Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Baseball Picked First in Patriot League Preseason Poll
2/3/2015 2:52:00 PM | Baseball
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Coming off a season in which it captured the Patriot League regular-season title and the Patriot League Tournament championship, the Bucknell baseball team is picked to finish first in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, which was released Tuesday by the league office. The Bison were a unanimous choice for the top spot in the poll of coaches and sports information directors.
Additionally, Bucknell junior catcher Jon Mayer (Dillsburg, Pa./Northern York) and senior outfielder Anthony Gingerelli (Worcester, Mass./Burncoat) were named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team. Both were First Team All-Patriot League selections a year ago.
The Bison earned 50 of a possible 50 points in the poll as all 10 voters from the other five schools picked them to repeat. Army was predicted to finish second with 37 points, while Lehigh was picked third with 30. Navy (29 points), Holy Cross (19) and Lafayette (15) rounded out the rankings.
Bucknell is coming off a banner 2014 season in which it equaled the program record for victories (31), tied the school record for Patriot League wins (15), swept through the conference's postseason tournament and posted the second NCAA Regional victory in program history. The Bison return eight regular starters, three weekend starting pitchers and a number of key bullpen arms from that squad.
Mayer, who this summer was listed among the best prospects in the Futures Collegiate Summer League by Baseball America, had a team-high seven multi-RBI games a year ago. He finished the campaign hitting .246 with two home runs and 25 RBIs while splitting time between catcher and designated hitter. Mayer was a member of the Charlottesville Regional All-Tournament Team after going 3-for-9 with one run scored and a pair of RBIs in helping the Bison to a 1-2 record at the NCAA Regional.
A career .299 hitter, Gingerelli was among Bucknell's top offensive players last spring, hitting .309 with a team-high five home runs and 27 RBIs. His 16 extra-base hits were most on the team. Gingerelli ranked in the top 10 in the Patriot League in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, RBIs, triples, home runs, total bases and hit by pitches. The durable veteran appeared in 52 games with 47 starts in right field.
Bucknell will open its 2015 season next Friday, Feb. 13, against Delaware in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Bison will play a total of four games that weekend, also facing VCU, Georgetown and host Wake Forest.
Patriot League Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Bucknell, 50 points (10 first-place votes)
2. Army, 37 (1)
3. Lehigh, 30 (1)
4. Navy, 29
5. Holy Cross, 19
6. Lafayette, 15
Patriot League Baseball Preseason Player of the Year: Justin Pacchioli, Lehigh (Sr., OF)
Patriot League Baseball Preseason Pitcher of the Year: Anthony Parenti, Navy (Sr., SP)
Baseball Preseason All-Patriot League Team
SP: Anthony Parenti, Navy (Sr.)
SP: Alex Robinett, Army (Sr.)
RP: Corey Spera, Lafayette (Sr.)
C: Jon Mayer, Bucknell (Jr.)
1B: Anthony Critelli, Holy Cross (So.)
2B: Mike Garzillo, Lehigh (Jr.)
SS: Travis Blue, Navy (So.)
3B: Harold Earls, Army (Sr.)
OF: Anthony Gingerelli, Bucknell (Sr.)
OF: Evan Ocello, Holy Cross (Sr.)
OF: Justin Pacchioli, Lehigh (Sr.)
DH: Alex Woinski, Lafayette (So.)
