Saints, Vikings tied atop 2019 UMAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Saints, Vikings tied atop 2019 UMAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Bookmark and Share

ST. PAUL, Minn.---At the conclusion of the first 10 years of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) being a NCAA Division III member conference, the conference baseball season ended in a way that it hadn't in the previous nine years – regular season co-champions were crowned with Bethany Lutheran College and the College of St. Scholastica sharing the title.
 
Following a thrilling postseason tournament, Bethany Lutheran ended St. Scholastica's dominance in the conference earning the UMAC playoff championship to advance to the NCAA Championship for the first time in program history. Those events have led to the two teams being tabbed as the favorite going into 2019 with both teams tying atop the 2019 UMAC Baseballl Preseason Coaches' Poll announced Thursday.  

| Poll | Team Previews | 2019 Schedule |

The Vikings and Saints each finished with 60 points and four first-place votes from the conference coaches, while the University of Wisconsin-Superior is also expected to be in the mix totaling 48 points and one first-place nod. The Saints would look to win their 23rd-straight regular season title and the Vikings would be positioned for their second-straight. The Yellowjackets have participated in the conference postseason tournament in each of their first three seasons as UMAC members. 

A year ago, the Vikings and Saints each finished with conference records of 14-2 after both teams dropped a game early in the season to the University of Northwestern. The two didn't fall again until they faced each other in the final series of the season for the Saints and the second-to-last for the Vikings due to rescheduled contests. In the conference tournament, the Vikings managed to stave off elimination games against Northwestern and St. Scholastica to force the "if necessary" game in which they prevailed over the Saints for a first-ever Bethany Lutheran postseason title. 

Both teams topped the league offensively and in pitching and should be positioned to do the same again this year despite both sides graduating significant talent from a year ago. The upside, though, is the return of key players for both teams. For the Vikings, All-UMAC First Team and All-Region talent returns with infielder ben Boran who batted .470 as a junior and UMAC Rookie of the Year Ross Beumer who was just behind Boran batting .463. Logan Nissen returns to the mound after going 4-0 in conference play last year. 
 
The Saints will rely heavily on role players to step up this season including two-time All-UMAC pick Joey Zwak who has anchored the infield at short stop and collected 40 hits and 31 RBI as a sophomore. Brad Fossum reached base in each of the final 18 games of the season and will be joined by Aaron Weber in helping fill in top spots in the lineup. 
 
Wisconsin-Superior is positioned to take on the top two squads with three All-UMAC First Team and Honorable Mention selections returning to the lineup including 2018 UMAC Player of the Year and All-Region selection Cory Albertson. As a sophomore, Albertson led the nation in home runs per game and topped the UMAC in RBI (42), home run (13) and slugging (.847). Braeden Barr and Matt Boyde will also play significant roles after outstanding seasons last spring. 

Last season, Northwestern returned to the postseason and finished third in the standings on the backs of a large first-year class. Many of those contributors are back this year to help the Eagles make another postseason appearance after being picked fourth in Thursday's poll with 43 points. The Eagles bring back All-UMAC position players in senior Aaron Krahn and sophomore Carlton Lindow. Philip Wall will lead the pitching staff following a breakout rookie year. 

The University of Minnesota Morris missed the postseason last year, but was picked to leap frog Northland College with the teams taking fifth and sixth, respectively, with 37 and 26 points in the poll. The Cougars' strength comes at the pitching position with Michael Head and Thomas Eckstein leading after Honorable Mention outings in 2018. The LumberJacks will be under new leadership in 2019 under Ryan Jerle who will rely on senior All-UMAC pitcher Carson Ferry and Honorable Mention outfielder Adrian Bethel to help lead the way. 

North Central University was much improved last season but picked to finish outside the playoff race in seventh with 22 points. The Rams hope to contend bringing back senior leaders in Cory Kukkola and Brandon Scott. Crown College and Martin Luther College rounded out the poll in eighth (19) and ninth (9), respectively. 

