BOSTON – Following an #AEBASE championship game appearance on its home turf, Binghamton tops the 2020 America East baseball preseason poll. The Bearcats were tabbed favorites for the third time in four years as voted by the league’s head coaches who were not permitted to vote for their own team.
Three programs received a first-place vote, each of which has won a championship within the last four years. Binghamton led the group with four first-place votes and a total of 33 points. With 30 points and two first-place votes, reigning champion Stony Brook comes in closely behind. Four of the past five champions have won the regular season prior to punching a ticket to the NCAA Championship.
2020 America East Baseball Preseason Poll
No. School Points (1st Place Votes)
1. Binghamton 33 (4)
2. Stony Brook 30 (2)
3. Hartford 25 (1)
4. UAlbany 22
5. UMass Lowell 18
6. Maine 13
7. UMBC 6
Fourteen of last year’s All-Conference selections return for the 2020 season headlined by Joe Kruszka (UAlbany) who was named a Preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball. 2019 Most Outstanding Player Chris Hamilton (Stony Brook) who led the Seawolves to the title last spring is also among the returning players.
First pitch is Feb. 14 with five teams playing weekend series on the road. Hartford and UMBC begin their campaigns the following weekend.
The top six teams in the conference qualify for the America East Baseball Championship which will be held by UMass Lowell at LeLacheur Park May 20-23. The top two seeds in the postseason earn byes under the current format. The champion earns the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
