Vikings edge Saints by one point in 2020 UMAC Baseball Preseason Poll
ST. PAUL, Minn.---Each of the last two Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) baseball seasons, Bethany Lutheran College and the College of St. Scholastica have battled it out in the regular season with the Vikings emerging victorious in the end winning back-to-back tournament titles to represent the conference in the NCAA Division III postseason.
After sharing the title in 2018 and missing out by one game in 2019, the Vikings could finally win the regular season championship outright as the coaches predict it to be so with the Vikings topping the Saints by one point in the 2020 UMAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll announced Thursday.
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Poll |
Team Previews |
2020 Schedule |
The Vikings tallied 60 points with four first-place votes, while the rival Saints earned 59 points with three votes for the top spot. After making it to the UMAC tournament championship round last season, the University of Wisconsin-Superior was selected third by the coaches with 48 points and one first-place selection. The University of Northwestern is expected to be in the mix as well with 46 points and one-first place vote.
Last year the Vikings and Saints split on the final day of the regular season giving the Saints their 23rd-straight title and the No. 1 seed in the UMAC tournament. However, the Vikings emerged victorious without even having to play the Saints as the host went 0-2 in unexpected fashion. The two teams are set to meet on Saturday, April 18 in Duluth, Minnesota.
The Vikings led the conference overall in most hitting categories last season including batting average (.332) and set a program record with 102 doubles helping coach Ryan Kragh surpass the 300 career-win mark. This season, the favorite for the UMAC championship will be without All-American Ben Boran but they reload with other talent specifically in pitching with the return of All-UMAC First Team selections Adam Fjerstad and Dallas McBroom. Offensively, Ross Beumer will lead the way after earning All-UMAC honors in his first two season and hitting .410 last year.
The Saints will be senior heavy with some of its top offensive weapons set for their final season including Eric Pearson who was a Second Team All-Region honoree with 36 RBI a year ago. Senior Jake Sande returns to the mound after earning UMAC Pitcher of the Year with a perfect 0.00 earned run average (ERA) in UMAC games. Junior Lane Girtz also was a Second Team All-Region outfielder who is back after reaching base safely in the final 20 games of the season.
Wisconsin-Superior made an impressive postseason run a year ago upsetting the Saints following their win in the play-in game. The Yellowjackets' are positioned to challenge for the regular season this title in the final season of senior Cory Albertson who was the 2018 Player of the Year and an All-Region selection a year ago after tallying 42 RBI. All-UMAC First Team pitcher Ryan Rodriguez will anchor the 'Jackets on the mound after an impressive sophomore season.
An experienced junior class will anchor a Northwestern team that brings back starters at every position except two and adds 15 new players. All-UMAC First Team pitcher Phil Wall will be the center of the conference's top statistical pitching staff from 2019. Catcher Carlton Lindow was an Honorable Mention honoree last year after collecting 34 RBI and hitting .327.
Crown College made impressive improvements in coach Ryan Doheny's second season placing fifth to qualify for the postseason tournament for the first time in program history. The Storm was tabbed fifth in the poll with 32 points, but they will certainly be challenged by the University of Minnesota Morris and Northland College for a postseason berth. The Cougars were picked sixth with 29 points, while the LumberJacks were seventh with 26 points.
The Storm return All-UMAC shortstop Seth Betts who set single season program records in runs, hits, total bases, walks, assists and saves. Honorable Mention Sydney Ness is back after set a record for wins on the mound for the Storm. The Cougars will rely on All-UMAC pitcher Joe Wehr and Honorable Mention Michael Head to anchor the team on the mound. The 'Jacks have a big weapon in returning Rookie of the Year Jake Schramm who collected 51 hits in his first collegiate season. Honorable mentions in Adrian Bethel and Noah Cross are also back.
North Central University and Martin Luther College round out the poll in eighth (13 points) and ninth (11 points), respectively. Steven DeSilva is the lead returning hitter for the Rams, while the Knights expect a strong season from All-UMAC performer Caleb Christopher.
UMAC baseball teams are slated to start regular season play beginning next Friday, Feb. 22 with the conference schedule set to open up Saturday, April 4. The regular season concludes Saturday, May 2 with the tournament to follow Thursday-Saturday, May 7-9 at the site of the No. 1 seed.
2020 UMAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Bethany Lutheran- 60 points (4 First Place Votes)
2. St. Scholastica - 59 points (3 First Place Votes)
3. Wisconsin-Superior - 48 points (1 First Place Votes)
4. Northwestern - 46 points (1 First Place Votes)
5. Crown - 32 points
6. Minnesota Morris - 29 points
7. Northland - 26 points
8. North Central - 13 points
9. Martin Luther - 11 points
Team Previews
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Bethany Lutheran College
Ryan Kragh | 16th season |
2019 Season
13-3 UMAC, 23-18 | 2nd |
Postseason: Won the UMAC Tournament Championship for second-straight year … lost 11-2 to No. 18 Webster and 11-4 to North Central (IL) in NCAA Tournament
Top Returners
- Ross Beumer, Jr., OF | Two-time All-Conference| 2018 UMAC Rookie of the Year | .410 batting average, .990 fielding percentage, 12 stolen bases |
- Adam Fjerstad, Sr., P | 2019 All-Conference | led team with 7 wins, 68.0 innings pitched and 62 strikeouts |
- Dallas McBroom, Jr., P | 2019 All-Conference | 64.1 innings pitched, 39 strikeouts, 4.62 ERA |
Need to Know
Coach Kragh surpassed the 300 career win mark last season. BLC set school record for doubles last season.
