Feb. 27, 2004

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Northeastern University is the preseason favorite to repeat as the conference baseball champion this year, according to a vote of the head coaches. Stony Brook was picked to finish third behind the Huskies and the Black Bears of Maine. The Huskies received four of a possible eight first-place votes and 59 points overall. University of Maine was picked to finish second, garnering four first-place votes as well with 57 points.

Stony Brook was third with 46 points as University of Vermont followed with 39 points. University at Albany (27) and league newcomer UMBC (27) were knotted for the fifth spot, with Binghamton University (18) and Hartford (15) rounding out the poll.

The top four teams in the conference will advance to the America East Championship, held at Mahaney Diamond in Orono, Maine on May 27-29, with the winner of the tournament receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.

The Seawolves posted their best mark last season in America East play (33-21, 15-9) since joining the conference in baseball for the 2002 season. Stony Brook knocked off Maine in the conference championship for the second consecutive season before losing in the championship game to Northeastern. Junior shortstop Matt Devins, a second-teamer, returns to anchor the infield. Devins hit .307 during his sophomore season, while posting the most doubles (20) in the league. An all-rookie selection Matt Restivo will look to improve upon his successful freshman season this year. Restivo made a league-best 24 appearances and recorded the most saves in the conference (4), while posting a 3.34 ERA and a 6-4 record.