Old Dominion University was chosen as the favorite to win the conference title with 99 points and nine first place votes. Virginia Commonwealth University, the defending champion, was selected second with 87 points, the University of North Carolina Wilmington was third with 77 points and the Fightin' Blue Hens were fourth with 69 points.
Delaware returns six players who started at least 35 games on last year's team, which went 32-23, tied for first place with an 18-11 conference record and reached the championship tournament title game. The Blue Hens fell 10-4 to Virginia Commonwealth in extra innings in the championship game.
The Blue Hens are led by co-captains Alex Buchholz and Adam Tsakonas. Buchholz, a preseason All-America selection, finished his sophomore season with a .387 batting average, 27 doubles and 63 runs batted in. He also had 11 home runs and six triples.
Tsakonas, who has been a three-year starter for Delaware, enters his senior season as the team's most experienced player. In 2007, he hit .335 with seven home runs and 35 RBI. He also had 14 doubles and a .560 slugging percentage.
The UD offense has both depth and experience in veterans Scott Shockley, Bill Merkler, Kyle Davis and Danny Overcash.
Delaware's rotation will depend on a few new faces this year after standouts Brent Gaphardt, Chad Kerfoot and Billy Harris moved on to the professional ranks following the end of the 2007 season. Returning pitchers include co-captain Mike McGuire and senior closer David Slovak.
McGuire, who opted to return for his senior season after being selected in the 46th round of last year's Major League draft by the Cincinnati Reds, battled through injuries in 2007 but still finished the year with a 3-1 record and a 4.26 earned run average.
Slovak had an exceptional junior season as he set UD records with 12 saves and 35 appearances. He finished with a 2-5 record, 4.15 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 47.2 innings of work. For his efforts, he earned second team All-CAA honors.
Joining McGuire and Slovak on the mound will be senior Steve Spiese and sophomore Brad Miller. Spiese worked out of the bullpen last year and finished with a 1-1 record and 4.15 ERA. Miller made 13 appearances and notched a 1-2 record with a 4.70 ERA and 23 strikeouts over 30.2 innings.
Also in the preseason poll, George Mason University finished behind Delaware, in fifth place, and was followed by Georgia State, James Madison, William and Mary, Northeastern, Towson and Hofstra.
The Blue Hens will open their 2008 campaign Feb. 22 when they start a four-game series against The Citadel in Charleston, S.C.
For more information on UD athletics, see [www.udel.edu/sportsinfo].
