Two-Time Defending Champ UNCW Picked To Win CAA Baseball Title In 2025
Rob Washburn
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 12
th 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 2
nd-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 2
nd-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
- UNCW (8 first-place votes) 117
- Charleston (3 first-place votes) 109
- Northeastern (1 first-place vote) 107
- Campbell 78
- Delaware 77
- Elon 70
- Stony Brook 56
- William & Mary 55
- Hofstra 51
- North Carolina A&T 37
- Monmouth 19
- 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