2010 NSIC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
Wayne State College was picked to finish second in the 2010 Northern Sun Conference Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll released this afternoon by the league office in St. Paul, Minnesota. It's the first time since the 2003 season that WSC has not been picked as the preseason favorite in NSIC baseball. The Wildcats captured a sixth straight NSIC regular season title last season, going 27-4 in league play to set a new record for league wins in a season. WSC went on to finish 45-15 overall, reaching the NCAA Central Regional championship game.
Minnesota State, the 2009 NSIC Tournament champion, was picked as the preseason favorite after receiving seven first place votes and 151 points. WSC was right behind in second with five first place votes and 149 points followed by Southwest Minnesota State in third with 120 points and Winona State fourth at 118 points. St. Cloud State was fifth with 114 points and the remaining first place vote.
Rounding out the 2010 NSIC Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll are Augustana in sixth with 106 points followed by Upper Iowa (92), Concordia-St. Paul (82), Minnesota Duluth (76) and University of Mary (53) in the top 10. Bemidji State (51), Minnesota, Crookston (30) and Northern State (29) round out the coaches poll.
Wayne State senior outfielder Joe Wendte was named the 2010 NSIC Preseason Player of the Year. The Sioux City Heelan graduate was named to the 2009 Rawlings/ABCA All-American First Team as well as being named the 2009 NSIC Player of the Year after hitting .396 with 14 homers and 67 RBI's last season. He set a new school record with 83 runs scored, which ranked fifth in NCAA Division II, and had 51 walks that ranked eighth in NCAA Division II last season.
Another player to watch for Wayne State this season is senior pitcher John Snyder. The Millard West graduate was 8-1 last season with a 4.11 ERA. In 12 starts last season, Snyder had two complete games and combined with Reid Lancaster on a no-hitter May 3 when the Wildcats blanked Minnesota, Crookston 16-0.
Wayne State, ranked 14th in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper NCAA Division II Preseason Coaches Poll and 19th in the Ping!Baseball.com preseason rankings, is scheduled to open the 2010 season on Febraury 13th when the Wildcats face Nebraska-Kearney and Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado.
2010 NSIC Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll
1. Minnesota State (7) 151 points
2. Wayne State (5) 149 points
3. SW Minnesota State 120 points
4. Winona State 118 points
5. St. Cloud State (1) 114 points
6. Augustana 106 points
7. Upper Iowa 92 points
8. Concordia-St. Paul 82 points
9. Minnesota Duluth` 76 points
10. Univ. of Mary 53 points
11. Bemidji State 51 points
12. Minnesota, Crookston 30 points
13. Northern State 29 points
