INDIANAPOLIS – An expanded 12-team divisional standings format noticeably takes center stage for an exciting season of Great Midwest Athletic Conference baseball this spring.
 
Between the North Division and South Division, the final playoff race that will conclude at picturesque Prasco Park in Mason, Ohio, will be an exciting one to watch.
 
It doesn’t get any better than the way things ended in last year’s G-MAC Championship as Kentucky Wesleyan’s walk-off win sent the bench streaming on to the field for one of the most memorable celebrations.
 
But with emotion victory on one side of the field means there is heartbreaking disappointment in the other dugout.
 
That’s how close tourney runner-up Malone was to reversing roles as the Panthers and Pioneers left nothing on the field in a battle for the ages. KWC continued on to represent the league very well in the NCAA Championship Midwest Regional, earning two victories after an opening-round defeat.
 
Rightfully so, KWC (South) and MU (North) have respectively been billed as the preseason coaches poll favorites in each division, but the season is long, and other schools will be in hot pursuit with their talented rosters.
 
Malone will be looking to hold off five incoming first-year Great Midwest institutions with Findlay, Hillsdale, Lake Erie, Ohio Dominican and Walsh, all in the mix. The Pioneers locked down opponents with a conference single-season record team ERA in their first year with the G-MAC.
 
Walsh was the top team imported from the GLIAC a year ago, finishing fourth in the standings, while Hillsdale also made the conference tournament as the No. 6 seed.
 
G-MAC Championship tradition is laced in the South Division with Kentucky Wesleyan (2017), Trevecca (2013-15) and Alderson Broaddus (2016), all able to experience championship glory since 2013. Chad Porter (Ohio Valley) earned G-MAC Coach of the Year honors while Cedarville returns some key bats with Markus Neff and Colton Potter among the league’s best hitters.
 
The NCBWA also recognized seven diferent Great Midwest student-athletes on the Preseason All-Midwest Region Team.
 
Former standouts from the conference will be assigned new teams as their minor league careers progress. Matt Pobereyko (Kentucky Wesleyan) had 53 strikeouts in just over 34 innings pitched as he spent most of the year with the Columbia Fireflies in the South Atlantic League.
 
Ex-Alderson Broaddus spectacles-wearing ace Randy Dobnak started his professional journey in Elizabethton in the Appy League before earning a callup to the Midwest League with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. He dazzled in a short amount of time with 2.43 ERA in four starts while holding opposing hitters to a .207 average and posting a WHIP of under 1.00.
 
2013 3rd-round pick David Ledbetter is the closest to getting his name called to the bigs after ending the year in AAA Round Rock. He was promoted after 16 games in the Texas League; Ledbetter played for Cedarville and started his professional career back in 2013.
 
Former Lake Erie star Luke Raley was a 7th round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016 and shined in Rancho Cucamonga in the Cal League in 2017. He hit .295 with 14 home runs and 62 RBI. He also had 21 doubles and legged out 11 triples, catching the attention of prospect lists that rank the organizational ladder.
 
Another hurler, former Ohio Dominican righty Ryan Colegate, spent all of last season with the Lake County Captains, whose home stadium, Classic Park, will also be the home ballpark for Lake Erie this spring.


 

ALDERSON BROADDUS BATTLERS (PHILIPPI, WV)

2017 Record and Standings	First Game
21-22 Overall, 10-10 G-MAC (5th in G-MAC)	Saturday, Feb. 17 vs. Clarion
Team Preview
The Battlers finished fourth in the G-MAC in the 2017 season with a 21-22 overall record…Chuck Hooker returns for his senior season after finishing second on the team with a .379 batting avg. in 2017…Hooker had a .413 OBP & finished with 20 runs scored, 13 doubles, & 35 RBI’s … Tyler Amedure returns after hitting .320 last season…He drove in 26 runs & had 10 doubles…Two-sport athlete Todd Sekowski will compete in both indoor track & field as well as baseball in 2018...Sekowski hit .293 a season ago with seven doubles, 18 RBI’s, & eight stolen bases…On the mound, the Battlers return junior Zach Salmon who finished 2017 with a 4-3 record and a 3.22 ERA…He made 10 starts with three complete-games …Also returning on the mound includes Mitchell Griffiths, Shane Mallon and Justin Smith.
Players to Watch
#3 Tyler Amedure (INF/RHP, 5-5, 145, Jr., Oakdale, PA / West Allegheny) #5 Todd Sekowski (OF, 6-2, 190, Jr., Pittsburgh, PA / West Mifflin) #7 Chuck Hooker (OF, 6-1, 190, Sr., Warrington, PA / Upper Moreland) #18 Zach Salmon (RHP, 6-1, 205, Jr., Pittsburgh, PA / West Mifflin)

