The 2010 baseball regular season for Capital Athletic Conference teams is scheduled to begin at about the same time as the major league teams begin spring training in Florida and Arizona. 

One team, St. Mary's (Md.), had games slated against Randolph-Macon for this weekend (Feb. 6), before professional teams open spring training camps.  However, the non-conference contests were postponed because the Seahawks' field was still covered with snow from last weekend ... and there is a predicted snowstorm headed toward the region this weekend.

St. Mary's will try again Feb. 10, with a contest at Christopher Newport, and four other teams will try to open the 2010 campaign with multiple games on the weekend of Feb. 13-14.  The goal of six CAC teams is to take the title away from Salisbury, which has won four-straight crowns and eight of the last 10.

The top-seeded Sea Gulls (38-8) outlasted fourth-seeded Stevenson last year to capture the 2009 CAC crown and advanced with York (28-16, which finished second in the regular season, to the NCAA regional tournament.  Wesley also advanced to post-season play, winning its way to the ECAC South title game before finishing with a 26-17-1 overall record.

The teams will battle for a spot in the six-team CAC Championship Tournament, which begins April 13 and culminates with the title game scheduled for April 18.

Here is a brief glimpse at the CAC baseball teams heading into the 2010 campaign.

GALLAUDET promises to be more competitive this season with the return of a couple key starters in sophomores Jeremy Shepps and Ryan Hastings, who both had solid freshmen campaigns.  Shepps was exceptional at shortstop as he provided solid defense, he batted over .320 and served as the top pitcher for the Bison.  Junior center fielder Zane Noschese led the offense with a .355 batting average and was ranked 11th overall in the conference for batting.  Three very promising freshmen will be taking over starting positions in Billy Bissell (right field), Tommy Barksdale (third base) and Yuri Johnston (left field).  The team finished last season with six consecutive victories and believes that this is an indication of continued success this coming season. This is the last year for Gallaudet in the CAC as the Bison begin competition in the North Eastern Athletic Conference in 2011.

MARY WASHINGTON welcomes back eight of nine players from its lineup from 2009, with the hopes of returning to the top of the CAC standings and advance to the NCAA Tournament. Led by senior Will Wright (.382, 27 RBI, one strikeout all season to lead NCAA Div. III) an All-CAC selection a season ago, and senior centerfielder Alex Howell, UMW will rely on a veteran lineup in the field, but lost two from its '09 pitching staff to graduation. Third baseman Santino Rosanova will vie for a starting role this spring, as will newcomer Zach Goodwin. Junior 2b Eric Rehbein will also see significant action on the mound, as will freshman Torey Mancari. Sophomore Matt Abramson, freshman Joey Carlton, transfers Goodwin and Nick Corbin and junior John Miscioscia are also leading candidates for rotation spots.

SALISBURY has high expectations once again as they start the season ranked No. 7 in the nation in the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) poll. SU senior first baseman Mike Celenza highlights the returning players as he was named a preseason first-team All-American. Joining Celenza on the All-American teams is junior Andrew Miller, who is also a preseason first-team All-American and junior pitcher Kyle Judson who garnered honorable mention accolades. The Sea Gulls open up their season at Apprentice School on Feb. 14 and will be at home on Feb. 20 with a doubleheader against Staten Island College.

ST. MARY'S has all but four players are back from last year's squad and the Seahawk coaching staff is hoping that the veteran experience and leadership along with the addition of six solid freshmen will propel St. Mary's to the next level as they look to advance to the CAC championship game.  Pitching could be the team's strength this season with 14 hurlers on staff, including the addition of two left-handers in Andrew Osborne and Wick Eisenberg, an All-MIAA selection.  Last season, the Seahawks received solid pitching from Barrett Enix (4.84 ERA), Jon Gill (4.90 ERA, 60.2 IP), and Mikel Iraola (5.05 ERA, 35 strikeouts) as well as Mike Victory (3-0, 2.40 ERA).

STEVENSON is looking forward to a healthy and productive season in 2010. After winning nine of their first 11 games last year, three of the team's top four pitchers suffered season-ending injuries and the Mustangs limped into the conference playoffs with a 14-18 record. However, Stevenson won three of its first four in the CAC Baseball Championship and advanced to the title series where there upset bid was cut short by its fifth loss to Salisbury. Among the players to watch this season are junior Dustin Tarlow and seniors George Papuchis and Ryan Baione. Tarlow was an All-CAC Second Team selection a year ago after leading the team in at-bats, runs, hits, triples and home
runs.

WESLEY returns six members of its starting lineup and four key pitchers for 2010.  All-CAC picks Geoff Kimmel (.401 batting average), Grant Morlock (.367, 6 HR) and Kevin Murphy (.374, 14 doubles, 28 steals) will power the offense.  CAC Rookie of the Year DJ Keckler will anchor the pitching staff after going 6-2 with a 3.48 ERA.  Matt Faulkner and Ryan Doran also return to the rotation and Kyle McGuire has been a mainstay in the bullpen.  Head Coach Tripp Keister enters the year having led Wesley to the second most total wins among CAC schools since 2006.

YORK looks to earn a back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances after last season's team went 28-16 and earned a spot in the Salisbury Regional. York must replace four-time All-CAC performer Ryan Poff but seven everyday starters return including All-CAC third baseman Kyle Cook and leftfielder Mike Connolly. First-team All-CAC hurler Jason Christenberry returns to front the Spartan rotation in 2010. Other key returners for York include shortstop Rob Klinck, second baseman Dustin Worthman, center fielder Matt Monti and right fielder Joe Doyle.