West Chester Baseball Ranked Fourth in NCBWA Preseason Atlantic Region Poll

SLIPPERY ROCK, PA - West Chester University's baseball squad was selected fourth in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association (NCBWA) Atlantic Region preseason poll it was announced Monday afternoon.

The Golden Rams are coming off a 32-20 campaign a year ago where they advanced to the NCAA regional tournament. West Chester returns six position starters and four starting pitchers from last season's squad. Also back is 2022 closer, Kyle Lazer (Havertown, Pa./Msgr. Bonner & Prendie), who missed all of last year. Offensively, the Golden Rams return their top four hitters from a year ago, who all hit over .300. Catcher John DeMucci (Swarthmore, Pa./Msgr. Bonner & Prendie), OF Evan Profy (Croyden, Pa./Harry S. Truman), Joe Kaleck (Southampton, Pa./Neshaminy) and 2B Zack Miles (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) are expected to lead that offensive charge.

Millersville, which won the Atlantic Region a year ago, is the preseason favorite in the preseason poll. The Marauders received nine first-place votes and 114 points. Seton Hill was picked second with a pair of first-place votes and 110 points. East Stroudsburg received one first-place tally and was third with 94 points. West Chester received 75 points to place fourth.

West Chester opens its 2024 campaign on Feb. 23 at Glenville State University. The Golden Rams will also play D'Youville and last year's NCAA Tournament opponent, Charleston (WV), that weekend.
 

NCBWA Atlantic Region Preseason Poll

Team (First Place Votes) – Points

 

1: Millersville (9) - 114

2: Seton Hill (2) - 110

3: East Stroudsburg (1) - 94

4: West Chester - 75

5: Mercyhurst - 70

6: Charleston - 48

7: Frostburg State - 35

8: Concord - 30

9: Shippensburg - 29

10: West Virginia State – 22

 

Receiving Votes

Team (Points)

California (Pa.) (21), Indiana (Pa.) (7), Pitt-Johnstown (2)