University of Maine is the choice to win America East in voting conducted by the conference's head coaches. The Black Bears received six of a possible seven first-place votes and 46 votes overall to outdistance Northeastern University (38 votes), University of Vermont (36) and Stony Brook University (one first-place vote, 35). Binghamton University (15), University of Hartford (14) and University at Albany (12) rounded out the poll.
The Black Bears were 20-8 in America East last season, 36-15 overall. Head coach Paul Kostacopoulos returns first-team all-conference catcher Joe Drapeau, who will also play third base, and 2001 Rookie of the Year Mike Collar, who was 8-0 with a 3.55 earned run average last spring. The Black Bears have had each of the last three conference Rookies of the Year in Collar, Drapeau (2000) and outfielder Mike Ross (1999).
Neil McPhee's Northeastern Huskies are the only team in America East to qualify for each of the nine championships since America East held its first tournament in 1993. The Huskies return first-team all-conference outfielder Ben Beck, who hit .312 with 10 home runs and 42 RBI a season ago.
Vermont was 23-22 a season ago and missed the America East Championship by just a game in the conference standings. Head coach Bill Currier's team will be bolstered by its pitching staff which includes left-hander Brian Robinson (4-4, 3.32 in 2001), who closed last season with a no-hitter vs. Hofstra, Jeff Dixon (5-3, 3.54), and Andy Kumming (7-3 in 2000).
America East newcomer Stony Brook was 35-16 a season ago, the Seawolves' third-straight year with 30 or more wins. Head coach Matt Senk, now in his 12th year, returns shortstop Garrett Renner, who led the team with a .385 average last season and All-Northeast Region closer Anthony Stutz, who will move into the starting rotation.
Binghamton is another newcomer to America East this season. Bearcat 10th year head coach Tim Sinicki has 10 newcomers on his roster but welcomes the return of senior left-hander David Eagan, who missed all of last season with an elbow injury. Eagan was 7-3 with a 3.80 earned run average in 2000.
Hartford returns leading hitter Miguel Marichal (.331), the nephew of former Hall of Famer Juan Marichal, and the one-two combination of right-hander Scott Roy (5-2, 4.82) and lefty Brian Mascaro (3-6, 4.99).
Albany's roster includes 19 newcomers, but third-year head coach Jon Mueller does return senior left-fielder Jake Toms, who hit .345 with 36 RBI a year ago. The Great Danes will play 14 home games at Heritage Park, the home of the Independent Northern League Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs in Colonie, N.Y.
The America East schedule will consist of 24 games with two doubleheaders vs. each of the other six teams in the conference. The America East Championship, a four-team, double-elimination tournament, will be held May 23-25 at Mahaney Diamond on the University of Maine campus in Orono, Maine.
2002 America East Conference Baseball Coaches’ Poll
Team (first-place votes), Points
1. Maine (6), 46
2. Northeastern, 38
3. Vermont, 36
4. Stony Brook (1), 35
5. Binghamton, 15
6. Hartford, 14
7. Albany, 12