For Immediate Release
Thursday, January 16, 2020
NSIC Media Relations
PDF Release
Augustana Picked First in Preseason Baseball Coaches’ Poll
BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The defending NSIC Regular Season and Tournament Champions of Augustana University were the top pick in the 2020 NSIC Preseason Baseball Coaches’ Poll. This marks the second consecutive season that the Vikings have been picked to win the league. Augustana amassed 195 points after receiving 13 first place votes (coaches can’t vote for their own team). Minnesota State was second with 184 points and two first place votes. St. Cloud State was picked third with 164 points, while Wayne State was fourth with 153 points.
The preseason coaches’ poll is based off each coach ranking each team from 14 to 1 with the top team receiving 14 points, second 13, third 12, etc.
The baseball season gets underway in early February with NSIC play beginning on March 14. The 2020 NSIC Baseball Tournament will take the top eight teams in the final NSIC Standings. The double elimination tournament takes place May 6-9 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, co-hosted by Augustana University and the University of Sioux Falls.
NSIC Players to Watch - 2020
Preseason Players of the Year in Italics (More info at link above)
| # |
Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
B/T |
|
Hometown |
High School |
| 1 |
Jordan Barth |
1B |
6’1 |
200 |
Jr. |
R/R |
AUGIE |
Cold Spring, Minn. |
ROCORI |
| 8 |
Isaiah Grancorvitz |
C/ OF |
5’10 |
175 |
Sr. |
R/R |
BSU |
Hudson, Wis. |
Hudson |
| 16 |
Patrick Bordewick |
SS |
6’3 |
195 |
Sr. |
R/R |
CSP |
St. Louis Park, Minn. |
St Louis Park |
| 1 |
Spencer Gillund |
SS |
6’0 |
195 |
Jr. |
R/R |
UMARY |
Enderlin, N.D. |
Enderlin Area |
| 20 |
Brock Reller |
OF |
6’3 |
230 |
Jr. |
L/L |
UMC |
Grand Forks, N.D. |
Central |
| 2 |
Henry George |
OF |
5’8 |
165 |
Jr. |
L/L |
UMD |
Woodbury, Minn. |
New Life Academy |
| 5 |
Nick Altermatt |
SS |
6’0 |
195 |
So. |
R/R |
MSU |
Wanda, Minn. |
Wabasso |
| 3 |
Trevaun Smith |
UTL |
6’0 |
180 |
Sr. |
R/R |
MISU |
Brampton, Ontario |
Humberview Secondary |
| 2 |
Hayden Houts |
C |
5’11 |
205 |
Sr. |
L/R |
NSU |
Owen, Wis. |
Owen-Withee |
| 14 |
Grant Lung |
INF |
6’0 |
185 |
Jr. |
L/R |
USF |
Peoria, Ariz. |
Liberty |
| 6 |
Nathan Kuhn |
SS |
5’8 |
175 |
Sr. |
R/R |
SMSU |
Eagan, Minn. |
Eagan |
| 14 |
Lenny Walker |
OF |
6’0 |
190 |
Sr. |
R/R |
SCSU |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
Tolleson |
| 29 |
AJ Friedrich |
1B |
6’2 |
250 |
Jr. |
L/R |
UIU |
Waconia, Minn. |
Waconia |
| 9 |
Andrew Hanson |
2B |
6’1 |
180 |
Jr. |
R/R |
WSC |
Burnsville, Minn. |
Burnsville |
| 33 |
Sam Kohnle |
1B |
6’3 |
205 |
Sr. |
R/R |
WSU |
Tisch Mills, Wis. |
Kewaunee |
NSIC Pitchers to Watch - 2020
| # |
Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
B/T |
|
Hometown |
High School |
| 21 |
Max Steffens |
RHP |
6’1 |
200 |
Sr. |
R/R |
AUGIE |
DeWitt, Iowa |
Central DeWitt |
| 33 |
Jackson Back |
LHP |
6’0 |
170 |
Sr. |
L/L |
BSU |
Beaver Creek, Ohio |
Beaver Creek |
| 33 |
Blake Stelzer |
RHP |
6’3 |
210 |
Sr. |
R/R |
CSP |
Lakeville, Minn. |
Lakeville North |
| 12 |
Paxton Thompson |
RHP |
6’2 |
200 |
So. |
R/R |
UMARY |
St. Michael, Minn. |
St. Michael-Albertville |
| 35 |
Jayden Grover |
RHP |
6’3 |
220 |
Sr. |
R/R |
UMC |
Cooperstown, N.D. |
Griggs County Central |
| 18 |
Rece Dietrich |
LHP |
6’6 |
215 |
Sr. |
L/L |
UMD |
Barron, Wis. |
Barron |
| 9 |
Cam Kline |
RHP |
6’0 |
205 |
Jr. |
R/R |
MSU |
Stacy, Minn. |
Forest Lake |
| 9 |
RJ Martinez |
LHP |
5’10 |
165 |
Jr. |
L/L |
MISU |
Sun City, Calif. |
Valley View |
| 24 |
Cody Curfman |
RHP |
6’2 |
190 |
Sr. |
R/R |
NSU |
Chugiak, Alaska |
Chugiak |
| 15 |
Keenahn Coyle |
RHP |
6’4 |
205 |
Sr. |
R/R |
USF |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
Washington |
| 22 |
John Bezdicek |
LHP |
6’3 |
200 |
Jr. |
L/L |
SMSU |
Plymouth, Minn. |
Osseo |
| 11 |
Trevor Koenig |
LHP |
6’11 |
200 |
Jr. |
L/L |
SCSU |
St. Cloud, Minn. |
Technical |
| 11 |
Duncan Snider |
RHP |
6’7 |
230 |
Sr. |
R/R |
UIU |
Muscatine, Iowa |
Muscatine |
| 7 |
Ryan Obrecht |
RHP |
6’4 |
170 |
So. |
R/R |
WSC |
Omaha, Neb. |
Millard North |
| 24 |
Aaron Mutter |
RHP |
6’5 |
240 |
Sr. |
R/R |
WSU |
Burlington, Wis. |
Burlington |
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