FROM CBD NEWS SOURCE
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Reigning champion Saint Louis has been picked atop the 2014 Atlantic 10 Conference Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll.
SLU received 11 of the 12 first-place votes for 143 points. VCU nabbed the remaining first-place nod and a total of 122 points which was good for second-place, two points better than Rhode Island which placed third. Richmond was slotted in fourth-place with 104 points, followed by the A-10’s newest member George Mason in fifth with 90 points.
Saint Joseph’s (81 pts.) and George Washington (68 pts.) finished in sixth and seventh place, respectively, followed by La Salle (60 pts.), Fordham (43 pts.), Dayton (40 pts.), Massachusetts (36 pts.) and St. Bonaventure (29 pts.).
Saint Louis won 41 games a season ago and captured both the A-10 Regular Season and Tournament Championship. 2013 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Mike Vigliarolo is one of five starters back in the mix for the Billikens this season.
VCU returns Joey Cujas who hit .333 and knocked in 40 runs in 2013. A-10 All-Rookie Team selection James Bunn is back in the Rams lineup following a rookie season in which he hit .256 and scored 36 runs.
Rhode Island brings back sophomore southpaw Steve Moyers who posted a 1.78 ERA and allowed just five earned runs in his last 38.2 innings pitched. For his efforts, Moyers earned a spot on the A-10 All-Rookie Team.
2014 Atlantic 10 Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
Pts. (first-place votes)
| Saint Louis | 143 (11) |
| VCU | 122 (1) |
| Rhode Island | 120 |
| Richmond | 104 |
| George Mason | 90 |
| Saint Joseph’s | 81 |
| George Washington | 68 |
| La Salle | 60 |
| Fordham | 43 |
| Dayton | 40 |
| Massachusetts | 36 |
| St. Bonaventure | 29 |
