RICHMOND, Va. – Elon University was represented on the 2017 Preseason All-CAA Baseball team by designated hitter CJ Young in announcement made by the league office today, Jan. 25. The conference also announced its preseason all-league team that saw the Phoenix slated fifth.
Young was a first-team All-CAA pick at DH following his junior season at Elon in 2016. The Coatesville, Pa., native hit .293 with 31 runs scored, 13 doubles and 27 RBI in 48 games last year. He also had two triples, one home run and was 4-for-4 in stolen base chances. Young tallied 14 multi-hit outings, including a 3-for-4, three-RBI performance in a win over William & Mary. He drove in multiple runs in six games.
A pair of Phoenix players collected honorable mention preseason accolades – infielder Ryne Ogren and outfielder Kyle Jackson.
Ogren, a native of Devon, Pa., was a third-team All-CAA and CAA All-Rookie Team honoree in 2016 after hitting .292 with 37 runs scored, 33 RBI, six doubles, two triples and four home runs. A two-time CAA Rookie of the Week, Ogren was honored with the team’s Freshman of the Year Award. The infielder’s rookie numbers ranked him among Elon’s NCAA Division I freshman top-10 in on-base percentage, runs scored, hits, triples, home runs, total bases, walks, hit-by-pitch and sacrifice bunts. He reached base safely in Elon’s final 22 games of 2016 and had a season-long 10-game hitting streak.
Jackson was one of two Elon players to start all 54 games a year ago and hit .278 with a team-best 12 home runs. The Atlanta, Ga., resident scored 49 runs and drove in 44. Jackson added 19 doubles, tied for the seventh-most ever on the program’s single-season chart, and had a 13-game hitting streak during his junior season. He had 17 multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI outings. Among his top performances was a 3-for-6 day against Wright State when he hit three homers, scored three runs and drove in seven.
After finishing in third place in the CAA standings a year ago, Elon has been chosen to place fifth by the league’s coaches in 2017. Defending regular-season champion UNCW received eight first-place votes and was picked to repeat. William & Mary, College of Charleston and Delaware sit between the Seahawks and Phoenix.
The Phoenix will open up its 2017 season on Friday, Feb. 17, with a 4 p.m. game against Longwood. Season tickets are currently available for as little as $50 for adults and can be purchased HERE or by calling 336-278-6750.
2017 Preseason All-CAA Baseball Team
Nick Feight, UNCW (Jr., C)
Brett Johnson, James Madison (Sr., 1B)
Nick Patten, Delaware (So., 1B)
Brian Mims, UNCW (Jr., 2B)
Richie Palacios, Towson (So., SS)
Daniel Stack, UNCW (Sr., 3B)
Jordan Glover, Delaware (Sr., OF)
Ky Parrott, James Madison (Sr., OF)
Robbie Thorburn, UNCW (Sr., OF)
Dupree Hart, College of Charleston (So., UT)
Ryder Miconi, William & Mary (Sr., DH)
CJ Young, Elon (Sr., DH)
Bailey Ober, College of Charleston (Jr., SP)
Alex Royalty, UNCW (So., SP)
Brandon Walter, Delaware (So., SP)
Carter Love, College of Charleston (Jr., RP)
Preseason Player of the Year: Nick Feight, UNCW
Honorable Mention: Erven Roper (College of Charleston, C), Cullen Large (William & Mary, 2B), Ryne Ogren (Elon, SS), David Leiderman (Hofstra, 3B), Charlie McConnell (Northeastern, 3B), Kyle Baker (Delaware, OF), Casey Golden (UNCW, OF), Ryan Hall (William & Mary, OF), Kyle Jackson (Elon, OF), Cam Walsh (Northeastern, OF), Terence Connelly (UNCW, UT), Mike Fitzgerald (Northeastern, SP), Dan Powers (William & Mary, SP), Michael Evans (James Madison, RP), Austin Magestro (UNCW, RP)
2017 CAA Baseball Preseason Poll
1. UNCW (8 first-place votes)
2. William & Mary (1)
3. College of Charleston
4. Delaware
5. Elon
6. James Madison
7. Northeastern
8. Towson
9. Hofstra