Two-Time Defending Champ UNCW Picked To Win CAA Baseball Title In 2025

Two-Time Defending Champ UNCW Picked To Win CAA Baseball Title In 2025

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RICHMOND, Va. (February 5, 2025) – Two-time defending CAA baseball champion UNCW has been picked to win the title again in 2025 according to a vote of the league’s head coaches. Seahawks junior first baseman Tanner Thach was selected as the CAA Preseason Player of the Year.

UNCW received eight first-place votes and 117 points in the poll. Charleston, which captured the regular-season title a year ago, got three first-place votes and was second with 109 points, while Northeastern had one first-place vote and was close behind with 107 points. Campbell was fourth in the voting, followed closely by Delaware and Elon. Rounding out the poll were Stony Brook, William & Mary, Hofstra, North Carolina A&T, Monmouth and Towson.



Thach batted .324 with a CAA-record 27 home runs and 75 RBI’s last season, earning CAA Co-Player of the Year and NCBWA All-America honors. He has received preseason All-America accolades from Perfect Game and D1 Baseball.

UNCW returns six starters from last year’s 40-21 squad that made its 12th appearance in the NCAA Regionals. In addition to Thach, the Seahawks will rely on outfielder Alec DeMartino (.288, 39 RBI’s) and infielders Aiden Evans (.291, 22 RBI’s) and Kevin Jones (.269, 35 RBI’s). Back on the mound for UNCW are 2nd-team All-CAA starter Zane Taylor (5-1, 3.99 ERA) and reliever Connor Kane (1-2, 3 svs., 3.54 ERA).

Charleston is coming off an impressive 41-14 campaign that included a CAA regular-season title. The Cougars return a pair of 2nd-team All-CAA starting pitchers with Jake Brink (8-3, 3.69 ERA) and Aidan Hunter (7-1, 3.76 ERA) along with all-conference closer Davis Aiken (11 saves). Outfielder Avery Neaves (.338, 15 HR, 44 RBI’s) and catcher Dylan Johnson (.279, 43 RBI’s) are back offensively.

Northeastern topped the 30-win mark (38-17) for the fourth straight season in 2024 and feature a league-high five preseason All-CAA selections. Back for the Huskies are outfielders Alex Lane (.375, 18 HR, 80 RBI’s) and Cam Maldonado (.265, 23 RBI’s, 29 SB), infielder Jack Goodman (.320, 42 RBI’s) and catcher Gregory Bozzo (.270, 23 RBI’s). Jack Beauchesne (2-1, 5 svs.) anchors the bullpen.

Campbell had its streak of five straight NCAA Regional appearances end last year but will try to rebound under new coach Chris Marx. Among the returnees for the Camels are outfielder Dalen Thompson (.313, 47 RBI’s) and catcher Andrew Schuldt (.303, 39 RBI’s).

Delaware is coming off a 31-win season and a fourth-place CAA finish. Back for the Blue Hens are a pair of preseason All-CAA honorees with infielder Brett Lesher (.290, 45 RBI’s) and outfielder Aaron Graeber (.312, 14 HR, 52 RBI’s).

Elon has reached eight of the past nine CAA Tournaments. The Phoenix returns Kenny Mallory, Jr. (.354, 40 RBI’s) and Charlie Granatell (.330, 38 RBI’s) to the lineup along with top starting pitcher Justin Mitrovich (4-6, 5.06 ERA).

Stony Brook features a pair of preseason All-CAA picks in first baseman/pitcher Erik Paulsen (.299, 24 RBI’s/2-1, 6 svs.) and ace starting pitcher Eddie Smink (5-4, 3.11 ERA).

William & Mary begins its first season under coach Rob McCoy, who returns leading hitter Ben Parker (.335, 10 HR, 48 RBI’s) and veteran pitchers Carter Lovasz (7 saves) and Zack Potts (6-5, 3.84 ERA).

Hofstra welcomes back one of the CAA’s most dynamic offensive performers in infielder Dylan Palmer, who batted .386, scored 49 runs and stole 27 bases a year ago.

North Carolina A&T, which won 25 games in 2024, returns infielder Enrique Wood (.222, 26 RBI’s) and pitcher Angel Ortiz (3-4, 5.66 ERA).

Monmouth features outfielder Harry Padden (.300, 26 RBI’s, 15 SB) and top starting pitcher Alec Couture (3-4, 3.98 ERA).

Towson returns two of its top offensive players with infielders Jordan Peyton (.336, 41 RBI’s) and Taye Robinson (.310, 28 RBI’s).

2025 CAA BASEBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
  1. UNCW (8 first-place votes)                           117
  2. Charleston (3 first-place votes)                     109
  3. Northeastern (1 first-place vote)                   107
  4. Campbell                                                        78
  5. Delaware                                                        77
  6. Elon                                                                70
  7. Stony Brook                                                    56
  8. William & Mary                                               55
  9. Hofstra                                                           51
  10. North Carolina A&T                                        37
  11. Monmouth                                                      19
  12. Towson                                                           16
 
2025 CAA BASEBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

Gregory Bozzo, Northeastern                      C             Gr.          Basking Ridge, N.J.
Jack Goodman, Northeastern                      IF            Jr.           Medfield, Mass.
Brett Lesher, Delaware                                IF            Sr.           Newark, Del.
Kenny Mallory, Jr., Elon                               IF            Sr.           Lawrenceville, Ga.
Dylan Palmer, Hofstra                                 IF            Jr.           West Windsor, N.J.
Jordan Peyton, Towson                               IF            Sr.           Colonial Beach, Va.
Tanner Thach, UNCW                                 IF            Jr.           Belvidere, N.C.
Aaron Graeber, Delaware                           OF          Sr.           West Deptford, N.J.
Alex Lane, Northeastern                             OF          Gr.          Andover, Mass.
Cam Maldonado, Northeastern                   OF          Jr.           Wolcott, Conn.
Avery Neaves, Charleston                          OF          Gr.          Reston, Va.
Ben Parker, William & Mary                        OF          Gr.          Los Altos, Calif.
Erik Paulsen, Stony Brook                          UT          So.          Massapequa, N.Y.
Jake Brink, Charleston                                SP           Jr.           Whitestone, N.Y.
Justin Mitrovich, Elon                                  SP           Jr.           Yardley, Pa.
Eddie Smink, Stony Brook                          SP           Jr.           West Chester, Pa.
Zane Taylor, UNCW                                    SP           Sr.           Franklinton, N.C.
Davis Aiken, Charleston                              RP          Sr.           Simpsonville, S.C.
Jack Beauchesne, Northeastern                 RP          Sr.           Chelmsford, Mass.
Carter Lovasz, William & Mary                    RP          Sr.           Midlothian, Va.
 
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Tanner Thach, UNCW
 
Honorable Mention: Dylan Johnson, C, Charleston; Andrew Schuldt, C, Campbell; Casey Bishop, IF, Towson; Kevin Jones, IF, UNCW; Taye Robinson, IF, Towson; Alec DeMartino, OF, UNCW; Charlie Granatell, OF, Elon; Dalen Thompson, OF, Campbell; Ryan Sprock, UT, Elon; Alec Couture, SP, Monmouth, Aidan Hunter, SP, Charleston; Zack Potts, SP, William & Mary; Connor Kane, RP, UNCW; Alex Lyon, RP, Charleston