ST. LOUIS – Atlantic 10 Conference baseball coaches have selected Saint Louis to repeat as conference champions in the 2014 preseason poll. The Billikens received 11 of the 12 first place votes and were selected second on the remaining ballot. Saint Louis has won the A-10 regular season in each of the past two years.
VCU received the other first place vote and finished second in the poll. They were followed by Rhode Island, Richmond, newcomer George Mason, Saint Joseph's, George Washington, La Salle, Fordham, Dayton, Massachusetts and St. Bonaventure.
The Billikens are coming off of an impressive 2013 where they matched the school record in wins with 41, won the A-10 regular season and tournament titles and made a trip the NCAA Tournament at the Columbia, S.C. Regional. The Billikens return five positional starters, including 2013 A-10 Player of the Year Mike Vigliarolo and NCBWA Freshman All-American Braxton Martinez. Saint Louis also returns Clay Smith and Nick Bates, two weekend starters from last year's rotation.
In addition to the A-10 preseason poll, two other publications released preseason predictions this week.
College Sports Madness selected Saint Louis as the preseason favorite and named Vigliarolo preseason Player of the Year, while tabbing head coach Darin Hendrickson the preseason Coach of the Year. Vigliarolo, Smith, Martinez and Alec Solé were named to the College Sports Madness preseason All-Conference first team and Michael Bozarth was named to the second team.
College Baseball Insider (CBI) released its preseason poll with the Billikens named the early favorite. CBI also asked several A-10 coaches to award superlatives to players throughout the league. Smith was named one of the top starting pitchers in the conference as well as the “pitcher you least want to face.” Solé was awarded “best infield arm” and “most underrated hitter.” Vigliarolo was tabbed one of the “best pure hitters” and the “hitter you least want to face” as well as one of the league's “biggest power threats.” Coach Hendrickson was named the “best game coach.”
The Billikens begin their 2014 campaign on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14. They travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala. to take on the Crimson Tide of Alabama. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Sowell-Thomas Stadium.