 

CEDARVILLE YELLOW JACKETS (CEDARVILLE, OH)

2017 Record and Standings	First Game
17-30 Overall, 8-14 G-MAC (6th in G-MAC)	Friday, Feb. 9 vs. Erskine
Team Preview
Cedarville is optimistic about producing it’s first winning season on the diamond in four years which was preceded by a string of six consecutive campaigns over the .500 mark…Mike Manes, the winningest coach in Yellow Jacket baseball history, returns for his 11th season with 270 victories under his belt…All-G-MAC Second Team outfielder Colton Potter is the team’s top veteran. The senior from Jersey Shore, Pa., topped the club with a .381 batting average in 2017 and was the leader in five other offensive categories…Also back is senior first baseman Markus Neff, who was All-G-MAC Second Team in his first season at CU last spring. The Oakwood, Ohio product hit .316 while leading the team in doubles (17), homers (6), and runs batted in (40)…Leading the pitching staff will be senior righthander Josh Kneeland. The Newfane, N.Y. native was 3-7 with a 3.44 ERA last year with 66 strikeouts…He deserved a better fate by taking the loss in three decisions in which he allowed two or fewer runs.
Players to Watch
#34 Markus Neff (1B, 6-4, 235, Sr., Oakwood, OH / Oakwood HS) #23 Josh Kneeland (RHP, 6-4, 225, Sr., Newfane, NY / Newfane HS) #30 Colton Potter (OF, 6-0, 205, Sr., Jersey Shore, PA / Jersey Shore Area HS)

 

DAVIS & ELKINS SENATORS (ELKINS, WV)

2017 Record and Standings	First Game
11-34 Overall, 5-17 G-MAC (7th in G-MAC)	Sunday, Feb. 10 vs. King
Team Preview
Mason Heyne begins his third season at the helm of the Davis & Elkins Senators in 2018…The Senators are coming off of an 11-34 season, which included a 5-17 mark in Great Midwest play…The Senators will return some of their lineup from 2017, but also feature a lot of fresh faces, which has the program looking up to start the season…Austin Main and Brent McMillion were both bright spots for the Senators on the mound in 2017 and return this year to lead a pitching staff that features several new arms…Robbie McKinney, Bragg Eastin, Johnny Liu, Hunter Thomas, Frank Masella and Derek Sicca, all return and are expected to contribute heavily in 2018…Sicca earned Second-Team All-Conference honors in 2017 and Liu was named to the All-Freshman team…The Senators will have several newcomers to watch, including Maxx Mahon and Connor Fitzgerald…Mahon had an impressive fall and was selected for the College Select Classic Home Run Derby in December that was held at Marlins Park in Miami…The Senators also have eyes on freshmen Chase DeGrood (INF, Fr., Bristow, VA), Nick Sanderson (P/OF, Fr., Ashland, OR) and James Turnbull (INF, Fr., Phoenix, OR) contributing heavily this spring…The Senators will open conference play at Findlay on March 17.
Players to Watch
#3 Austin Main (P, 5-10, 155, Sr., Frederick, MD / Middletown HS) #31 Robbie McKinney (OF, 6-0, 185, Jr., Ashville, OH / Teays Valley HS) #1 Johnny Liu (OF, 5-8, 165, So., Mississauga, Canada / Applewood Heights) #11 Bragg Eastin (UTIL, 6-0, 205, Jr., Westland, MI / Michigan Lutheran Seminary) #25 Derek Sicca (P/IF, 5-11, 245, Sr., Jessup, MD / Hammond / CCBC Catonsville / CCBC Dundalk)

 

FINDLAY OILERS (FINDLAY, OH)

