ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, March 29, 1996 TAG: 9603290057
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO IN THE REGION
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
League newcomer Virginia Tech and defending champion Massachusetts are the baseball preseason picks to capture their divisions in the 1996 Atlantic 10 Championship race, according to a poll of the conference's head coaches.
Following the Minutemen in the predicted order of finish in the East Division are Fordham, St. Bonaventure, St. Joseph's, Temple and Rhode Island.
Following the Hokies in the West Division poll are George Washington, Xavier, Dayton, Duquesne and La Salle.
Each school plays a four-game series with its divisional opponents only for a total of 20 league games. The top two teams in each division advance to the A-10 Championship on May 10-12 in Boyertown, Pa., with the winner receiving the league's automatic bid to the NCAA.
In other sports news in the region:
* Defending champion Massachusetts is the softball preseason pick to win the 1996 Atlantic 10 Conference crown, according to a poll of the league's head coaches.
Following the Minutewomen in the predicted order of finish are St. Joseph's, Temple, Rhode Island, La Salle, St. Bonaventure, Dayton, Virginia Tech and Fordham.
* Four Virginia Tech athletes made the Atlantic 10 Conference's all-academic team for winter sports. Those honored included senior women's swimmer Angel Muncaster of Charlottesville (3.71 grade-point average, liberal arts major); junior pentathlete Katie Ollendick of Blacksburg (3.85, physical education); sophomore shot putter Jonathan Lane of Bridgewater (3.91, chemistry); and junior women's indoor track and field athlete Michelle Smith of Glen Burnie, Md. (3.79, human nutrition and foods).
* VMI wrestler Jason Foresman was named to the GTE Academic All-District team. The junior from Virginia Beach carries a 3.70 GPA in civil engineering.
LENGTH: Short : 40 linesby CNB