PROVIDENCE, R.I. - After winning the NCAA Charlottesville Regional and advancing to the Super Regional round last season, East Carolina earned six first-place votes and has been tabbed to win the 2017 American Athletic Conference championship by the league's eight head coaches.
East Carolina's Evan Kruczynski and UConn's Tim Cate were named Preseason Pitchers of the Year while Joe Davis, last season's Rookie Position Player of the Year was named Preseason Player of the Year by the coaches.
Three American Athletic Conference teams reached the NCAA tournament last season (Tulane, UConn and East Carolina). Tulane took home the regular-season championship and UConn won the conference tournament.