INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Southern Indiana and Northern Kentucky University baseball teams have been selected as the favorites to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference West and East Divisions, respectively, in 2010. The two teams have been deemed the favorites to claim the divisions in each of the past three seasons with both accomplishing the feat a year ago.
Northern Kentucky, who claimed its second consecutive GLVC Championship in 2009 and fifth league title in the last eight seasons, earned nine first-place votes and 75 total points in the GLVC Baseball Preseason Poll. The Norse edged Indianapolis who received the remaining four first-place votes and 70 total points in the poll. The two teams shared the GLVC East Division crown a year ago.
Bellarmine was selected third in the East Division poll with 51 total points, just ahead of Saint Joseph’s 49 total points. Lewis (33), Kentucky Wesleyan (22) and UW-Parkside (15) rounded out the poll.
Southern Indiana, which has placed first in the GLVC West Division in each of the past two seasons, was unanimously selected to repeat in 2010. The Eagles garnered 79 total points and 12 first-place votes.
Drury was selected to finish second with 61 total points and received the final first-place vote. The Panthers edged Rockhurst for second place in the pole. The Hawks received 58 total points. Quincy was fourth with 48 total points and was followed by Missouri S&T (32), Missouri-St. Louis (31) and Maryville (13).
Northern Kentucky posted a 41-22 overall record and 18-6 mark in the GLVC East Division in 2009. The Norse, guided by 2009 GLVC Coach of the Year Todd Asalon, will be led by returning All-GLVC First Team selections Evan McDole and Jason Cisper. McDole, a senior infielder and the 2009 GLVC Player of the Year, hit .355 with a .670 slugging percentage, 55 RBIS, 58 runs, 15 home runs and 17 doubles. Cisper, a senior outfielder, led the Norse with a .413 batting average and had 38 RBIs and 15 stolen bases.
Southern Indiana finished 2009 with a 39-19 overall record and 13-7 divisional record. The Eagles, led by head coach Tracy Archuleta, return a pair of All-GLVC selections in junior pitcher Trevor Leach and senior utility player Tyler Choate. Leach was 11-0 last season for the Eagles and posted a 2.87 earned run average. Choate hit .357 with 37 RBIS, 52 runs and 10 home runs while compiling a 7-3 record and 3.22 ERA on the mound. .
The 2010 season marks the first with the GLVC’s newest member Maryville, bringing the number of baseball-playing institutions in the league to 14. The Saints will not be eligible for the GLVC Tournament this year.
The GLVC Tournament will expand to eight teams this season with the top three teams in each division and two wild cards earning a berth. The tournament will be played at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois and at the UMSL Baseball Field in St. Louis. The tournament will be conducted on May 6-9 with the winner of the event earning the GLVC Championship Title and an automatic berth to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
The complete 2010 GLVC Baseball Preseason Poll follows:
Team (First-place votes) Total Points
East
Northern Kentucky (9) 75
Indianapolis (4) 70
Bellarmine 51
Saint Joseph’s 49
Lewis 33
Kentucky Wesleyan 22
UW-Parkside 15
West
Southern Indiana (12) 79
Drury (1) 61
Rockhurst 58
Quincy 48
Missouri S&T 32
Missouri-St. Louis 31
Maryville# 13
#Not eligible for GLVC Tournament and did not vote in Preseason Poll
For more information about the GLVC and each conference member, please visit www.glvcsports.org.