The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is going to divisional play in baseball for the first time in 2015, and Ashland University has been chosen to win the GLIAC's first-ever South Division title. The 2015 GLIAC Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll was revealed on Wednesday (Feb. 11) morning.
Ashland received seven of 12 first-place votes in the South.
In 2014, the Eagles were 24-21 overall and 14-14 in the GLIAC, good for the No. 6 seed in the GLIAC Tournament.
In 2015, Ashland will be keyed by senior shortstop Austin Walts (second-team Rawlings/ABCA All-Midwest Region, second-team All-GLIAC), senior designated hitter Kyle Brooks (first-team Daktronics All-Midwest Region), junior outfielder Mackenzie Hampshire (second-team All-GLIAC) and the return from injury of junior pitcher Jake Baldwin (2013 GLIAC Pitcher of the Year, first-team Daktronics All-American).
GLIAC baseball league play starts on March 21, and will conclude with the 2015 GLIAC Baseball Tournament on May 7-10 at the Athletes in Action Sports Complex in Xenia, Ohio.
Ashland will begin the 2015 season with three games in West Virginia against Ohio Valley and Charleston on Feb. 21-22.
North Division |
Rank |
Total Pts. |
1st-Place Votes |
Grand Valley State |
1 |
61 |
11 |
Wayne State |
2 |
51 |
1 |
Saginaw Valley |
3 |
41 |
0 |
Hillsdale |
4 |
24 |
0 |
Northwood |
5 |
22 |
0 |
Findlay |
6 |
17 |
0 |
South Division |
Rank |
Total Pts. |
1st-Place Votes |
Ashland |
1 |
55 |
7 |
Lake Erie |
2 |
49 |
3 |
Ohio Dominican |
3 |
44 |
2 |
Tiffin |
4 |
32 |
0 |
Walsh |
5 |
22 |
0 |
Malone |
6 |
9 |
0 |
AU
BB/DS