Despite the loss of their top pitcher and leading hitter, Webster University finds themselves atop the SLIAC Preseason Poll once again, this time as the 2022 favorites. They are followed by Spalding University, Fontbonne University, and Westminster College as the top four teams according to the coaches.
#1
Webster University is the overwhelming preseason favorite with 49 total points and 7 of the coaches' first-place votes. The Gorloks went 37-8 overall last season and return many of the hitters that led the team to its 3rd consecutive tournament title. Two faces that will be missing are All-Americans Matt Mulhearn and Kyler Kent. Jordan Smevoll, last year's tournament MVP, will move up one spot in the pitching rotation after going 9-1 with a 2.08 earned-run average as a freshman. Ben Swords is a prior All-American and hit .344 with 2 home runs and a team-best 35 runs batted in last season and will be chasing several program career records. The lineup also boasts All-Region outfielder AJ Smith (.313 average and a team-high 6 home runs), SLIAC Newcomer of the Year RJ LaRocco (.331 average and 33 RBI), and two-time All-Conference infielder Matt Staker. Freshman pitcher Carter Hunt could get some innings on the mound while transfers Parker Wielt and Malik Wirges could see their bats work their way into the lineup.
#2
Spalding University received the only other first-place vote from the coaches and finished with 43 total points in the poll. The Golden Eagles were 29-15 overall last season and return 24 players and 8 starters. Head Coach Matt Downs will need to replace Player of the Year Eric Meyer and All-Conference players Jack Parisi and Zane Baker. However, he has an experienced group that will be capable of rising to the challenge. Senior Pitcher Peyton Hood is a Preseason All-American and was 7-2 overall with a 1.27 earned-run average and 64 strikeouts while earning Second Team All-Conference honors last spring. The return of fellow pitcher Caleb Collins (7-2 and 2.21 E.R.A.) gives the team two All-Conference pitchers in their rotation and will be joined by Garrett Matthews who made four starts as a freshman, recording 23 strikeouts in just 21 innings. Michael Speck was a First Team All-Conference pick last year after hitting .317 with 4 home runs and 28 RBI. Infielder Michael Newsom hit .304 as a true freshman last spring and should continue to figure into the success of the team. The Golden Eagles picked up a familiar face in transfer Nick Salas, an All-Conference first baseman at Iowa Wesleyan University last season when he hit .264 and tied for the league lead with 9 home runs.
#3
Chosen 3rd in the poll, Fontbonne University received 34 total points. The Griffins were 24-18 overall last season and return its entire lineup including two starting pitchers. The lineup will once again feature All-Conference outfielder Daniel Youngblood, one of the league's top hitters. Youngblood just missed the SLIAC Triple Crown; leading the league in both home runs (9) and runs batted in (51) while finishing second in batting average (.371). He will be surrounded by a trio of other All-Conference hitters in fellow outfielders Braeden Dobbs and Tommy Purschke and infielder Colby Shivers. Dobbs hit .342 with 5 home runs and 36 RBI while Purschke hit .355 with 27 RBI and 29 runs scored. Shivers finished with a .280 average as a freshman, stealing 6 bases. Nick Glaser (4-4 and 3.12 E.R.A.) returns to head up the starting rotation while newcomer Nolan Gutjar should add innings as well. Gavin Kinworthy and Matt Helm are other new faces for head coach Ryan Good.
#4
At #4 in the poll is Westminster College. The Blue Jays received 33 total points and were 19-21 under head coach Zach Bishop last season. They bring back their entire starting lineup and a large portion of their pitching staff. The All-Conference trio of Payton Whitehead, Derek Shikles, and Steven Diaz will form the core of the team. Whitehead hit .299 with 4 home runs and 26 RBI last spring while Shikles hit .298 with 4 home runs and 27 RBI. Diaz finished with a .267 average and led the team with 5 home runs and 9 stolen bases. Pitchers Bode Gebbink (2-0 and a 2.08 E.R.A.) and Trent Morrow (3-2 in five starts) will be the team's top pitchers. Adding to the roster depth are freshman Kaleb Hinkle-Pruett and sophomore transfers Corbin Harrison and Matt Lukins.
#5
With 26 total points, Greenville University was selected 5th in the poll. The Panthers are coached by Lynn Carlson and return nearly everyone from last year's squad. They were just 10-30 last season but featured a young roster and return 25 players that gained experience last spring. Landon Mokris earned All-Conference honors last season after hitting .348 with 4 home runs and 34 RBI. Also back are shortstop Drew Frey (.304 average and 15 stolen bases) and catcher Mark Islas (.257 average and 16 RBI). Pitcher Lucas Teel (2-4 and a 4.77 E.R.A.) will take the ball on the mound and fellow pitcher and freshman Boomer Harris will be expected to be a consistent arm as well. Another newcomer that could play an important role is third baseman Alex Head.
#6
Blackburn College was picked 6th in the poll with 19 points. The Beavers are coached by Mike Neal and return six starters from a team that was 8-24 overall. Coach Neal has a large group, 31 players, that should provide plenty of lineup combinations and team depth. Offensively the Beavers will be led by Tyler Jackson, a Second Team All-Conference selection last year. Jackson hit .345 with four doubles in 25 games last spring. Jaidon Erivez (.273 average) and Adam Holm (.319 average and 14 RBI) will look to help lighten the load offensively. Pitcher Kolton Beckett is a left-handed pitcher that went 3-1 with 4 saves while Avery Dugan will look to eat up some innings as well. RJ Arredondo and Jason Hedges are two newcomers to the program that could make an impact this spring.
#7
With 13 total points, Eureka College placed 7th in the poll. The Red Devils were 6-28 last season and return 12 players from last year's team. The Red Devils were young last season, starting six freshmen, and head coach Jerry Rashid is hoping to see that experience translate this spring. The lineup will be built around All-Conference utility player Jimmy Peterson. Peterson, a senior, hit .301 with 2 home runs and 23 RBI last spring. Dylan Hill (.311 average), Karter Hostetler (.301 average), and Austin Davis (.279 average) will help fill out the lineup. Ryan Bredeson returns after a strong freshman campaign that saw him throw a team-high 54 innings and finish with 39 strikeouts. Newcomers Braden Cox and Layne Marlow join the program while Nathan Garard and Mason Diedrich return to the team after sitting out last spring to play football during the COVID season.
#8
Principia College finished with 7 points in the poll, placing them #8. The Panthers missed last season and head coach Chris Marston brings back just three players from the previous year's team. Among those returners are Jack Adler and Chris Strong. Adler hit .279 as a freshman back in 2019 with 5 home runs and 20 RBI. Strong Top newcomers brought in by Coach Marston are sophomores Tim Eissler and Ryan D'Amico and freshman pitcher Casey Golbiw.
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