INDIANAPOLIS, IND. - The Great Lakes Valley Conference has unveiled its 2019 Preseason Baseball Poll with the University of Missouri-St. Louis being tabbed 11th.
This year's preseason poll ranks teams 1-14, as opposed to East and West Divisions in years past.
Bellarmine was tabbed as the preseason favorite, garnering 156 total points and six of the 14 first-place votes, followed by Illinois Springfield in second with 150 points and a pair of first-place votes. Quincy picked up two first-place markers and 147 points to sit in third in the poll, one point ahead of Southern Indiana, which earned 146 points and the final four first-place votes.
Drury (122) has been picked to finish fifth, while Indianapolis (106), Missouri S&T (92), Maryville (81), Lewis (72) and William Jewell (57) are sixth through 10
th, respectively. UMSL (53), Rockhurst (39), McKendree (29) and Truman State (24) round out the poll.
The Tritons are coming off a 21-29 record in 2018, which included a 12-16 GLVC mark and will be under the direction of second-year head coach
Cory Wahl. Among its returners are redshirt junior
Derrick Freeman, a Second Team All-GLVC selection last season after posting a .305 batting average, tallying 46 hits, including 10 doubles, five triples and four homeruns. Freeman also led the team with 31 RBI and 37 runs scored and was 11-for-12 in stolen bases.
UMSL will open its 2019 season February 15-17 in Joplin, Mo., where the Tritons will play one game against Northwest Missouri State, two against Washburn and one against Missouri Southern as part of the MIAA/GLVC Crossover. The Tritons open their home schedule March 2-3 in a three-game series against Wayne State (Mich.). The GLVC slate begins at home March 9-10 against Lewis.
The conference will host the 2018 GLVC Championship Tournament on May 9-12 at U.S. Baseball Park in Ozark, Mo.
The complete 2019 GLVC Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll follows:
| 2019 GLVC Baseball Preseason Poll |
| Place |
School |
Points (First Place Votes) |
| 1 |
Bellarmine |
156 (6) |
| 2 |
Illinois Springfield |
150 (2) |
| 3 |
Quincy |
147 (2) |
| 4 |
Southern Indiana |
146 (4) |
| 5 |
Drury |
122 |
| 6 |
Indianapolis |
106 |
| 7 |
Missouri S&T |
92 |
| 8 |
Maryville |
81 |
| 9 |
Lewis |
72 |
| 10 |
William Jewell |
57 |
| 11 |
Missouri-St. Louis |
53 |
| 12 |
Rockhurst |
39 |
| 13 |
McKendree |
29 |
| 14 |
Truman State |
24 |
