2014 Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division III Preseason Poll
TUCSON, Ariz. – The Collegiate Baseball Newspaper released their 2014 NCAA Division III preseason poll and Endicott, a 2013 NCAA New England Regional Finalist and CCC champions, was ranked #23 in the country. This is Endicott's first appearance on a preseason national poll as the Gulls are coming off a program record 35-win season and their second 30-plus win season over the past three years.
"To be recognized as one of the top 25 teams in the country at this level is quite an honor," said seventh-year head coach Bryan Haley. "Last year was a monumental year for our program and a huge step in the right direction."
Haley's squad in 2013 overcame a six-year drought in the CCC Championship to win the program's first title since 2006 and went on to win three games in the NCAA Regional Tournament, coming one victory shy of the College World Series. The Gulls dropped a pair of games to national runner-up Southern Maine in the regional finals to end their historic run. The Huskies along with Wheaton (Mass.) are the only other schools from New England to appear on the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper preseason poll at #2 and #18, respectively.
In 2014, the Gulls stacked their schedule with some of the best teams in the region and the nation as they anticipate another deep postseason run this spring. Southern Maine and Wheaton (Mass.) are on the schedule for both home and away games as well as doubleheaders with other non-conference dates with Amherst, Bates, Brandeis, Husson, UMass Boston, Saint Joseph's (Maine), Salem State, Suffolk, Worcester State in New England. During spring break, Endicott will face off with Keene State, Eastern Connecticut State, Trinity (Conn.), Ramapo, Benedictine (Ill.) and Elmhurst. CCC action will once again be competitive with each game impacting Endicott's chances for earning the program's seventh conference title.
"We are working extremely hard to put ourselves in position to earn another opportunity to compete for a regional title and ultimately, a national championship."
Endicott begins their 2014 season on Saturday, March 8th with a home doubleheader against Bates.
