CLEVELAND, Ohio – Kent State was selected to take home the 2019 MAC Baseball Title, the Mid-American Conference announced Wednesday. The Golden Flashes received a total of eight first place votes among the league’s 10 head coaches.
The Golden Flashes tallied 40 wins in 2018 and won the regular season title after a 19-8 campaign. The team went on to win the MAC Tournament title, making an appearance in the NCAA Regional in Lubbock, Texas. Four Flashes were selected in the 2018 Draft, while two from last year’s squad signed as free agents. The Flashes have retooled with a recruiting class ranked 25th nationally by Collegiate Baseball.
Ball State was picked to finish second after going 32-26 (17-10 MAC) last season. Ball State, with a deep and talented pitching staff led by all-conference pitchers John Baker and Drey Jameson, returns five position players who started 50 games last year. The top four innings eaters from last year (Baker, Jameson, Kyle Nicolas, Nick Floyd) also return.
The Miami RedHawks were tabbed to finish third and recieved one first place vote. Miami returns five position starters and 18 letterwinners from a team that went 35-20 overall and tied for second in the MAC at 17-10 in 2018. The RedHawks advanced to the championship game in the 2018 MAC Tournament.
The Central Michigan Chipewas were selected to finish fourth after finishing 16-11 in conference play last season. The Toledo Rockets followed in fifth, while Ohio was selected to finish in sixth. Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Northern Illinois & Bowling Green rounded out this year’s poll.
The MAC baseball season begins on Friday, February 15, while conference play starts up Friday, March 22nd. The season will culminate with the MAC Baseball Tournament, which takes place May 22-26 at Sprenger Stadium in Avon, Ohio.
2019 MAC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Kent State – 98 points (8 first place votes)
2. Ball State – 88
3. Miami – 78 (1)
4. Central Michigan – 53
5. Toledo – 51
6. Ohio – 49
7. Eastern Michigan – 45
8. Western Michigan – 42
9. Northern Illinois – 29 (1)
10. Bowling Green — 17
1.6K
previous post