Written by CACC Associate Commissioner Doug DeBiase

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - - Felician University and Wilmington University on Tuesday were tabbed first in their respective divisions, according to the 2021 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll as announced by Commissioner Dan Mara. The voting for the poll was conducted by the league's 11 head coaches in the sport.

Felician earned 49 points and nine first-place votes to head up the North Division, while WilmU racked up 58 points and eight first-place nods. Wilmington is the two-time defending CACC Champion in baseball (2018 & 2019).

The Wildcats got off to a slow start in the pandemic shortened 2020 season, going 1-3 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and 2-6 on their annual Florida trip, but came home and defeated Shippensburg, 7-6, before the season was called off. The 13 games allowed the young team to gain valuable experience while keeping their year of eligibility.

Dominican College, which appeared in the 2019 CACC Championship Final, was second in the North with 36 points (1 1st-place vote), while Post University rounded out the top three in the division with 33 points (1). Chestnut Hill College was second in the South (49 pts, 3 1st) and Thomas Jefferson University was third (39 pts).

For the Wildcats, the 2021 season begins with a CACC matchup against USciences on Tuesday, March 23 at Wilson Field.

The 2021 CACC Baseball season gets underway this weekend with several teams in action in non-conference play. The regular season will be a build up to the CACC Baseball Championship, which will be a single-elimination tournament this spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first round will be held on Saturday, May 8, with the semifinals slated for Thursday, May 13. The championship final will be staged on Saturday, May 15. All games in each round of the tournament will be held at the sites of the highest seeds.

2021 CACC BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
North Division
1. Felician University 49 (9)
2. Dominican College 36 (1)
3. Post University 33 (1)
4. Bloomfield College 25
5. Caldwell University 14

South Division
1. Wilmington University 58 (8)
2. Chestnut Hill College 49 (3)
3. Thomas Jefferson University 39
4. Goldey-Beacom College 37
5. University of the Sciences 26
6. Nyack College 16

 () - First-Place Votes