Three WVIAC institutions are in the Atlantic Region Top 10 of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers (NCBWA) preseason poll.
Seton Hill, which won the WVIAC regular season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2011, comes in at No. 3 in the Atlantic Region. The Griffins are also just outside the preseason top 25 with 12 points.
WVIAC Tournament Champion and NCAA participant Concord stands at No. 7 in the region. The Mountain Lions earned their way to the postseason by winning the tournament after coming in as the No. 4 seed.
The Yellow Jackets of WV State round out the top 10 of the Atlantic Region at the No. 10 spot. WVSU won the South division regular-season crown a year ago.
Pitt-Johnstown also received votes in the regional poll. The Mountain Cats are predicted to finish second in the WVIAC North division this year.
Shepherd’s Nate Minnich picked up NCBWA Division II preseason All-America first-team honors at first base. SHU outfielder Josh Logan garnered honorable mention All-America accolades as well.
Eleven student-athletes earned preseason Atlantic Region honors. Minnich and Logan were named to the first team.
Concord’s Keith Morrisroe (SS) and Jacob Mays (Util) were named to the second team. UPJ catcher Kyle Morrow and WVSU hurler Chase Pickering also picked up second-team honors.
On the honorable mention regional team, the Griffins placed starting pitcher Brad Schnelle and relief pitcher Clint White to the squad in addition to utility player Mike LeViseur. Concord third baseman Josh Wenger and UPJ outfielder Drew Westover round out the honorable mention squad.