Jan. 19, 2011

James Madison, last year’s regular-season champ, sits atop the 2011 preseason poll in the Colonial Athletic Association in voting by the league’s head coaches, as released by the conference office.

The Dukes received four first-place votes and 90 points to edge second-place Georgia State, which garnered four first-place votes and 88 points. JMU has five position starters returning from a squad which finished 30-23 overall and 18-6 in the CAA, including three all-conference performers in catcher Jake Lowery and infielders Trevor Knight and David Herbek.

JMU squeaked past the Panthers this past season in the conference standings. GSU was 34-23-1 overall and 17-6-1 in conference play. The Panthers bring back seven position starters, including a trio of all-league selections in outfielders Mark Micowski and Ryan Fleming and second baseman Rob Lind.

Third-place VCU, the 2010 CAA champion, and fourth-place UNC Wilmington each received a first-place vote. William and Mary was fifth, followed by George Mason, Old Dominion, Delaware, Towson, Hofstra and Northeastern.

The 2011 season kicks off on Friday, Feb. 18. The top four teams will compete in the 2011 CAA Baseball Championship. The double-elimination event will be held May 26-28 at Brooks Field in Wilmington, N.C.

CAA Preseason Poll

Team, Points (First Place Votes) (2010 CAA, Overall Records)

1 James Madison, 90 (4) (18-6, 30-23)

2 Georgia State, 88 (4) (17-6-1, 34-23-1)

3 VCU, 84 (2) (16-7-1, 34-26-1)

4 UNC Wilmington, 83 (1) (13-11, 33-27)

5 William and Mary, 54 (10-14, 27-24)

6 George Mason, 51 (11-13, 28-22)

7 Old Dominion, 44 (11-13, 24-30)

8 Delaware, 34 (9-15, 27-24)

9 Towson, 33 (11-13, 19-36)

10 Hofstra, 26 (10-14, 20-28-1)

11 Northeastern, 18 (5-19, 13-31)