UMAC baseball teams are slated to begin regular season play with two teams scheduled Feb. 23 in non-conference competition, while the remaining teams open the season with spring break play in early March. The conference schedule is set to open up Saturday, April 6 and conclude Saturday, May 4. The UMAC playoffs are set for Thursday-Saturday, May 9-11 at the site of the No. 1 seed.
 

2019 UMAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll
T-1. Bethany Lutheran- 60 points (4 First Place Votes)
T-1. St. Scholastica - 60 points (4 First Place Votes)
3. Wisconsin-Superior - 48 points (1 First Place Votes)
4. Northwestern - 43 points
5. Minnesota Morris - 37 points
6. Northland - 26 points
7. North Central - 22 points
8. Crown - 19 points
9. Martin Luther - 9 points
 

Team Previews

| BLC | CC | CSS | MLC | NC | NCU | UMM | UNW | UWS |

Bethany Lutheran College
Ryan Kragh | 15th season |
 
2018 Season
14-2 UMAC, 23-12 Overall | T-1st |
Postseason: Won the UMAC tournament championship and qualified for first ever NCAA regional
 
Top Returners
  • Ben Boran, Sr., IF | First Team All-UMAC | ABCA All-Region 2nd Team | 0.470 batting average, 51 hits, 32 RBIs |
  • Logan Nissen, Jr., P | First Team All-UMAC | 4-0 in the UMAC, 33 strikeouts, opp. batting average 0.278 |
  • Ross Beumer, So., OF | First Team All-UMAC & UMAC Rookie of the Year | D3baseball.com Rookie of the Year | 0.463 batting average, 27 RBIs, and six homeruns |
 

The College of St. Scholastica
Corey Kemp | 10th Season |
 
2018 Season
14-2 UMAC, 22-11 Overall | T-1st |
Postseason: Lost in the UMAC Tournament Championship to Bethany Lutheran
 
Top Returners
  • Joey Zwak, Jr., SS | 2017, 2018 All-UMAC; 2017 UMAC Rookie of the Year | 2017 Third Team D3baseball.com All-Midwest Region | 40 Hits, 31 RBIs, 34 runs |
  • Aaron Weber, Jr., OF | 2018 All-UMAC | .340 avg., 3 HR, 8 2B |
  • Brad Fossum, Sr., IF | .338 avg., .511 on-base pct. , Reached base in final 18 games of the season |
 
Need to Know
For the first time since the 2012 season, a Colvard will not be patrolling the outfield.
 

Crown College
Ryan Doheny | 2nd Season |
 
2018 Season
3-13 UMAC, 6-22 Overall | 8th |
 
Top Returners
  • Gideon Dunn, Sr., P/OF | 2016, 2018 All-UMAC Honorable Mention | Other Honors | 2 HRs, 16 RBIs, 32 Ks |
  • Seth Betts, So., MI/C | 2018 UMAC Honorable Mention | Other Honors | .265 avg., 10 extra base hits, 9 steals |
  • Kress Medina, Sr., SS/P | .282 avg, 1.76 ERA, 2-0 pitching record |
 
Need to Know
Bringing in 18 new players for Doheny’s second season as Head Coach.
 

Martin Luther College
Randy Cox | 10th season |
 
2018 Season
1-15 UMAC, 4-23 Overall | 9th |
 
Top Returners
  • Matt Baehman, Sr., P/IF | 2018 1st Team All-UMAC | 2018 Stats: .343 BA, 24 R, 37.2 IP |
  • Dillon Solomon, Sr., P/OF | 2018 HM All-UMAC | 2018 Stats: .352 BA, 33.1 IP, 33 K |
  • Caleb Christopher, Jr., OF | 2017, 18 HM All-UMAC | 2018 Stats: .298 BA, 2 HR, 18 RBI |
 
Need to Know
MLC returning pitchers threw 188 of a possible 205.2 innings last season and started 26 of the team’s 27 games in 2018.
 

