NEW HAVEN, Conn. (January 27, 2026) – Five Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference baseball teams are among the 10 schools listed in the 2026 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Division II East Region Preseason Poll, the NCBWA released on Monday. CACC members Felician University and Thomas Jefferson University occupy the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, respectively.
Felician (43-22, 28-8 in 2025) became the first CACC baseball team in 10 years to win the East Region when it defeated Franklin Pierce University in the 2025 Super-Regional Championship Series. The Golden Falcons shared the conference regular-season North Division championship and were finalists in the CACC Championship tournament. Earlier today, Felician was announced as the No. 1 team in this year’s CACC Preseason Coaches Poll.
Jefferson (40-17, 27-7), which, like Felician, set a program record for wins in 2025, was the CACC South Division regular-season champion. The Rams were the No. 1 seed for the NCAA East Regional Championship.
Also representing the CACC in the poll are Wilmington University (6th), Goldey-Beacom College (8th), and Dominican University New York (9th). The NCBWA voting panel consists of nine athletics communications directors -- three each from the CACC, East Coast Conference, and Northeast 10 Conference.
The 2026 regular season for CACC teams is slated to begin during the weekend of Feb. 13-15 with four programs in action. Conference play starts on Wednesday, March 11.
2026 NCBWA DIVISION II EAST REGION PRESEASON POLL
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Felician University (7) 79 pts.
2. Thomas Jefferson University (2) 69
3. Bentley University 60
4. Molloy University 59
5. Franklin Pierce University 58
6. Wilmington University 51
7. Southern New Hampshire University 42
8. Goldey-Beacom College 37
9. Dominican University New York 31
10. Pace University 15
Founded in 1961, the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference has been affiliated with NCAA Division II for 20 years. Conference institutions compete for championships in 17 sports – seven for men, nine for women, and one co-ed. The CACC contains 11 full members in Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Membership includes the University of Bridgeport, Caldwell University, Chestnut Hill College, Dominican University New York, Felician University, Georgian Court University, Goldey-Beacom College, Holy Family University, Post University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Wilmington University.