WICHITA, Kan. - - The preseason accolades are beginning for a team that is coming off its third Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference in five seasons, and an automatic bid into the NCAA Division II East Regional a season ago.
The Wilmington University baseball team was selected as the fifth best team in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association East Region preseason poll. Standout stars Mike Godwin and Jordan Oncay were also honored with preseason awards as Godwin was named to the 2012 NCBWA Division II Preseason All-America Honorable Mention team and both were selected to the Preseason All-East Region First Team.
Godwin, the reigning CACC Player of the Year, lead the league in doubles (20) and RBIs (45) and was second in the conference with a .355 batting average, all while managing a pitching staff behind the plate to a CACC second best 2.78 ERA. He started 47 games last season and amassed 54 hits and 32 runs scored. He also threw out 10 of the attempted 27 base stealers on the year. Last year as a junior, he was named to the NCBWA Honorable Mention All-American Team, the NCBWA All-East Region First Team, the ABCA All-East Region Second Team and the All-CACC First Team.
Oncay, the league's third best hitter from a season ago, returns for his senior season in the outfield and on the mound for the Wildcats. He was selected to the Preseason NCBWA All-East Region First Team as an outfielder. He hit .351 with 60 hits and a team-high six triples. Oncay knocked in 33 RBIs while scoring 43 runs and tallied a team high 87 total bases. He also stole 18 bases in 22 attempts last season.
On the mound, he appeared in 15 games and recorded a 2-0 record, throwing in a conference best six saves as well. Oncay only allowed six hits in 15 innings, striking out 14 while only allowing one walk. He did not allow a run to cross home plate, earned or unearned, the entire season. He was named to the All-CACC, ABCA All-East Region, Daktronics All-East Region, and NCBWA All-East Region First Teams during an outstanding junior campaign.
The Wildcats finished fourth in the East Region rankings at the end of last season and will play three of the East Region's top 10 teams during the regular season. UMass-Lowell and Adelphi, two teams the Wildcats will face during their Spring Break trip to Florida, are tied for third in the East with 64 points. They will also face Molloy who has been picked eighth with 25 points. CACC foes Dominican and Post as well as non-conference opponent Southern New Hampshire all received votes in the East Region.
Outside of their region, the Wildcats still face stiff competition. They will face NCBWA nationally ranked no. 5 Millersville as well as Atlantic Region no. 8 West Chester and Kutztown and Mansfield who received votes. Millersville is the top ranked team in the Atlantic Region after reaching the NCAA Division II World Series a year ago.
Wilmington will open its 2012 schedule with a three game set at home on Wilson Field at the beginning of March. The Wildcats will square off against Merrimack for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 3 before the end-cap on Sunday.
AGATE:
2012 NCBWA East Region Preseason Poll
1. Southern Connecticut (9 first place votes) 90 points; 2. Franklin Pierce 81; T3. Adelphi 64; T3. UMass-Lowell 64; 5. Wilmington 53; T6. Dowling 29; T6. Stonehill 29; 8. Molloy 25; 9. Bridgeport 22; 10. New Haven 14; Also Receiving Votes: Dominican (N.Y.) 10; LeMoyne 9; Souther New Hampshire 4; Post 1.
2012 Preseason NCBWA All-East Region Team
Catcher: Mike Godwin, Sr. – Wilmington; 1B: Ryan Geffert, Sr. – Southern Connecticut State; 2B: Dan Hennigan, Sr. – Franklin Pierce; 3B: Matt Boulter, Jr. – Southern New Hampshire; SS: Cam Kneeland, Sr. – Umass-Lowell; OF: Carlos Guzman, So. – Molloy; OF: Jordan Oncay, Sr. – Wilmington; OF: Joe Candela, Jr. – Dowling; Util: Michael White, Sr. – Stonehill; SP: Garrett Cole, Sr. – Umass-Lowell; SP: Ryan Thompson, Sr., Franklin Pierce; SP: Chris Zbin, Sr. – Southern Connecticut State.