INDIANAPOLIS, IND. – The University of Missouri-St. Louis baseball team has been picked to finish in a tie for second place in the West Division of the Great Lakes Valley Conference preseason poll, as announced today by the league office.
The Tritons, along with Quincy, received 94 total votes in the eight-team division, including one first-place vote each.
Drury was nearly a unanimous pick to win the West as the Panthers secured 119 points overall and 14 of the 15 other first-place votes since conference bylaws indicate a team cannot vote for itself or its own players.
UMSL is coming off a 28-19 record last season, including a 22-10 GLVC mark. Under the direction of 29
th-year head coach
Jim Brady, the Tritons return four players who earned all-GLVC honors a year ago.
Following UMSL and Quincy in the poll is Missouri S&T, who ranked fourth with 79 points. Maryville (63 points), Rockhurst (49), William Jewell (37) and Truman State (27) round out the West Division.
Lewis earned 10 of the 16 first-place votes in the East Division and totaled 111 points overall, while three other schools earned at least one of the remaining six first-place votes, including Saint Joseph's. The Pumas totaled 96 points in the poll as well as four first-place nods. Southern Indiana took third with 88 points and one first-place vote, followed by Indianapolis with 86 markers and the final first-place tally. Bellarmine (78) has been picked to place fifth, while McKendree (49), Illinois Springfield (29) and Wisconsin-Parkside (26) round out the field.
The top three teams from the East Division, the top three teams from the West Division and two wild card teams will earn a berth to the 2014 GLVC Baseball Tournament on May 8-11, which will be held primarily at Bosse Field in Evansville, Ind. Select opening-round contests will take place at the Southern Indiana Baseball Field.
UMSL is scheduled to open its 2014 season with a three-game home series against Minnesota-Crookston February 28-March 2.
The complete 2014 GLVC Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll follows:
2014 GLVC Baseball Preseason Poll – EAST DIVISION
|
Pos. |
Team (1st) |
Points |
|
1. |
Lewis (10) |
111 |
|
2. |
Saint Joseph's (4) |
96 |
|
3. |
Southern Indiana (1) |
88 |
|
4. |
Indianapolis (1) |
86 |
|
5. |
Bellarmine |
78 |
|
6. |
McKendree |
49 |
|
7. |
Illinois Springfield |
29 |
|
8. |
UW-Parkside |
26 |
2014 GLVC Baseball Preseason Poll – WEST DIVISION
|
Pos. |
Team (1st) |
Points |
|
1. |
Drury (14) |
119 |
|
2. |
Missouri-St. Louis (1) |
94 |
|
|
Quincy (1) |
94 |
|
4. |
Missouri S&T |
79 |
|
5. |
Maryville |
63 |
|
6. |
Rockhurst |
49 |
|
7. |
William Jewell |
37 |
|
8. |
Truman State |
27 |
