Feb. 2, 2010
Complete Northeast-10 Preseason Coaches' Poll Release in PDF Format 
UMass Lowell baseball was selected to finish fourth in the Northeast-10 preseason coaches' poll released by the conference office on Tuesday.
The River Hawks received one first-place vote and 137 overall points after mounting a 25-21 campaign in 2009. UMass Lowell finished 15-15 in conference play last season, battling its way to the NE-10 semi-finals before falling to Assumption and Franklin Pierce.
The Ravens (37-18, 24-6), the reigning conference champion, are expected to repeat as they collected 11 first-place votes and 167 points. Southern Connecticut (25-20, 20-10) and NE-10 newcomer Adelphi (34-16, 17-7 ECC) tied for second with 139 points each. Rounding out the top five, New Haven (22-21, 16-14) received 113 votes.
"Based on what we have coming back and where we were last year, it's safe to assume that we will be in that range," said head coach Ken Harring of the ranking. "It's pretty relevant to where we've been the last couple of years."
"They all know the pitching that we have and to finish sixth last year, 15-15, they know that we are going to be much better--15-15 is not acceptable here."
The River Hawks return 22 contributors from last season's squad, including NEIBA All-Star and NE-10 Freshman Pitcher of the Year, Jack Leathersich (Beverly, MA), and ABCA All-East Region First Team and NE-10 All-Conference Second Team selection, Ted Haley (Cranston, RI).
"I will take our pitching against any team in the country," Harring said. "If we can get our confidence going on the offensive side of the ball, I think we could win the conference, we could win the regional, and we could go to the World Series. Pitching wins baseball games and now that there is a wood bat regional, if we can get to that tournament it's going to be awfully tough to beat us."
The season is just weeks away as UMass Lowell travels to Petersburg, VA, for a double-header with Dominican (NY) starting at 10 a.m. on Feb. 27th. The River Hawks embark on a 21-day and 17-game road trip that will span three states to start the season. UMass Lowell makes its home debut on March 20th with a double-header with NE-10 foe Southern Connecticut at noon.
"I want to get back to the NCAA Tournament," Harring stated. "Once we put ourselves into that class and get back to where we belong, anything can happen. My ultimate goal is to host the regional right back here at LeLacheur Park."
The complete NE-10 preseason coaches' poll is available below:
2010 Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Franklin Pierce (11) - 167
t-2. Adelphi - 139
t-2. So. Connecticut - 139
4. UMass Lowell (1) - 137
5. New Haven - 113
6. Assumption (2) - 110
7. Bentley - 106
8. Pace - 81
9. Stonehill - 69
t-10. Saint Rose - 57
t-10. So. New Hampshire - 57
12. Saint Anselm 50
13. Merrimack - 34
14. American Int'l - 15
