Patriot League announces 2012 baseball preseason poll
Posted: 02/15/2012
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With the 2012 baseball season right around the corner, the Patriot League released Wednesday its preseason poll, which is voted on by the league’s sports information directors and coaches. The Mountain Hawks were picked to finish sixth, garnering 16 points.
Each with 39 points, Navy and Bucknell tied for first as the preseason favorites. Navy, the defending Patriot League champion, received five first-place votes while Bucknell, the 2010 champion, had four. Army was just a point behind in third with 38 points and one first-place vote. Holy Cross was predicted to finish fourth with 29 points and two first-place votes. And Lafayette was slayed just one point ahead of Lehigh in fifth with 17 points.
The Mountain Hawks return six starters – three pitchers and three position players – from last year’s squad that went 24-21. Lehigh finished sixth in league play last season with an 8-12 record. Lehigh loses four .300 hitters from last year’s squad and will be relying on senior shortstop Brendan McGaheran to anchor the offense. The Nazareth, Pa. native started every game last season and hit .317 with a team-leading 57 hits, 38 runs, 30 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. He also added 13 doubles and three home runs.
Lehigh also returns its top four pitchers from last season, including senior closer Cory Kent who was 5-2 with a 3.82 ERA in 37.2 innings of work and a team-best eight saves. Senior Dan Ciccone (1-0, 2.97 ERA, 30.1 IP), junior Thomas O’Malley (3-0, 3.13 ERA, 23 IP) and sophomore Nick Cassell (1-1, 4.25 ERA, 29.2 IP) also return.
Lehigh will begin its 2012 slate on February 24 in Davidson, N.C. The Mountain Hawks will have two games against Davidson and two against Fairleigh Dickinson over a three-day span. Lehigh will make its 2012 home debut on Goodman Campus with back-to-back doubleheaders against Iona on March 17-18.
The Mountain Hawks kick off their Patriot League schedule by hosting rival Lafayette for a four-game set on March 31-April 1.
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2012 Patriot League Baseball Preseason Poll
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Team (# of first place votes)
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Points
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T-1
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Navy (5)
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39
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T-1
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Bucknell (4)
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39
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3.
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Army (1)
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38
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4.
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Holy Cross (2)
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29
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5.
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Lafayette
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17
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6.
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Lehigh
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16
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