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Central Islip, N.Y. - The Panthers of Adelphi University have been chosen as the preseason favorites in the East Coast Conference baseball poll as voted upon by the conference coaches.

The Panthers, coached by Dom Scala, posted a 35-17 overall mark last season including a 21-6 mark in ECC play, winning both the regular season and tournament titles and qualifying for the NCAA Northeast regional tournament.

Adelphi earned a perfect 100 points with all 10 first place votes easily outdistancing LIU/C.W. Post which garnered 81 points for second place.

The remainder of the field included Dowling College (75), the University of New Haven (74), the University of Bridgeport (67), Concordia College (41), St. Thomas Aquinas College (39), Molloy College (38), Mercy College (18) and Queens College (17).

Adelphi senior outfielder Mike Testani was the coaches' pick as preseason Player of the Year. Testani hot .406 last season with seven home runs and 55 RBI and slugged .620 with a 1.880 on base percentage. The 2007 ECC Player of the Year went on to earn NCBWA Honorable Mention All-American honors, ABCA/Rawlings All-Region and was a NCAA Division II Northeast Region All-Tournament selection.

Fellow Panther and junior Bobby Lanigan was named as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Lanigan posted a 7-2 mark in 12 starts with a 3.17 ERA and registered 94 strikeouts against 37 walks on the way to Second Team ECC and ABCA/Rawlings All-Region honors.

Joining Testani and Lanigan from Adelphi on the preseason all conference first team were Rob DeGennaro and Chris Weidlein. Also named to the preseason team were Riley Shuckerow of Bridgeport; Keith Karlsen of C.W. Post; Kevin Reese, Frank Intagliatta and Chris Caputo of Dowling; Andrew Scavuzzo of Molloy; Michael Moras of New Haven and Vinny Malzahn of St. Thomas Aquinas.

A list of the team poll and all conference teams follow.

2008 ECC Baseball Preseason Poll

(First place votes in parentheses)