3/5/2009 -

Mike Pope was named 2008 Skyline Rookie of the Year.

Lawrenceville, N.J. – Coming off its first appearance in both the Skyline Conference Tournament and the ECAC Metro Tournament in 2008, the College of Mount Saint Vincent Baseball team has been picked fourth in the Skyline Preseason Coaches’ Poll it was announced on Thursday afternoon. The Mount received 43 votes in the poll voted on by the league’s nine head coaches.

After winning the program’s first ever Skyline Championship in 2008, Farmingdale St. has been selected as the favorite to repeat in the conference, receiving 62 total points and six of the eight first place votes. St. Joseph’s-LI earned 57 points to take second in the poll and Old Westbury received 50 to earn third. Both St. Joseph’s and Old Westbury got one first place vote apiece.

Following Mount Saint Vincent and rounding out the top-five in the poll is Mount Saint Mary who earned 36 total points. Coming in sixth through ninth in the league are Purchase (27), Polytechnic (22), Maritime (18) and Yeshiva (8).

The Dolphins are coming off a 2008 campaign that saw them set a program record for wins in a season with 23. Mount Saint Vincent had four players receive All-League honors last season, including Mike Pope (Massapequa, N.Y.) who was named the league’s Rookie of the Year.

The 2009 campaign will open on Sunday, March 8 when the Dolphins travel to Hoboken, N.J. to tangle with Stevens. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.

2009 Skyline Preseason Poll
1. Farmingdale St. – 62 (6)
2. St. Joseph’s-LI – 57 (1)
3. Old Westbury – 50 (1)
4. Mount Saint Vincent – 43
5. Mount Saint Mary – 36
6. Purchase – 27
7. Polytechnic – 22
8. Maritime – 19
9. Yeshiva – 8