Stony Brook Baseball tabbed preseason America East favorite

Cambridge, Mass. - The Stony Brook University baseball team has been picked as the favorite to take home the 2012 America East title in the preseason coaches poll released by the conference office on Wednesday. The Seawolves return 20 letterwinners from last year's squad that won a school record 42 games and the program's first America East regular season title.The Seawolves received 24 points including four of the five available first-place votes as coaches could not vote for their own team. Maine finished a close second with 22 points and received the other two first place votes.
Maine was followed by Albany and Binghamton. Hartford and UMBC rounded out the poll.
SBU has also been named the preseason favorite to win the America East in Baseball America and is ranked 17th in College Baseball Daily's preseason Mid-Major Top 25.
Among Stony Brook's 20 returning letterwinners are juniors Travis Jankowski (Lancaster, Pa.) and William Carmona (Hempstead, N.Y.), who have each been named to multiple preseason All-American teams.
Also returning are All-America East selections, seniors Pat Cantwell (West Islip, N.Y.) and Tyler Johnson (Chatsworth Calif.) as well as 2011 America East Rookie of the Year Brandon McNitt (Chino Hills, Calif.).
SBU opens the 2012 season against Alabama State and Nicholls State at the Colonel Round Robin Tournament on Feb. 24 and will host 20 games at Joe Nathan Field.