Reigning G-MAC Co-Coach of the Year Todd Lillpop and the Kentucky Wesleyan Baseball Team have been picked to finish third in the south division in the G-MAC Preseason Poll, as voted on by the G-MAC coaches.
Ahead of the Panthers in the south division are Tiffin and Trevecca, while Ashland and Northwood topped the north division standings.
It will be a mixture of returners and newcomers for the Panthers this year, as they return some major pieces off of last year’s 28-26 team. Seniors Jaret Humphrey and Sammy Rowan will continue to bring solid fielding and major power to the lineup, while Kyle Werries and Cade Gudalis return after strong first season’s with the Panthers last year. Juniors Seth Wright and Austin Baugh are Wesleyan’s lone returning starters from last year’s rotation, while Nate Cunningham, Isaac Rose, Trent Hlafka, and Brayden Bush will look to take over a lot of innings after getting some valuable time on the mound last season. After losing both starting catcher’s from 2022, Justin Lauersdorf, Bryce Zupan, and Austin Frey will all look to contribute behind the plate.
Wesleyan opens up their 2023 campaign on February 9th in Florida, when they travel down south to take on Nova Southeastern. After a trip to Tennessee at the end of February, the Panthers head back down to the sunshine state to take on Florida Southern and Saint Leo. Conference play opens up on March 18th when Wesleyan travel to Painesville, Ohio, to take on Lake Erie.
During the regular season, Wesleyan will play all six teams in the south division, and take on just three teams from the north division.
2023 GREAT MIDWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
North Division
1. Ashland – 56 points (6 first-place votes)
2. Northwood – 52 points (4 first-place votes)
3. Walsh – 45 points – (2 first-place votes)
4. Hillsdale – 29 points
5. Malone – 20 points
6. Lake Erie – 14 points
South Division
1. Trevecca Nazarene – 59 points (9 first-place votes)
2. Tiffin – 50 points (3 first-place votes)
3. Kentucky Wesleyan – 43 points
4. Ohio Dominican – 32 points
5. Findlay – 20 points
6. Cedarville – 12 points
