Baseball Picked Sixth in A-10 Preseason Coaches Poll

Atlantic 10 Release

Newport News, Va. – The Atlantic 10 Conference released the 2017 Preseason Baseball Poll, as voted upon by the league's coaches, on Thursday. 
 
Rhode Island was picked to repeat as champions, receiving six first places votes, with VCU right behind them with five first place votes.  Saint Joseph's and Saint Louis tied for the #3 spot in the poll, followed by Richmond, Fordham, Davidson, George Washington, St. Bonaventure, George Mason, Massachusetts, Dayton, and La Salle.

 
Fordham is led by head coach Kevin Leighton, who begins his sixth season at Fordham.  On the field, the Rams return 2016 Second Team All-Atlantic 10 outfielder Mark Donadio, as well as All-Rookie Team selections, Justin Bardwell and Reiss Knehr, while graduate student Jimmy Murphy is back for one more season on the mound  for the Maroon and White.  Overall, the Rams return 22 players from last year's squad, which includes five starters.
 
The Rams open the 2017 season on Friday, February 17^th, at Houston Baptist in Texas.

Here is the full breakdown of the poll:

2017 Preseason Baseball Poll

1.	Rhode Island (6)	156
2.	VCU (5)	155
3.	Saint Joseph's (2)	138
	Saint Louis	138
5.	Richmond	114
6.	Fordham	96
7.	Davidson	95
8.	George Washington	75
9.	St. Bonaventure	63
10.	George Mason	46
11.	Massachusetts	40
12.	Dayton	37
13.	La Salle	30