Jan. 9, 2007

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Charlotte has been tabbed to win the 2007 Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship in voting conducted by the league's 14 head coaches, it was announced on Tuesday.

The 49ers compiled a mark 35-20-1 overall and 18-9 in Conference play and earned the fourth seed at the 2006 A-10 Championship. Charlotte welcomes back third baseman Aaron Bray, the 2006 Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year. Bray finished second in the league in runs scored (59) and fifth in batting (.365) en route to earning Freshman All-America honors from Collegiate Baseball.

2006 A-10 champion Saint Louis was selected second, followed by Rhode Island, St. Bonaventure and Dayton. The Billikens' pitching staff will be anchored by senior righthander Ryan Bird, who earned Most Outstanding Performer honors at the 2006 A-10 Championship. Senior Brian Pellegrini, the 2006 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, will look to lead the Bonnies to their second-ever Conference title.

The site for the 2007 Atlantic 10 Baseball Championship will be Fifth Third Field in Dayton, OH. The 7,230-seat facility is the home of the Dayton Dragons, the Class-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The six-team, double-elimination championship will be held May 23-26.

2007 Predicted Order Of Finish (2006 Overall/A-10 record in parentheses)

1. Charlotte (35-20-1/18-9)
2. Saint Louis* (32-29/15-12)
3. Rhode Island (35-16/19-6)
4. St. Bonaventure (29-21/18-8)
5. Dayton (33-24/18-9)
6. Richmond (22-33/12-15)
7. George Washington (25-34/13-12)
8. Fordham (24-32/13-14)
9. Duquesne (19-33/12-15)
10. Massachusetts (14-30/11-16)
11. Xavier (19-37/9-18)
12. Temple (12-41/6-19)
13. La Salle (20-31/12-14)
14. Saint Joseph's (17-39/9-18)

*denotes 2006 A-10 champion