Salisbury holds top spot in the 2021 Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) Baseball Preseason Poll. The Sea Gulls both totaled four first-place votes and 16 points to outdistance second place Christopher Newport (13 points, 1 first-place) in a vote amongst the conference head coaches. 

Southern Virginia finished third in the voting with eight points, followed by Mary Washington (7) and St. Mary's (6) who resided in fourth and fifth positions, respectively. 

The C2C Tournament will once again feature the two-pod format, with all five programs competing in the postseason event spread across two weekends. The opening weekend (May 14-15) will feature a three-team, double-elimination pod between the No. 2, No. 3 & No. 4 seeds, while the No. 1 seed will battle the No. 5 seed in a best-of-three series. The winners of those first weekend series will square off the following weekend (May 21-22) at the highest remaining seeds' field.

2021 C2C Baseball Preseason Poll

Below is a brief preview of each team entering the 2021 campaign: 

1) SALISBURY finished the truncated 2020 ranked No. 9 in the country and retains its No. 9 ranking, according to baseballnews.com, heading into 2021. The Sea Gulls return seven everyday starters to its lineup, including senior shortstop Jimmy Adkins (.273, .944 OPS) and three-time all-conference center fielder Justin Meekins (.371, 1.109 OPS). On the pitching side, sophomore lefty Jackson Balzan (4.15 ERA, 13.29 K/9) anchors a stable of three top-line starters and half a dozen other key arms that should help SU navigate the rigors of a COVID-19 impacted 2021 slate. 

2) The CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT baseball team was off to a 10-4 start in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic halted the season, but fortunately for the Captains the bulk of the team returns to try and replicate that strong start in 2021. Offensively, the Captains will return seven starters and, on the mound, 12 of the 14 game starters from last season are back. Senior outfielder Conner Clark headlines the veteran core after hitting .483 with 25 runs scored, 12 stolen bases, and 17 RBI in just 14 games last season. On the mound, senior Josh Husby returns to anchor a staff that includes a strong group of sophomore stars Aidan Henning, Connor Pennell, and Dylan Weber. 

3) After starting last season with a 9-5 record, the SOUTHERN VIRGINIA baseball team will look to continue the momentum into 2021. The Knights bring back three starters in the field, including All-CAC outfielder Canon Anderson, catcher Cole Campanile, who posted a pair of home runs and a .444 batting average in last year's shortened season, and outfielder Brady Lamb, who earned a .459 on-base percentage. On the mound, head coach Jerry Schlegelmilch will turn to a host of returners, including Zach Zalar, Will Parker, and Paul Steiger, as well as Nate McCallum, who returns after a two-year church mission.

4) Second-year MARY WASHINGTON head coach Kelly Swiney will look to a large returning cast, as well as a strong incoming group this Spring. Offensively, the Eagles return 2020 leading hitters Canon Davies and Norman Holcomb, as well as Garrett Lyons and David Lambertson. A young pitching staff will look to returning starters Daniel Osafo, Zach Adams, Chris LeVere, and Brandon Latham.

5) The ST. MARY'S COLLEGE OF MARYLAND baseball team heads into their 2021 campaign after a shortened 2020 season where they finished the year with a 6-3 record. The Seahawks, led by fifth year head coach Bernie Stratchko, return 25 student-athletes from last year's roster including five players from their starting lineup and five pitchers from their starting rotation. Dillon Waters returns after leading the Seahawks with three home runs and 13 RBI last season. Joey Bryner also returns to the roster after leading the Seahawks with a .406 batting average last season. The Seahawks welcome five newcomers to their roster.