EAST STROUDSBURG – After garnering a trio of first-place votes, the East Stroudsburg University baseball team was selected to finish third in the annual Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Preseason Coaches Poll, the league announced on Thursday.

Defending PSAC champion, Millersville, was picked to win the eastern division after receiving three first-place votes, while West Chester was chosen to finish second.

Following ESU was Shippensburg (4th), Bloomsburg (5th), Shepherd (6th), Mansfield (7th), Lock Haven (8th) and Kutztown (9th).

Out West, Seton Hill (four first-place votes) was predicted to finish atop of the division, followed by Mercyhurst (No. 2), Gannon (No. 3, three first-place votes), Slippery Rock (No. 4, one first-place vote), IUP (No. 5), California (Pa.) (No.6), Pitt-Johnstown (No. 7) and Clarion (No. 8).

The Warriors set a program wins record after going 41-20 a season ago, which included a 15-9 mark in a conference and an impressive 21-6 record at Creekview Park. After securing the No. 4 seed in the PSAC Tournament, ESU made a run to championship game where they ultimately finished as the runners-up.  

ESU welcomes back four All-PSAC selections from a season ago in Ben Piripavel, Jack Rothenhausler (Freshman of the Year), Brent Francisco and Chase Nowak.

It's been a busy week for ESU as the Warriors were ranked tied for 23rd in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division II Preseason Top 25 and picked third in the NCBWA Atlantic Region Preseason Poll.

The Warriors begin their season on Saturday, February 11 with a double header on the road against Barton, with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m.

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EAST (# of First-Place Votes)

1. Millersville (3)

2. West Chester (3)

3. East Stroudsburg (3)

4. Shippensburg

5. Bloomsburg

6. Shepherd

7. Mansfield

8. Lock Haven

9. Kutztown

 

WEST

1. Seton Hill (4)

2. Mercyhurst

3. Gannon (3)

4. Slippery Rock (1)

5. IUP

6. California (Pa.)

7. Pitt-Johnstown

8. Clarion