WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University baseball players Brandon Grover (Rocky Hill, Conn./ Rocky Hill HS) and Mike Samko (Arlington/BB&N) have received preseason recognition from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Grover, a senior outfielder, was selected first-team NCBWA Preseason All-East Region and Samko, a graduate student, received second-team recognition.

Both players were first-team All-Northeast-10 Conference honorees last spring. Samko received first-team All-Region recognition from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association and second-team honors from the NCBWA and American Baseball Coaches Association. Grover was tabbed for second-team accolades by the ABCA and honorable mention kudos by the NCBWA.

Samko's .374 average last year ranked second in the Northeast-10 and he was also tenth in the conference in on base percentage (.444). Samko also led the Falcons in hits (67) and runs scored (40), and was second in RBI (36) and total bases (85).

Grover, a .337 hitter in 2018, led the Falcons in slugging (.566), total bases (94), doubles (13), home runs (7) and RBI (38). In 27 games as an outfielder, he batted .376 and posted a .670 slugging percentage.

Bentley, which was 20-21 overall and 19-16 against East Region opposition last spring in Bob DeFelice's 50th season at the helm, was slotted fourth in the NE10 Northeast Division preseason coaches' poll, mirroring last year's finish. The Falcons totaled 74 points in the voting to trail Southern New Hampshire (111), Franklin Pierce (97) and Merrimack (87).

DeFelice's 51st season will begin this weekend when the Falcons travel to southern Florida for single games against Palm Beach Atlantic, Lynn University and Barry University.

NORTHEAST-10 CONFERENCE PRESEASON COACHES POLL

Northeast Division
1. Southern New Hampshire – 111 (13)
2. Franklin Pierce – 97 (1)
3. Merrimack – 84 (1)
4. Bentley – 74
5. Stonehill – 57
6. Assumption – 50
7. Saint Anselm – 37
8. Saint Michael's – 22

Southwest Division
1. New Haven – 91 (8)
2. Le Moyne - 88 (6)
3. Adelphi – 69 (1)
4. Pace – 58
5. Southern Connecticut St. – 52
6. American International – 29
7. Saint Rose – 26