Baseball Picked NEC Preseason Favorite by League Coaches
Central Connecticut was tabbed as the favorite in the 2024 Northeast Conference Preseason Baseball Coaches' Poll it was announced on Monday. CCSU collected 10 first-place votes to top the poll conducted among the league's head coaches who were not able to vote for their own squad.
The Blue Devils are slated to open the 2024 season at the Central Virginia Classic against William & Mary on March 1.
Head coach Charlie Hickey is back to guide CCSU in his 26th season. He guided the Blue Devils to a 36-14 mark overall and a 25-5 record in conference play in 2024. Last season, CCSU won its eighth NEC tournament title under Hickey along with the regular-season crown, its first since 2006.
The Blue Devils return a slew of veteran All-Northeast Conference honorees. Luke Garofalo earned First Team honors in 2023, while Elliot Good and Jake Neuman were both named to the Second Team. Anthony Mozzicato, Hunter Pasqualini and Vincent Spizzuocco also return after earning All-NEC honors in 2022 and Jeff Nicol was an all-conference designated hitter in 2021.
NEC Tournament runner-up Wagner collected two first place nods and was slotted just behind the Blue Devils. Sacred Heart, FDU, LIU and Merrimack rounded out the top six in the poll. The NEC expanded its baseball membership to 12 with the addition of Le Moyne. For the second season, the league's postseason tournament will feature a field including the top six finishers in the league standings at the conclusion of the regular season. The 2024 NEC Baseball Championship will take place from May 22-26 at Heritage Financial Park, home of the Hudson Valley Renegades, in Wappingers Falls, NY. The field will include the league's top-six regular season finishers and feature a double elimination format. All 12 teams are eligible to participate in the tournamnt.
PRESEASON POLL RESULTS
(first-place votes)
1. CCSU (10)
2. Wagner (2)
3. Sacred Heart
4. FDU
5. LIU
6. Merrimack
7. (tie) Coppin State
Stonehill
9. (tie) UMES
Le Moyne
11. Delaware State
12. Norfolk State