North Central University
Justin Brown | 3rd Season |
 
2018 Season
3-13 UMAC, 6-21 Overall | 7th |
 
Top Returners
  • Cory Kukkola, Sr., IF | 2018 1st Team All-UMAC | 2017 & 2016 Honorable Mention | .323 avg, 4 HR, 11-11 SB |
  • Brandon Scott, Sr., IF | 2017 Honorable Mention All-UMAC | .358 avg in 2017 .454 OBP,  8-11 SB
  • Steven De Silva, So., OF | 2018 Honorable Mention All-UMAC | .306 avg, 3 HR, 11-11 SB |
 

Northland College
Ryan Jerle | 1st Season |
 
2018 Season
9-7 UMAC, 10-24 | 4th |
Postseason: UMAC 4th Place seed, lost to UWS 14-2 in playoff play-in game.
 
Top Returners
  • Carson Ferry, Sr., LHP | UMAC Honors-1st Team | 2-2, 34.1 Innings Pitched, 50 Strikeouts |
  • Adrian Bethel, So., OF | UMAC Honors-2nd Team | .260 Batting Average, 5 Homeruns, 1-2 in 5 starts as Pitcher|
  

University of Minnesota Morris
Grant Harding | 7th Season |
 
2018 Season
8-8 UMAC, 9-24 | T-5th |
 
Top Returners
  • Michael Head, Jr., P | 2018 All-UMAC Honorable Mention | UMAC Pitcher of the Week - April 16, 2018 | Three wins, 4.36 ERA, 35 Strikeouts
  • Thomas Eckstein, Sr., P/OF | 2018 All-UMAC Honorable Mention | .343 AVG, 10 RBI, .529 SLG
  • Nick Peterson, Jr., OF/P | Pitcher of the Week - April 30, 2018 | 34 Strikeouts, 1.70 WHIP, 6 walks
 
Need to Know
Returns six of 10 starters from last year.
 

University of Northwestern
Dave Hieb | 24th Season |
 
2018 Season
12-4 UMAC, 18-19 | 3rd |
Postseason: 1-2 in UMAC tournament |
 
Top Returners
  • Aaron Krahn, Sr., OF | 2018 All-UMAC | .358 BA; 7 HR; 13 2B; 2 3B |
  • Carlton Lindow, So., C | 2018 All-UMAC | Academic All-UMAC | .362 BA; 3 HR: 10 2B: 21 RBI |
  • Philip Wall, So., P | 2018 All-UMAC | 9 GS; 3.24 ERA; 66.2 IP |
 
Need to Know
Graduated two players from last season.
 

University of Wisconsin-Superior
Frank Pufall | 3rd Season |
 
2018 Season
8-8 UMAC, 12-26 Overall| T-5th |
Postseason: Beat No. 4 Northland, 14-2, and lost to No. 1 St. Scholastica, 19-4, May 10. Lost to No. 3 Northwestern, 10-9, May 11.
 
Top Returners
  • Cory Albertson, Jr., C | 2018 UMAC Player of the Year, All-UMAC First Team | 2018 ABCA All-Region, D3baseball.com All-Region | Led UMAC in RBIs (42), home runs (13) and slugging percentage (.847), second in UMAC in batting average (.411) and hits (51) |
  • Braeden Barr, 3B/RHP | 2018 All-UMAC First Team  | Hit .352 with 37 hits, three doubles and five home runs | Had a .524 slugging percentage
  • Matthew Boyde, Sr., OF | 2018 All-UMAC Honorable Mention | UMAC’s eighth-best batting average at .385, Had 47 hits, nine doubles, three triples, seven home runs, slugged .680 |
 
Need to Know
The Yellowjackets return junior Cory Albertson, last season’s NCAA leader in home runs per game (0.38), in 2019.