RE: 2021 WM Baseball Season
D1 Baseball's Annual preview.
They have UNCW winning the South division pick, and NU is the North pick,
D1 has UNCW beating out NU and CofC to win the tournament, but they say all 3 could play in a regional.
NORTH DIVISION 2020 RECORD
Northeastern 10-5
Hofstra 4-10
Delaware 8-7
Towson 7-8
SOUTH DIVISION
UNC Wilmington 11-5
College of Charleston 12-2
James Madison 10-6
Elon 7-10
William & Mary 8-9
WILLIAM & MARY
The Tribe has finished in the CAA’s top three in three of the last four completed seasons under Brian Murphy, who enters his eighth year as head coach. This year’s club will lean upon an experienced, deep and athletic group of position players and hope that the unproven pitching staff coalesces as the season progresses. William & Mary’s biggest star is two-way talent Jack Cone, one of the front-runners for CAA player of the year honors. A speedy lefthanded hitter with outstanding defensive ability in center field, Cone will serve as the primary catalyst atop the lineup, and he also appears to be the likely closer, thanks to a 90-93 fastball and quality secondary stuff. Cone and fellow two-way talent Ben Greenspon both made significant jumps as hitters as well as pitchers this fall. Greenspon is a strong defender at second base who should deliver more offensive production this spring, and he also could find a spot in the weekend rotation thanks to his ability to pound the zone with an 87-89 fastball, swing-and-miss slider and good changeup. Veteran Matt McDermott (.319/.415/.464), a high-energy player with good speed and contact skills, slides from second base to shortstop, forming what should be a sound double-play tandem with Greenspon. 5YR SR Matt Trehub (.325/.491/.450) completes the strong up-the-middle group, bringing a strong arm and excellent leadership skills behind the plate. Corner infielders Tyler Solomon (a 6-foot-6 switch-hitter with pop from both sides) and Ben Williamson (an emerging second-year player with a rifle arm at third) figure to anchor the heart of the order, along with proven run producer Hunter Hart (.417/.500/.500, 17 RBIs), the starting left fielder.
The main question facing William & Mary is how the rotation will take shape behind gritty 5YR SR ace Wade Strain, who has 22 career starts under his belt. The 6-6 Strain isn’t overpowering, but he has some tough angle that makes his 87-90 fastball play up, and he can really pitch with his cutter and a curveball with good depth. In addition to Greenspon, candidates for rotation spots behind Strain include veterans Randy Prosperi and Zach Tsakounis. Prosperi served as a key bullpen arm in the past but is making the move to a starting role; he attacks at 88-90 with a swing-and-miss slider in the high 70s and a developing changeup. Tsakounis is a strike-throwing lefty who mixes four pitches and has an out pitch in his changeup. Cone should get some help in the bullpen from experienced lefty Justin Pearson, whose fastball has ticked up into the 88-91 range with good sink, to go along with a nice slider.
(This post was last modified: 02-13-2021 01:29 AM by geewizNU.)
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