Campbell has joined the CAA following a dominant run in the Big South. Over the past five seasons, the Camels have consistently appeared in the tournament, winning five consecutive Big South regular-season titles and four of the last five Big South Tournaments. Under the leadership of head coach Justin Haire, Campbell has established itself as a formidable program. Despite the challenges of transitioning to a new conference, particularly one as competitive as the CAA, there is no doubt that Campbell will be a strong contender in their first year.
The CAA boasts an abundance of star power this year, with numerous draft prospects scattered throughout the conference. While Northeastern’s Mike Sirota stands out as a prominent figure, Cole Mathis from the College of Charleston, who excels as both a first baseman and a right-handed pitcher, could also be a top-100 pick. Dariyan Pendergrass, another player from College of Charleston, is known for his exceptional speed and could potentially be selected in the top 10 rounds of the draft. Additionally, UNCW, William & Mary, Elon, and Campbell all have at least one draft prospect. With such a competitive field, the 2024 season is expected to be one of the toughest in conference history, with a fierce battle for the top spot throughout the season. The CAA is well-positioned to secure multiple bids to the tournament, potentially sending up to three teams to a regional.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the CAA rankings:
1. Northeastern (44-16, 20-10)
2. UNCW (34-23, 20-8)
3. Campbell (46-15, 22-5 in the Big South)
4. Elon (33-22, 19-9)
5. College of Charleston (36-22, 18-12)
6. William & Mary (32-25, 15-15)
7. Delaware (30-29, 17-13)
8. Hofstra (26-26, 13-15)
9. Stony Brook (23-29, 14-16)
10. N.C. A&T (19-28, 11-17)
11. Towson (19-37, 7-23)
12. Monmouth (16-30, 6-22)
According to the Source baseballamerica.com