CAA Baseball Championship Gets Underway On Wednesday From Patriots Point
Rob Washburn
CAA BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL BRACKET
RICHMOND, Va. (May 23, 2023) – The 2023 CAA Baseball Championship gets underway on Wednesday from the Ballpark at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. It’s the first time the facility has hosted the championship since 2016.
Six teams will battle for the conference title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament using a format that rewards the top two seeds with first-round byes. An incredible 10 different schools have won the CAA championship since 2009, with UNCW (2012, 2015, 2018, 2019) being the only team to earn more than one title during that 14-year stretch.
The double-elimination tournament opens at Noon on Wednesday as #4 Charleston (34-20, 18-12 CAA) faces #5 Delaware (29-27, 17-13 CAA). That game will be followed at 4 p.m. by #3 Northeastern (41-12, 20-10 CAA) taking on #6 William & Mary (32-23, 15-15 in CAA).
Thursday’s schedule begins with an 11 a.m. elimination game. Top-seeded UNCW (31-21, 20-8 CAA) meets the lowest-seeded Game 1/2 winner at 3 p.m. and #2 Elon (32-20, 19-9 CAA) takes on the highest-seeded Game 1/2 winner at 7 p.m. There are three more games on Friday and another on Saturday, setting the stage for the championship contest at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
UNCW is the top seed in the tournament for the first time since 2016 and is looking to capture its league-record seventh title. The Seahawks, who have earned a berth in all 37 CAA Tournaments, feature a solid offense that ranks second in the CAA with a .302 team batting average. Leading the attack are third baseman Jac Croom (.360, 31 RBI’s) and outfielder Trevor Marsh (.332, 11 HR, 43 RBI’s), while freshman first baseman Tanner Thach provides power with a team-best 14 homers and 66 RBI’s. On the mound, Zane Taylor (7-2, 3.35 ERA) and Jacob Shafer (6-4, 4.74) have been the Seahawks’ top two starters with Brett Banks (6 saves) and Ethan Chenault (4-2, 3 saves) anchoring the bullpen.
Elon has made the field for all eight tournaments since joining the CAA but has yet to claim the championship. The Phoenix offense is powered by outfielder Justin Cassella, who is batting .338 and tops the team with 16 homers and 45 RBI’s. First baseman Cole Reynolds (.314, 39 RBI’s) and catcher Luke Stephenson (.275, 36 RBI’s) bring plenty of tournament experience. Elon’s pitching staff is led by lefty Shea Sprague (7-3, 2.80) and freshman Justin Mitrovich (6-4, 3.84). A deep Elon bullpen includes Liam Dabagian (5-1, 2 saves), Joe Savino (5-1, 2 saves) and Ben Simon (7 saves).
Northeastern, which is making its 10
th consecutive tournament appearance, won the CAA title in 2021 and has reached the finals in three of the last four years. The Huskies set a program record with 41 victories during the regular season and were ranked as high as No. 25 nationally. NU has smacked a league-leading 99 homers and is batting .300 as a team. Outfielders Mike Sirota (.364, 17 HR, 48 RBI’s) and Cam Maldonado (.354, 12 HR, 41 RBI’s) are joined by first baseman Tyler MacGregor (.350, 18 HR, 50 RBI’s) and designated hitter Alex Lane (.318, 15 HR, 54 RBI’s) with double-digit homers. The Huskies’ 3.57 team ERA ranks second in Division I. Aiven Cabral (8-3, 2.35 ERA) and Wyatt Scotti (6-3, 4.15 ERA) top the starting staff with Jake Gigliotti (7-0, 3.23 ERA) and Griffin Young (9 saves) providing relief.
Charleston, which is 25-9 at home this season, has qualified for all nine CAA Tournaments and captured its lone championship in 2014. The Cougars have a veteran lineup topped by infielders Cole Mathis (.332, 9 HR, 47 RBI’s) and Luke Wood (.312, 9 HR, 46 RBI’s) and outfielder Trotter Harlan (.290, 10 HR, 50 RBI’s). Seniors Ty Good (7-3, 4.01 ERA, 89 K’s) and Trey Pooser (6-3, 3.81 ERA) are Charleston’s top starting pitchers, while the bullpen features All-America closer William Privette (2-2, 9 saves, 2.08 ERA).
Delaware, which won its only CAA title in 2017, returns to the tournament for the first time since 2018 under first-year coach Greg Mamula. The Blue Hens have plated a league-high 437 runs this season with an offense that is headlined by third baseman Joey Loynd (.392, 14 HR, 79 RBI’s) and shortstop JJ Freeman (.332, 11 HR, 52 RBI’s). On the mound, Joey Silan (3-2, 4.19 ERA) has been Delaware’s top starter along with Bryce Greenly (3-3, 4.47 ERA), who is also batting .330 with 32 RBI’s.
William & Mary is making its ninth tournament appearance in the last 10 years. The Tribe’s most recent CAA title came at Patriots Point in 2016. The W&M offense is led by third baseman Ben Willamson (.399, 12 HR, 49 RBI’s) and the outfielder trio of Tank Yaghoubi (.377), Lucas Carmichael (.308) and Joe Delossantos (.282, 8 HR, 44 RBI’s). A deep Tribe pitching staff features Nate Knowles (5-4, 3.30) and Tom Mayer (2-3, 3.77 ERA) along with relievers Carter Lovasz (5-1, 7 saves) and Rojo Prarie (3-0, 5 saves, 1.14 ERA).
All games of the CAA Baseball Championship will be streamed live on
FloBaseball.tv (flosports.tv/caa). To stay up to date with what is happening be sure to follow the CAA on Twitter (@CAASports), Instagram (@caasports) and join the conversation using the hashtag #CAAChamps.
For tickets, hotel information, live results, recaps, and more, visit CAASports.com/baseball.
2023 CAA BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Ballpark at Patriots Point – Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
Wednesday, May 24
Game 1 - #4 Charleston vs. #5 Delaware – 12 pm
Game 2 - #3 Northeastern vs. #6 William & Mary – 4 pm
Thursday, May 25
Game 3 – Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser – 11 am
Game 4 - #1 UNCW vs. Lowest-seeded Game 1/2 winner – 3 pm
Game 5 - #2 Elon vs. Highest-seeded Game 1/2 winner – 7 pm
Friday May 26
Game 6 – Game 3 winner vs. Lowest seeded Game 4/5 loser – 11 am
Game 7 - Game 6 winner vs. Highest seeded Game 4/5 loser – 3 pm
Game 8 – Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner – 7 pm
Saturday, May 27
Game 9 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser – 1 pm
Game 10 - Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner – 5 pm
Sunday, May 28
Game 11 (if necessary) – Game 10 winner vs. Game 10 loser – 1 pm