Jan. 27, 2012
RICHMOND, Va. (January 27, 2012) - Old Dominion senior shortstop Josh Wright was selected as the 2012 CAA baseball preseason Player of the Year in voting by the league's head coaches. He was joined by fellow senior and righthandedpitcher Ben Tomchick.
Wright earned first-team All-CAA honors in 2011 after batting .369 with 12 home runs, 44 RBI and 18 stolen bases. He led the Monarchs and was fifth in CAA with 53 runs scored and was also among the league's top 10 in slugging percentage (.682) and on-base percentage (.454).
Wright headlines the 2012 preseason All-CAA baseball team, which includes 12 players who were all-conference selections a year ago. Joining Wright in the infield are Towson junior catcher Andrew Parker (.304, 37 RBI), UNCW junior first baseman Hunter Ridge (.354, 60 RBI), George Mason junior second baseman Chris Cook (.340, 29 RBI) and Georgia State senior third baseman Brandon Williams (.342, 46 RBI).
The outfield includes Northeastern sophomore Aaron Barbosa (.335, 29 SB), Hofstra senior Danny Poma (.382, 28 RBI), and UNCW senior Thomas Pope (.396, 46 RBI). James Madison junior Johnny Bladel (.360, 41 RBI) was picked at the utility spot and Georgia State junior Drew Shields (.321, 20 RBI) was chosen as the designated hitter.
Chosen as starting pitchers were James Madison senior Sean Tierney (10-1, 3.43 ERA) and Old Dominion senior Ben Tomchick (8-4, 3.15 ERA). Tomchick earned CAA All-Tournament honors last season. The relief pitcher is William & Mary junior Brett Koehler (4-3, 8 saves, 2.73 ERA).
Two Monarchs garnered honorable mention honors. They were senior first baseman Joey Burney (.257, 8 HR, 34 RBI).
ODU opens the 2012 season, Feb. 17 with a three-game home series against Temple.
2012 PRESEASON ALL-CAA BASEBALL TEAM
Player, School Pos. Cl. 2011 StatsAndrew Parker, Towson C Jr. .304, 5 HR, 37 RBIHunter Ridge, UNCW 1B Jr. .354, 9 HR, 60 RBIChris Cook, George Mason 2B Jr. .340, 4 HR, 29 RBIJosh Wright, Old Dominion SS Sr. .369, 12 HR, 44 RBI, 18 SBBrandon Williams, Georgia State 3B Sr..342, 1 HR, 46 RBI, 12 SBAaron Barbosa, Northeastern OF So..335, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 29 SBDanny Poma, Hofstra OF Sr. 382, 2 HR, 28 RBI, 20 SBThomas Pope, UNCW OF Sr..396, 5 HR, 46 RBI, 19 SBJohnny Bladel, James Madison UT Jr..360, 4 HR, 41 RBI, 26 SBDrew Shields, Georgia State DH Jr..321, 0 HR, 20 RBISean Tierney, James Madison SP Sr. 10-1, 3.43 ERA, 47 K'sBen Tomchick, Old Dominion SP Sr. 8-4, 3.15 ERA, 81 K'sBrett Koehler, William & Mary RP Jr.4-3, 8 svs., 2.73 ERA, 58 K's
CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Josh Wright, Old Dominion
Honorable Mention (players receiving multiple votes): Taylor Perkins, C, VCU; Joey Burney, DH, Old Dominion; Zack Helgeson, DH, George Mason; Andrew Leenhouts, SP, Northeastern; Justin Malone, SP, Georgia State; Jake Dyer, RP, Georgia State