2017 Record and Standings	First Game
18-27 Overall, 8-24 GLIAC (10th in GLIAC)	Saturday, Feb. 24 vs. Wheeling Jesuit
Team Preview
Coach Steve Parrill is now in his fifth season at the helm of the Oilers baseball program...Last year, the Oilers used a nine-game win streak to start the season, jumping out to a 10-2 record through 12 games...For their hot start the Oilers found themselves ranked no. 30 in the country and no. 2 in the region by D2baseballnews.com...Findlay had a record of 17-7 entering their series with Hillsdale on Apr. 8...The Oilers were swept and from that point on, won just one game the reminder of the season, losing 22 of their final 23 games including 17 in a row...Findlay will rely on experience on the mound and in the field as they lost just one starter on the hill and just three hitters with at least 35 games played.
Players to Watch
#1 Colin Gossard (P, Sr., 6-4, 185, Lima, OH / Lima Bath) #2 Derrick Herd (SS, Jr., 6-2, 175, Pickerington, OH / Pickerington North) #7 Troy Merriman (3B, Sr., 5-10, 205, Grandville, MI / Grandville) #16 Casey Gould (INF, So., 5-11, 163, Marysville, OH / Marysville) #55 Mark Delas (P, Jr., 6-3, 230, Perrysburg, OH / Perrysburg)

 

HILLSDALE CHARGERS (HILLSDALE, MI)

2017 Record and Standings	First Game
25-26 Overall, 17-15 GLIAC (6th in GLIAC)	Saturday, Feb. 17 vs. Saginaw Valley State
Team Preview
Excitement is high for the Hillsdale College baseball program as it begins a new era of competition in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference in the 2018 season…The team lost just one starting player – pitchers included – to graduation following the 2017 season and with a lineup that produced 50 home runs, the Chargers figure to be a high-scoring unit in 2018…Returners Steven Ring and Colin Boerst combined for 27 home runs, with Ring’s 17 setting a school single-season record…Ring also drove in a school-record 63 runs last year and was named First-Team All-Region and honorable mention All-American last year…Boerst is the classic five-tool player who is terrific defensively in both the infield and outfield…Will Kruse leads a pitching staff that returns 100 percent of its started innings from last year…Kruse set the single-season school record in strikeouts with 82 and his nine wins were tied for the most in a season in school history…Both the batting order and pitching staff will get reinforcements from the team’s freshman class…David Toth stands 6-foot-5 and has the stuff to join the pitching rotation right away in 2018…Rob Zurawski and Jacob DePillo have both flexed some power at the plate in the team’s fall season, and James Krick could add to the team’s deep and dangerous lineup this season…The pitching staff will welcome back two players who missed last season due to injury, Chris Dunn and Chris Stewart.
Players to Watch
#23 Steven Ring (C/OF, 5-11, 205, Jr., Northville, MI / Brother Rice HS) #9 Colin Boerst (IF, 6-2, 191, Jr., Toledo, OH / Southview HS) #30 Will Kruse (P, 6-4, 225, Sr., Grosse Pointe, MI / Lutheran North HS) #21 Ryan O’Hearn (CF, 5-11, 185, Sr., Holland, OH / Toledo Central Catholic HS)

 

KENTUCKY WESLEYAN PANTHERS (OWENSBORO, KY)

2017 Record and Standings	First Game
29-24 Overall, 12-8 G-MAC (3rd in G-MAC)	Saturday, Feb. 10 vs. Alabama-Huntsville
Team Preview
The Panthers won the G-MAC Championship Tournament last spring in dramatic fashion over Malone University...With the victory, Wesleyan gained entranced into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1988...The historic run eventually ended in the Regional semi-final with a 4-3 loss to Wayne State...Cody Bridges highlights the 2018 Panthers as he finished 2017 with a team best, .335 batting average with seven doubles, six triples, and 34 RBIs...Andrew Kirkland will help solidify the Wesleyan lineup as he finished his junior campaign with a .333 average with 12 doubles, two triples, and seven home runs...He also drove in 37 on the year...Alex Franzen made 22 appearances in 2017, including two starts...The right-hander produced a team best 1.88 ERA while completing 38.1 innings...Franzen led the team with nine saves on the year...Ryan Hundley helps anchor the starting rotation as he finished 6-3 last season in 16 appearances. Hundley completed 85.1 innings with 72 strikeouts, against 33 walks.
Players to Watch
#48 Andrew Kirkland (3B, 5-10, 209, Sr., Louisville, KY / John Hardin HS) #35 Cody Bridges (OF, 6-0, 150, Jr., Elizabethtown, KY / Elizabethton HS) #29 Alex Franzen (RHP, 6-0, 190, So., Alexandria, KY / Campbell County HS) #21 Ryan Hundley (RHP, 6-0, 163, Jr., Owensboro, KY / Apollo HS)