The College of St. Scholastica
Kevin Ritsche | 1st Season |
2019 Season
14-2 UMAC, 24-14 | 1st |
Postseason: 0-2 in the UMAC Tournament
Top Returners
- Lane Girtz, Jr., OF | 2019 First Team All-UMAC | 2019 ABCA Second Team All-Midwest Region, 2019 D3baseball.com Second Team All-Midwest Region | .400 Avg., .512 on-base pct., Reached base safely in final 20 games of the season |
- Eric Pearson, Sr., 1B/DH | 2019 First Team All-UMAC | 2019 ABCA Second Team All-Midwest Region, 2019 D3baseball.com Second Team All-Midwest Region | 11 HR, 36 RBIs, 42 Hits |
- Jake Sande, Sr., P | 2019 UMAC Pitcher of the Year; 2019 All-UMAC; 2018 Honorable Mention All-UMAC | 7 Wins, 0.00 ERA in UMAC play during the regular season, 57.0 IP |
Need to Know
Senior shortstop Joey Zwak became the first Saint to be honored with ABCA Gold Glove last season
Crown College
Ryan Doheny | 3rd Season |
2019 Season
8-8 UMAC, 16-18 | 5th |
Postseason: Defeated 4-1 by UWS in the first game on the UMAC Tournament.
Top Returners
- Seth Betts, Sr., SS | 2019 UMAC All-Conference First Team, 2018 UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention| Set single season school records in runs, hits, total bases, walks, assists, and saves | .375 batting average, 1.011 OPS, 38 runs |
- Sydney Ness, Jr., P | UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention | Set single season school record for wins | 53.1 innings, 3.54 ERA, 1.3 WHIP |
- Bailey Sarto, Sr., 2B | Set single season school record for RBIs | 28 RBIs, 37 hits, .289 batting average |
Need to Know
Looking to continue success from last season, when the Storm made the UMAC Playoffs for the first time in school history.
Martin Luther College
Randy Cox | 11th season |
2019 Season
4-12 UMAC, 6-27 | T-8th |
Top Returners
- Caleb Christopher, Sr., OF | 2019 1st TM All-UMAC, 2017, 18 HM All-UMAC | 2019 Stats: .293 BA, 15 doubles, 23 RBI |
- Joey Behm, Jr., IF/P | 2019 HM All-UMAC | 2019 Stats: .294 BA, 17 RBI, 13 R |
- Andrew Mantz, Sr., P/IF | 2019 Stats: 2-5, 6.24 ERA, 49.0 IP |
Need to Know
Caleb Christopher is a three-year starter who set the MLC single-season record with 15 doubles in 2019.
North Central University
David Babcock | 1st Season |
2019 Season
4-12 UMAC, 11-20 | 8th |
Top Returners
- Steven De Silva, Jr., OF | .429 AVG, 1.308 OPS, .743 SLG% |
- Chris Harding, Jr., IF | .320 AVG, .879 OPS, .452 OBP |
- Justin Torres, Jr., OF | .283 AVG, .706 OPS, 6-8 SB |
Northland College
Joel Barta | 1st Season |
2019 Season
5-11 UMAC, 11-23-1 | T-6th |
Top Returners
- Jake Schramm, So. , U | Rookie of the Year 1st team All-UMAC, .436, 51 hits, 26 runs |
- Adrian Bethel, Jr. , OF/P | Honorable Mention, .359, 15 2B, 31 RBI |
- Noah Cross, Jr. , 1B | Honorable Mention, .383, 13 2B, 23 RBI |
Need to Know
Lumberjacks will be in their 20th season since re-introducing baseball, all in the UMAC.
University of Minnesota Morris
Matt O’Brien | 1st Season |
2019 Season
5-11 UMAC, 8-24 | T-6th |
Top Returners
- Alex Baumann, So., P/SS | UMAC Player of the Week (3/26/19) | Hit .333, recorded 25 RBI, tallied 41 hits |
- Michael Head, Sr., P | 2018 & 2019 Academic All-Conference, 2018 & 2019 Honorable Mention All-Conference | Pitched 39.0 innings, struck out 32 batters, allowed 18 walks
- Joe Wehr, Sr., P | 2019 First Team All-Conference | Pitched 34.2 innings, struck out 42 batters, allowed 12 walks
University of Northwestern
Dave Hieb | 25th Season |
2019 Season
10-6 UMAC, 24-17 | 3rd |
Postseason: Made UMAC Tournament as a #3 seed, falling to Bethany Lutheran and UW-Superior
Top Returners
- Philip Wall, Jr., P | 2019 UMAC All-Conference First Team, 2018 UMAC All-Conference First Team, UMAC Pitcher of the Week | .333 AVG, 2.80 ERA, 40 SO |
- Carlton Lindow, Jr., C/IF | 2019 UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention, 2018 UMAC All-Conference First Team | .327 AVG, 34 RBI, 3 HR |
- Sam Peterson, Jr., IF | .298 AVG, 24 RBI, 4 HR |
Need to Know
Head Coach Dave Hieb enters his 25
th season at the helm. The Eagles return starters at every position except two and 15 new additions to the roster add much-needed depth.
University of Wisconsin-Superior
Frank Pufall | 4th season |
2019 Season
9-7 UMAC, 18-22 | 4th |
Postseason: 3-2 in UMAC tournament advanced to Championship Series from 4 seed
Top Returners
- Cory Albertson, Sr., C |First Team All-UMAC | D3baseball.com All-Region | .408, 7 HR, 42 RBI |
- Ryan Rodriguez, Jr., LHP | First Team All-UMAC | 3-1, 4.63 ERA, 38 K |
- Bryce Flanagan, Jr., 3B/RHP | First Team All-UMAC | .303, 8 XBH, 2-1 |
Need to Know
The Yellowjackets tied the single-season school record for wins with 18 in 2019.