Feb. 4, 2011

click here for coaches' MEAC preseason poll

O’Brien, Paulino earn preseason MEAC honors

Junior catcher Peter O’Brien of Bethune-Cookman was named preseason Player of the Year and senior Esterlin Paulino of North Carolina A&T was picked as preseason Pitcher of the Year in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, in voting by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors and released by the conference office.

O’Brien, the 2010 MEAC Player of the Year, belted 20 home runs a season ago, the top mark in the conference and 25th in the nation. He batted .374 with a slugging percentage of .744. O’Brien registered 78 hits, 13 doubles and 56 RBI. A preseason All-American, O’Brien had 377 putouts and 61 assists behind the plate.

Paulino led the MEAC in ERA (3.27) and opponent batting average (.262) in 2010. He posted a 9-2 record with 75 strikeouts in 88 innings. Paulino was 4-1 in conference games, fanning 36 in 38.1 innings.

Bethune-Cookman led the way with four players on the preseason all-MEAC squad, while Norfolk State and North Carolina A&T were represented by three each.

The 2011 season starts on Friday, Feb. 18. The MEAC Championship will be held May 19-21 at Jackie Robinson Stadium in Daytona Beach, Fla., the home of Bethune-Cookman.

2011 MEAC Preseason All-Conference Team

Pos. Name, School, Class

P Ali Simpson, Bethune-Cookman, Jr.

P Esterlin Paulino, North Carolina A&T, Jr.

RP Ryan Shook, Norfolk State, Jr.

C Peter O’Brien, Bethune-Cookman, Jr.

1B Ryan Durrence, Bethune-Cookman, Sr.

2B Marquis Riley, North Carolina A&T, Jr.

3B Chris Joyce, Norfolk State, Sr.

OF DJ Leonard, Bethune-Cookman, Jr.

OF Xavier Macklin, North Carolina A&T, Jr.

OF John Lynch, Norfolk State, Sr.

DH Bryan Chaikowsky, Maryland-Eastern Shore, Sr.

Player of the Year: Peter O’Brien, Bethune-Cookman

Pitcher of the Year: Esterlin Paulino, North Carolina A&T