Jan. 23, 2013

click here for coaches' CAA preseason poll

Hammer, Yezzo lead Preseason All-CAA Team

Hofstra senior first baseman Jared Hammer (left) and Delaware junior first baseman Jimmy Yezzo were named Preseason Co-Players of the Year in the Colonial Athletic Association in voting by the league’s head coaches as released by the conference office.

Yezzo appeared in 50 games for the Blue Hens in 2012 with 44 starts, hitting .358 with 13 doubles, eight homers and 46 RBI. He had an on-base percentage of .401 and slugging percentage of .567.

Hammer (right) started 55 games for the Pride a season ago, batting .376 with 18 doubles, four home runs and 66 RBI. He walked 39 times and had 20 strikeouts while posting an on-base percentage of .579. Hammer was also 12 of 14 on stolen base attempts. Hofstra set a program record with 34 wins in 2012.

Preseason favorite UNC Wilmington led the way with five players on the Preseason All-CAA team: senior second baseman Michael Bass, senior outfielder Tyler Molinaro, senior outfielder Hunter Ridge, junior starter Mat Batts and junior reliever Kelly Secrest.

The 2013 campaign begins on Friday, Feb. 15, with conference play kicking off the weekend of March 8-10. Hofstra at James Madison will be the key series that opening weekend of league play. The CAA Championship will be held at Veterans Memorial Park in Harrisonburg, Va. The six-team double elimination tournament will be held from May 22-25.

2013 Preseason All-CAA Team                                     

Pos. Name, Class, School Key 2012 Stats

C John Puttress, Sr. Northeastern .323, 0 HR, 29 RBI

1B Jared Hammer, Sr., Hofstra .376, 4 HR, 66 RBI

1B Jimmy Yezzo, Jr. Delaware .358, 8 HR, 46 RBI

2B Michael Bass, Sr., UNCW .326, 33 RBI, 20 SB

SS Dalton Rouleau, Sr., Hofstra .328, 31 RBI, 26 SB

3B Ryan Lindemuth, Jr., William & Mary .376, 5 HR, 48 RBI

OF Aaron Barbosa, Jr., Northeastern .352, 20 RBI, 14 SB

OF Tyler Molinaro, Sr., UNCW .273, 16 HR, 48 RBI

OF Hunter Ridge, Sr., UNCW .340, 4 HR, 41 RBI     

UT Brendan Butler, So., Towson .308, 34 RBI, 14 SB

DH Conner Brown, Jr., James Madison .338, 3 HR, 33 RBI

SP Mat Batts, Jr., UNCW 6-5, 3.04 ERA, 90 K

SP Michael Trionfo, Sr., Towson 11-3, 3.35 ERA, 52 K

RP Kelly Secrest, Jr., UNCW  5-2, 1 sv., 2.12 ERA, 45 K

CAA Preseason Co-Players of the Year: Jared Hammer, Hofstra and Jimmy Yezzo, Delaware

Honorable Mention (players receiving multiple votes):  Matt Reistetter, C, Hofstra; Ty Warrington, C, Delaware; D.J. Long, 2B, Delaware; Caden Bailey, So., SS, Georgia State; Jason Vosler, 3B, Northeastern; Blaise Fernandez, 3B, George Mason; Ty McFarland, 3B, James Madison; Kenny Jackson, OF, Hofstra; Cole McInturff, OF, James Madison; Corey Dick, DH, UNCW; Chad Kuhl, SP, Delaware; John Tiedemann, SP, Hofstra; John Farrell, RP, William and Mary; Brandon Smith, RP, Old Dominion

(photos courtesy of Hofstra Media Relations Office)