Great Midwest Athletic Conference head baseball coaches see is very tight race for the 2024 championship – and they see Ashland University's baseball team coming out on top of that race.
The 2024 Great Midwest Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll was released on Thursday (Jan. 25) afternoon, and the Eagles garnered 145 voting points and six first-place votes – narrowly edging out Northwood (144 voting points, three first-place votes) and Trevecca Nazarene (142 voting points, three first-place votes) for the top spot.
Last spring, Ashland finished at 33-21 overall and 22-10 in the Great Midwest, earning spots in both the conference and NCAA Division II Midwest split regional tournaments.
Head coach
John Schaly is in his 27
th season leading the Eagles. They return five All-Great Midwest players from 2023 – sophomore right fielder
Chris Franks, the reigning conference Freshman of the Year and second-team choice (.359 batting average, 11 doubles, four triples, seven home runs and 40 RBIs), junior shortstop
Jeremiah Cangelosi (second team, .330, four doubles, five home runs, 28 RBIs and seven stolen bases), sophomore catcher/third baseman
Collin Overholt (second team, .322, 12 doubles, six home runs, 29 RBIs and 17 stolen bases), junior center fielder
Cam Miller (second team, .343, 15 doubles, 27 RBIs and 15 stolen bases), and junior pitcher/third baseman
Cam Scott (third team, .319, 23 RBIs, seven stolen bases, 6-5 record, 4.05 earned-run average).
Ashland begins the new season with three games at Concord on Feb. 23-25.
2024 GREAT MIDWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE BASEBALL COACHES PRESEASON POLL
| RANK/TEAM (FIRST-PLACE VOTES) |
VOTING POINTS |
| 1. ASHLAND (6) |
145 |
| 2. Northwood (3) |
144 |
| 3. Trevecca Nazarene (3) |
142 |
| 4. Ohio Dominican |
112 |
| 5. Findlay (1) |
104 |
| T6. Hillsdale |
98 |
| T6. Walsh |
98 |
| T7. Kentucky Wesleyan |
85 |
| T7. Tiffin |
85 |
| 10. Malone |
48 |
| 11. Thomas More |
42 |
| T13. Cedarville |
40 |
| T13. Lake Erie |
40 |
