Jan. 15, 2010

After setting a school record with 38 victories and capturing its first regular-season crown a season ago, Dayton has been picked to win the 2010 Atlantic 10 title in voting by the league’s head coaches and released by the conference office.

Charlotte placed second and defending champion Xavier came in third.

The Flyers posted 21 conference wins, the second highest total in league history. Dayton led the A-10 with a .332 batting average and pounded a school-record 77 home runs. Senior infielder Zach Jacob was second in the conference with 79 hits and 56 runs in 2009. Lefty Cameron Hobson posted a record of 7-1 with a 3.43 ERA in being named 2009 A-10 Rookie of the Year. Hobson fanned 83 in 78.2 innings.

Charlotte is 160-70 (.695) over the past four seasons, the ninth-best record nationally. The 49ers return a pair of second team all-conference performers in DH Ryan Rivers, who led the league with 18 homers, and right-hander Joe Yermal (8-3, 3.01).

Head coach Scott Googins led Xavier to its first A-10 championship a season ago. The Musketeers were third in the regular-season standings.

Rhode Island was picked fourth, followed by Richmond, Saint Louis, Massachusetts, Temple, Fordham, George Washington, Saint Joseph’s, St. Bonaventure, La Salle and Duquesne.

The regular season begins on Friday, Feb. 19. The six-team, double-elimination Atlantic 10 Championship will be held May 26-29 at Campbell’s Field in Camden, N.J.

2010 Predicted Order of Finish

(2009 A-10/overall records)

1 Dayton (21-6, 38-19)

2 Charlotte (16-11, 33-22)

3 Xavier (18-9, 39-21)

4 Rhode Island (19-6, 37-20-1)

5 Richmond (11-16, 22-25)

6 Saint Louis (12-13, 30-25)

7 Massachusetts (16-11, 27-26)

8 Temple (11-15, 17-33)

9 Fordham (16-11, 22-32)

10 George Washington (11-15, 22-33)

11 Saint Joseph’s (9-17, 16-30-1)

12 St. Bonaventure (9-17, 24-25)

13 La Salle (8-18, 19-30)

14 Duquesne (7-19, 14-41)