BUFFALO — The Canisius baseball team was selected to finish second in the Metro Atlantic Athletic conference, as voted by the league coaches in the preseason poll, announced on Tuesday. Canisius earned 99 points and one first-place vote and finished second to 2016 conference champion, Fairfield, who was picked to repeat as MAAC titleholder.
Rounding out the overall standing was Monmouth (97 and two first place votes), Manhattan (97 points one first place vote), Marist (76 points), Siena (69 points), Quinnipiac (51 points), Rider (43 points), Niagara (40 points), Iona (27 points), Saint Peter’s (18).
Earning Preseason player of the year honros was Manhattan’s Fabian Pena, while Canisius didn’t have anyone selected to the Preseason All-MAAC team.
The Blue and Gold, which finished the 2016 campaign with the fourth overall seed in the conference tournament, went 32-27 overall and 16-8 in MAAC play. The Griffs appeared to be in the drivers seat of the MAAC tournament, reeling off two-straight wins, defeating Marist, 15-8 and Siena 8-4, outscoring its opponents 23-12.
However a loss to, eventual champion Fairfield, and rival Siena, ended the Griffs title defense. It was the the 10th-straight season that Mike McRae and the Blue and Gold qualified for the MAAC tournament, the longest such streak in the conference.
The Griffs return four of its top-six offensive threats, with senior Jake Lumley leading that squad. Lumley finished last season with a .339 batting average, 74 hits, seven doubles, two triples and three homeruns to go along with 35 RBI. Lumley was also honored by the conference, as he was named to the All-MAAC second team.
Leading the Canisius hurlers are seniors Zachary Sloan and Josh Shepley, and rising freshman Nolan Hunt, who opened the eyes of the MAAC in his first-year with the Griffs, going a flawless 5-0 and recorded a 2.90 ERA. Junior J.P. Stevenson looks to bounce back after an injury-plauged sophomore campaign.
from GoGriffs.com via IFTTT
