BOSTON – After a competitive 2025 campaign and a strong finish to conference play, the University at Albany baseball program has been picked to finish fourth in the 2026 America East Baseball Preseason Poll, voted on by the league's head coaches.
 
UAlbany collected one first-place vote and finished just behind NJIT in a tightly packed top half of the standings. Binghamton was selected as the preseason favorite with 32 points and three first place votes, followed closely by Bryant with 30 points and three first place votes as well. NJIT (26), UAlbany (21), and Maine (19) followed, with UMass Lowell (11) and UMBC (8) rounding out the poll.
 
2026 America East Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Binghamton, 32 (3 First Place Votes)
2. Bryant, 30 (3)
3. NJIT, 26
4. UAlbany, 21 (1)
5. Maine, 19
6. UMass Lowell, 11
7. UMBC, 8
 
The America East also unveiled its 2026 Preseason All-Conference Team, featuring two Great Danes. Starting pitcher Dylan Banner and catcher Levi McAllister both earned preseason honors.
 
Banner anchors the pitching staff following another solid season in which he led UAlbany in innings, starts, and strikeouts while posting one of the conference's top ERAs. McAllister returns as one of the league's most productive bats after batting over .300 last spring with power numbers, a high on-base clip, and team-leading RBI production behind the plate. Banner was named an America East First Team All-Conference selection last season, McAllister was named Second Team All-Conference.
 
2026 America East Baseball Preseason All-Conference Team
C          Levi McAllister (UAlbany)
1B       Dillon Can (NJIT)
2B       Zac Zyons (Bryant)
SS         Chris Bear (Maine)
3B       Anthony Mascuilli (UMBC)
OF        Matt Bolton (Binghamton)
OF       Carlos Martinez (UMass Lowell)
OF       Brody Rasmussen (Maine)
OF       Ty Sallie (NJIT)
DH        Brandyn Durand (Bryant)
UTIL     Austin Francis (NJIT)
SP         Dylan Banner (UAlbany)
SP         Michael Belcher (Bryant)
SP         Gianni Gambardella (Maine)
SP         Tarsia Hayden (Binghamton)
RP       Sebastian Holt (Maine)
 
The Great Danes return a veteran core that contributed to double-digit conference wins in 2025 and an offense that showcased on-base and run production throughout the lineup. On the mound, UAlbany's rotation and bullpen bring continuity with Banner leading a returning staff looking to build on late-season progress.
 
UAlbany is set to host another full slate at Varsity Field this spring, including key America East series against UMBC, UMass Lowell, NJIT, and Binghamton, along with a competitive non-conference schedule.
 
For the full 2026 schedule, click HERE.
 
Keep up with all the latest news, highlights, and insights on UAlbany baseball by following the team on X (@UAlbanybaseball), Instagram (@ualbanybaseball), and Facebook (UAlbany Baseball).