ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) released the 2026 Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll on Wednesday with Bethany Lutheran being predicted to win the conference championship. The poll is voted on by all the head coaches in the conference. Coaches cannot vote for their own team.
Complete poll
| Place |
School |
Points |
| 1 |
Bethany Lutheran (6) |
36 |
| 2 |
UW-Superior (1) |
27 |
| 3 |
Minnesota Morris |
25 |
| 4 |
Northwestern |
23 |
| 5 |
Crown |
19 |
| 6 |
North Central |
9 |
| 7 |
Martin Luther |
8 |
#1 Bethany Lutheran: 36 points
The Vikings received 36 points for the top spot in the poll and six first-place votes from their conference competitors. Bethany Lutheran won the UMAC Tournament to advance to the NCAA Tournament last season.
Head Coach: Ryan Kragh | 22nd season|
Top Returners
- Xander Meissner, So., IF | UMAC Rookie of the Year, First-team All-Conference | D3baseball.com Region 9 Rookie of the Year and Third Team All-Region, ABCA Region 9 Third Team | .372 avg., 12 HR, 57 RBI
- Sean Gamble, Jr, P | First-team All-Conference | CSC Academic All-District | 7-2 record, 72.0 IP, 4.75 ERA
- Gary Swann, So., C | First-team All-Conference | .409 avg., 18 doubles, 35 RBI
#2 UW-Superior: 27 points
The Yellowjackets earned 27 points and the final first-place vote to rank second.
Head Coach: TJ Oakes | 5th Season |
Top Returners
- Josh Pritchard, Jr., RHP | UMAC Honorable Mention | CSC Academic All-District | 4.04 ERA, 4-2 Record, 42.1 IP |
- Trey Sybrant, Sr., OF | First-team All-Conference | .351 AVG, 27 RBIs, .420 OB% |
- Tanner Voight, Sr., INF | First-team All-Conference | .326 AVG, 28 RBIs, .546 SLG% |
#3 Minnesota Morris: 25 points
The Cougars received 25 points to rank third.
Head Coach: Matt O’Brien | 7th season|
Top Returners
- Ben Meuser, SR, 1B | All-UMAC IF | Three-time All-Conference| .352, 6 HR, 37 RBI
- Bradie Black, SR, SS | All-UMAC IF | 35 RBI, 38 R, 19 SB
- Trevor Haberman, JR, 3B | All-UMAC IF| .341, 9 HR, .705 SLG%
#4 Northwestern: 23 points
The Eagles earned 23 points to be tabbed fourth.
Head Coach: Jesse Eikum | 3rd Season |
Top Returners
- Braden Storts, Jr, OF | 2024 NCCAA All-Region | Career: .336 BA, .907 OPS, .986 FLD% |
- Christian Raya, Jr, P/UT | 2025 First Team All-Conference | 2025 NCCAA Second-team All-Region| 2025: .327 BA, .950 OPS, 3.78 ERA |
- Alex Klein, So, C | 2025: .288 BA, 12 RBI, 11 CS |
#5 Crown: 19 points
The Polars received 19 points for the fifth spot.
Head Coach: Colt Sedbrook | 3rd Season |
Top Returners
- Bryan Gerbers, Junior, Utility | 2025 First-team All-Conference | .359 BA, 8 HR, 55 RBI |
- Tyler Olson, Junior, OF/INF | 2025 UMAC Honorable Mention | .346 BA, 12 2B, 2 3B |
- Keegan Eastman, Junior, INF/OF | .264 AVG, .305 OBP, .333 SLG% |
#6 North Central: 9 points
The Rams earned nine points for the sixth spot.
Head Coach: Adam Hill | 2nd season |
Top Returners
- Dawson Barson, Sr, IF | UMAC Honorable Mention |.327 avg, .946 FLD %, 12 2Bs |
- Abiram Terron De Jesus, SO, IF | .323 avg, .455 SLG, 26 RBI |
- Cardiff Smith, Gr, RHP |7.77 ERA, 44 IPs, 3-0 Win – Loss Record |
#7 Martin Luther: 8 points
The Knights received eight points to round out the poll.
Head Coach: Randy Cox | 17th season|
Top Returners
- Parker Winghart, Junior, SS | Two-time First-team All-Conference | MLC single-season doubles record (19, 2024) | 2nd in MLC single-season runs (30, 2025) and single-season hits (51, 2024), Tied for team lead in RBI (23)
- Carlos Walta, Senior, OF| UMAC Honorable Mention| 1st in MLC single-season home runs (5), tied for team lead in RBI (23), 2nd on MLC in hits last season (39)
- Mark Vogel, Junior, C | UMAC Honorable Mention | Batting average in 2025 (.308), tied for team lead in putouts (166), Fielding percentage behind the plate (.965)