Elon Predicted To Win CAA Baseball Championship In 2019
Rob Washburn
RICHMOND, Va. (February 7, 2019) – Elon has been picked to win a competitive race for the CAA baseball title in 2019 according to a vote of the league’s head baseball coaches.
The Phoenix received four first-place votes and finished atop the poll with 57 points. Following close behind in a tie for second with 54 points were defending CAA champion UNCW, which got one first-place vote, and back-to-back regular-season champion Northeastern, which picked up the other four first-place votes. Charleston was fourth with 47 points, followed by Delaware (34 points), James Madison (32 points), William & Mary (19 points), Hofstra (14 points) and Towson (13 points).
Elon returns five starters and several top pitchers from last year’s 36-23 squad that placed second in the CAA standings. The Phoenix pitching staff is headlined by a pair of preseason All-America honorees in junior right-handers Kyle Brnovich (8-2, 1.71 ERA, 147 K’s) and George Kirby (10-3, 2.89 ERA, 96 K’s). The bullpen includes Jared Wetherbee (2-1, 4 svs., 4.07 ERA) and Brandon Justice (0-3, 2 svs., 2.13 ERA). Three all-conference selections are back in the Elon lineup with infielders Cam Devanney (.287, 5 HR, 23 RB) and Joe Satterfield (.268, 4 HR, 43 RBI) and designated hitter Garrett Stonehouse (.268, 2 HR, 38 RBI).
UNCW welcomes back five starters from last year’s 39-23 team that captured its fifth CAA championship and advanced to the finals of the NCAA Greenville Regional. Leading the Seahawks offensively are sophomore shortstop Greg Jones (.278, 45 R, 21 RBI, 16 SB), junior third baseman Cole Weiss (.264, 4 HR, 29 RBI) and junior outfielder Kep Brown (.267, 7 HR, 30 RBI). Weiss made the All-CAA second team a year ago, while Jones was a CAA All-Rookie pick. On the mound, UNCW will rely on starters Gage Herring (2-1, 2.68 ERA) and Luke Gesell (3-2, 3.37 ERA), as well as relievers Henry Ryan (3-0, 1.11 ERA) and Justin Walke (4-1, 3.32 ERA).
Northeastern looks to build on a historic 2018 campaign in which it set a program record for wins with a 36-21 mark, captured a second straight CAA regular-season title and earned an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time since 2003. Six players are back in the Huskies lineup, led by all-conference standouts Jake Farrell (.342, 11 HR, 63 RBI) and Ryan Solomon (.238, 8 HR, 30 RBI) as well as CAA Co-Rookie of the Year Ian Fair (.305, 2 HR, 27 RBI). Northeastern also returns starting pitchers Sean Mellen (10-3, 2.28 ERA, 81 K’s) and Tyler Brown (8-4, 4.68 ERA) along with relievers Andrew Misiaszek (2-2, 12 svs., 2.70 ERA) and Kyle Murphy (3-3, 5 svs., 3.33 ERA).
Charleston, which went 36-19 in its first year under coach Chad Holbrook, returns a trio of All-CAA players with second baseman Dupree Hart (.326, 2 HR, 21 RBI), catcher Danny Wondrack (.253, 12 HR, 43 RBI) and designated hitter Logan McRae (.284, 7 HR, 37 RBI). Back on the mound are starter Griffin McLarty (7-2, 3.32 ERA, 85 K’s) and reliever Nathan Ocker (2-4, 10 svs., 2.03 ERA).
Elon’s Brnovich was selected as the preseason Player of the Year and headlined the preseason All-CAA squad.
2019 CAA BASEBALL PRESEASON PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
1. Elon (4 first-place votes) 57
2. UNCW (1 first-place vote) 54
Northeastern (4 first-place votes) 54
4. Charleston 47
5. Delaware 34
6. James Madison 32
7. William & Mary 19
8. Hofstra 14
9. Towson 13
2019 PRESEASON ALL-CAA BASEBALL TEAM
Player, School Pos. Cl. Hometown 2018 Stats
Vito Friscia, Hofstra C Sr. Valley Stream, N.Y. .353, 7 HR, 31 RBI
Jake Farrell, Northeastern 1B Sr. Westwood, Mass. .342, 11 HR, 63 RBI
Dupree Hart, Charleston 2B Sr. Rock Hill, S.C. .326, 2 HR, 21 RBI
Greg Jones, UNCW SS So. Cary, N.C. .278, 4 HR, 21 RBI
Cole Weiss, UNCW 3B Jr. Winston-Salem, N.C. .264, 4 HR, 29 RBI
Kyle Baker, Delaware OF Sr. Hockessin, Del. .354, 2 HR, 39 RBI
Kep Brown, UNCW OF Jr. Charleston, S.C. .267, 7 HR, 30 RBI
Cam Walsh, Northeastern OF Sr. Duxbury, Mass. .265, 0 HR, 16 RBI
Jackson Meadows, UNCW UT Jr. Lexington, N.C. .252, 0 HR, 13 RBI
Logan McRae, Charleston DH Sr. Florence, S.C. .284, 7 HR, 37 RBI
Kyle Brnovich, Elon SP Jr. Milton, Ga. 8-2, 1.71 ERA, 147 K’s
Sean Mellen, Northeastern SP Jr. Norwood, Mass. 10-3, 2.28 ERA, 81 K’s
Andrew Misiaszek, Northeastern RP Sr. Oceanside, N.Y. 2-2, 12 saves, 2.70 ERA
CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Kyle Brnovich, Elon
Honorable Mention: Danny Wondrack, C, Charleston;
Joe Satterfield, 1B, Elon;
Fox Semones, 2B, James Madison;
Ian Fair, SS, Northeastern;
Ryan Solomon, 3B, Northeastern;
DaVonn Griffin, OF, James Madison;
Kevin Mohollen, OF, Delaware;
Garrett Stonehouse, DH, Elon;
George Kirby, SP, Elon;
Billy Sullivan, SP, Delaware;
Nathan Ocker, RP, Charleston