Zammarelli Earns Preseason All-League Honors; Elon Phoenix Picked Third in CAA Baseball Race

RICHMOND, Va. – In preseason balloting by the baseball coaches in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), the Elon Phoenix squad was selected in a tie for third while third baseman Nick Zammarelli was an honorable mention preseason all-conference honoree.

Zammarelli, a junior from Lincoln, R.I., was second on the team with 50 RBI and tied for second on the Phoenix squad with seven home runs during his sophomore campaign. Zammarelli appeared in all 54 games, making 53 starts, and hit .288 with 33 runs scored, 10 doubles and a triple. He collected one CAA Player of the Week nod in 2015 and earned all-star honors in the Cape Cod League over the summer.

In two seasons in the maroon and gold, Zammarelli has played in 104 games and posted a .286 batting average. He has 19 doubles, three triples, eight homers, 72 RBI and has scored 52 runs.

In the voting for the preseason poll, the Phoenix received 45 total points and one first-place vote to tie for third with Northeastern. Defending CAA Tournament champion UNCW picked up seven first-place votes and 63 total points to earn league favorite status. Last year’s regular season champ, College of Charleston, also earned one first-place vote and a total of 55 points.

Elon begins the 2016 season on Friday, Feb. 19, with a 4 p.m. game at Latham Park against Wright State. Season tickets are currently available for as low as $50 for adults and $20 for children. Tickets may be purchased HERE or by calling 336-278-6750.

2016 CAA Baseball Preseason Poll
1. UNCW (7 first-place votes) – 63 points
2. College of Charleston (1) – 55
3. Elon (1) – 45
3. Northeastern – 45
5. William & Mary – 39
6. Delaware – 27
7. James Madison – 23
8. Hofstra – 14
9. Towson – 13

2016 Preseason All-CAA Baseball Team
C – Gavin Stupienski, UNCW
1B – Charley Gould, William & Mary
2B – Kyle McPherson, James Madison
SS – Chad Carroll, James Madison
3B – Terence Connelly, UNCW
OF – Ryan Brown, College of Charleston
OF – Steven Foster, Hofstra
OF – Casey Golden, UNCW
OF – Steven Linkous, UNCW
DH – Chris Henze, Towson
SP – Nick Brown, William & Mary
SP – Dustin Hunt, Northeastern
SP – Bailey Ober, College of Charleston
RP – Jared Gesell, UNCW

CAA Preseason Player of the Year: Charley Gould, William & Mary

Honorable Mention: Erven Roper (C, College of Charleston), Bradley Jones (1B, College of Charleston), Nick Zammarelli (3B, Elon), Cam Hanley (3B, Northeastern), Mark Grunberg (OF, Towson), Aaron Civale (SP, Northeastern), Ryan Foster (SP, UNCW), Ron Marinaccio (SP, Delaware), Carter Lover (RP, College of Charleston)