.335, 29 SB), Hofstra senior Danny Poma (.382, 28 RBI), and UNCW senior Thomas Pope (.396, 46 RBI). James Madison junior Johnny Bladel (.360, 41 RBI) was picked at the utility spot and Georgia State junior Drew Shields (.321, 20 RBI) was chosen as the designated hitter.
Chosen as starting pitchers were James Madison senior Sean Tierney (10-1, 3.43 ERA) and Old Dominion senior Ben Tomchick (8-4, 3.15 ERA). The relief pitcher is William & Mary junior Brett Koehler (4-3, 8 saves, 2.73 ERA).
2012 PRESEASON ALL-CAA BASEBALL TEAM
Player, School Pos. Cl. Hometown 2011 Stats
Andrew Parker, Towson C Jr. Sykesville, Md. .304, 5 HR, 37 RBI
Hunter Ridge, UNCW 1B Jr. Asheboro, N.C. .354, 9 HR, 60 RBI
Chris Cook, George Mason 2B Jr. Riva, Md. .340, 4 HR, 29 RBI
Josh Wright, Old Dominion SS Sr. Bridgewater, Va. .369, 12 HR, 44 RBI, 18 SB
Brandon Williams, Georgia St. 3B Sr. Marietta, Ga. .342, 1 HR, 46 RBI, 12 SB
Aaron Barbosa, Northeastern OF So. Dracut, Mass. .335, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 29 SB
Danny Poma, Hofstra OF Sr. Monterey, Calif. .382, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 20 SB
Thomas Pope, UNCW OF Sr. Clinton, N.C. .396, 5 HR, 46 RBI, 19 SB
Johnny Bladel, James Madison UT Jr. Ashburn, Va. .360, 4 HR, 41 RBI, 26 SB
Drew Shields, Georgia State DH Jr. Canton, Ga. .321, 0 HR, 20 RBI
Sean Tierney, James Madison SP Sr. Midlothian, Va. 10-1, 3.43 ERA, 47 K’s
Ben Tomchick, Old Dominion SP Sr. Virginia Beach, Va. 8-4, 3.15 ERA, 81 K’s
Brett Koehler, William & Mary RP Jr. Glen Gardner, N.J. 4-3, 8 svs., 2.73 ERA, 58 K’s
CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Josh Wright, Old Dominion
Honorable Mention (players receiving multiple votes): Taylor Perkins, C, VCU; Chris Baker, 1B, Old Dominion; Ty McFarland, 1B, James Madison; D.J. Long, 2B, Delaware; Andrew Cain, OF, UNCW; Bill Cullen, OF, VCU; Dan Schafferman, OF, George Mason; Brig Tison, UT, George Mason; Joey Burney, DH, Old Dominion; Zack Helgeson, DH, George Mason; Andrew Leenhouts, SP, Northeastern; Justin Malone, SP, Georgia State; Jake Dyer, RP, Georgia State