March 28, 2002

Stony Brook, N.Y. - America East newcomer Stony Brook University was picked to finish fourth in the coaches' preseason poll, the conference announced.

The Seawolves were 35-16 a season ago, the third-straight year Stony Brook has posted 30 or more wins. Head coach Matt Senk, now in his 12th year, returns second baseman Rich Graham, who batted .371 last season, and All-Northeast Region closer Anthony Stutz, who will move into the starting rotation.

University of Maine was the choice to win the title, receiving 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).

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.