COLONIA, N.J. – Molloy University was the top pick of the baseball coaches in the 2026 East Coast Conference (ECC) Preseason Coaches’ Poll released on Thursday morning.
The Lions – who are the defending champions – received 36 points and all six first-place votes. Mercy University was second with 27 points while Queens College was third with 26 points. Molloy advanced to the East Regional Final, before falling to Felician.
Molloy picked up the Preseason Pitcher in James Sill. Sill, a junior, earned the ECC Pitcher of the Year last season on his way to being a first-team All-ECC selection. He boasted a 1.52 ERA, which ranked near the top among all pitchers in Division II. He went 5-2 in 59.1 innings of work with 67 strikeouts to just 20 walks. He held batters to a .175 average.
The College of Staten Island was fourth 16 points, followed by D’Youville University in fifth at 11 points and St. Thomas Aquinas in sixth with ten points.
D’Youville University netted the Preseason Player of the Year in Billy Morris. Morris, a senior, was a first-team All-ECC selection while being named First-Team All-Region by several organizations on his way to two All-American selection.
Morris was a workhorse for the Saints both at the plate and on the mound, leading the team in batting average (.361), OPS (.977), runs (33), hits (60), homeruns (9), RBIs (46), and slugging percentage (.578). On the bump, Morris led the team in ERA (2.67), wins (5) complete games (4), and opponent batting average (.277).
Action is slated to begin on Friday, February 13 with Molloy and Mercy in action. Conference play is scheduled to begin on Friday, March 13 with all six teams competing.
The ECC Championship, featuring the top four teams, will begin on Thursday, May 7 at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y. hosted by Molloy.
2026 East Coast Conference Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Molloy University – 36 points (6 first-place votes)
2. Mercy University – 27 points
3. Queens College – 26 points
4. College of Staten Island – 16 points
5. D’Youville University – 11 points
6. St. Thomas Aquinas College – 10 points
Preseason Player of the Year: Billy Morris, D’Youville
Preseason Pitcher of the Year: James Sill, Molloy