(Posted February 25, 2009)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The Juniata College baseball team was picked to finish fourth in the Landmark Conference in 2009, according to preseason balloting among the league's head coaches and sports information directors, the results of which were released Wednesday.

Juniata received 42 points in the poll, behind a group of three schools separated by a total of five points.

Catholic University, who won the inaugural league championship in 2008, sits atop the poll with 54 points. Susquehanna University and the University of Scranton are tied in second place with 49 points, followed by the Eagles in fourth.

Trailing Juniata is Moravian College (28 pts.), with Drew University (15 pts.), and the United States Merchant Marine Academy (15 pts.) tied for sixth.

Juniata posted a 16-2 record in Landmark Conference play last season, with a 26-12 overall mark. The Eagles return four All-Landmark performers from last season, led by First team selection Adam Spadafora (Asbury, N.J./Pennington School). Spadafora was Juniata's top hitter last season with a .465 average, including 15 doubles, with 10 stolen bases.

Second team All-Landmark returnees for the Eagles are junior catcher Greg Hoffman (Phoenix, Md./Dulaney), senior second baseman Kevin Small (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North), and junior shortstop Andrew Kriss (Forest Hill, Md./John Carroll). Hoffman's 41 runs batted in were second on the team in 2008.

Juniata opens its season in Fort Pierce, Fla., on Saturday, Mar. 7, with a doubleheader against Northwestern College (Minn.).

Landmark Conference
2009 Baseball Preseason Poll

1. Catholic University (54 pts.)
2. University of Scranton (49 pts.)
2. Susquehanna University (49 pts.)
4. Juniata College (42 pts.)
5. Moravian College (28 pts.)
6. Drew University (15 pts.)
6. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (15 pts.)

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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.