 

LAKE ERIE STORM (PAINESVILLE, OH)

2017 Record and Standings	First Game
11-38 Overall, 4-28 GLIAC (11th in GLIAC)	Saturday, Feb. 17 vs. Lincoln Memorial
Team Preview
The Lake Erie College baseball program will be under the direction of second year head coach Cameron Castro...The Storm will return eight of nine starters from last season...Lake Erie is coming off a tough season as it lost numerous close games...Coach Castro said, “We are excited about the depth as we return a majority of our team and starting lineup; we need to learn how to win the close games and continue to grow our confidence level.”...Lake Erie had two members selected to the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention team in Wes Birchmeier and Samuel Browning...Birchmeier led the Storm with a .352 batting average, and set a school record for doubles in a season with 19...Birchmeier’s 62 hits also ranks third all time in program history...Browning batted .324, and he led the Storm in runs scored with 36...Browning had three triples, and six home runs, as he had a season total of 57 hits...Coach Castro concluded, “We need our young players to show growth and maturity from the extensive playing time they saw last season; our goal is to make the Great Midwest Athletic Conference playoffs.”
Players to Watch
Wes Birchmeier (UTIL, Sr., Miamisburg, OH / Miamisburg HS) Samuel Browning (IF, So., Cincinnati, OH / Archbishop McNicholas HS) Nigel Williams (3B/C, Jr., (Cincinnati, OH / La Salle HS) Michael Stryffeler (RHP, Sr., Sagamore Hills, OH / Padua Franciscan HS) David Lemasters (RHP, Sr., Cortland, OH / Lakeview HS) Mitch Sorensen (RHP, So., Avon Lake, OH / Avon Lake HS)

 

MALONE PIONEERS (CANTON, OH)

2017 Record and Standings	First Game
35-18 Overall, 14-8 G-MAC (2nd in G-MAC)	Friday, Feb. 23 vs. Illinois Springfield
Team Preview
In 2017, the Malone University baseball team had its best season since joining the NCAA, posting a 35-18 overall record and finishing runner-up in both the regular season and the G-MAC Tournament...The Pioneers led the Midwest Region in team batting average (.328) and were second in team ERA (3.32), but fell just two wins short of reaching the National Tournament...Graduation claimed G-MAC Player of the Year Keanan Locke, All-Conference outfielder Brenden Wells, and All-Region closer Gunnar Smeyres, but the entire starting pitching rotation remains intact...G-MAC Pitcher of the Year Roscoe Blackburn (4-2, 1.42 ERA) and All-Region selection Joshua Hurford (7-0, 1.48 ERA) return to lead the staff after both finishing in the top-10 in the nation in ERA last season...Junior lefty Braun Miller (4-3, 3.27 ERA) and sophomore righty Eric Mullet (5-2, 3.42 ERA) are both primed for big seasons after strong finishes in 2017...Freshman Alex Widmer, an MLB Draft pick last summer, adds depth to an already dominant rotation…The Pioneer lineup doesn’t boast much power, but it features a ton of speed...G-MAC Freshman of the Year Nate Cobb (.352 avg, .441 OBP) led the G-MAC in runs (52) and stolen bases (25) last season while playing gold-glove caliber defense in centerfield...All-Conference second baseman Zach Mottice (.372 avg, .437 OBP, 14 SB) is also looking for a breakout sophomore season...All-Region catcher and 2017 G-MAC batting champ Matt Noel (.415, 35 RBI, .500 OBP) will anchor the middle of the lineup and should contend for another batting crown.
Players to Watch
#19 Roscoe Blackburn (LHP, 6-3, 195, RS Sr., Worthington, OH / Thomas Worthington / Marshall Univ.) #34 Joshua Hurford (RHP, 5-9, 165, Sr., Sebring, OH / Sebring McKinley HS) #8 Braun Miller (LHP, 6-4, 195, Jr., Sandusky, OH / Sandusky Perkins HS) #38 Matt Noel (C, 6-0, 205, Jr., Tallmadge, OH / Tallmadge HS) #23 Nate Cobb (CF, 5-9, 180, So., Massillon, OH / Jackson HS)

 

OHIO DOMINICAN PANTHERS (COLUMBUS, OH)

2017 Record and Standings	First Game
25-24 Overall, 16-16 GLIAC (7th in GLIAC)	Saturday, Feb. 10 vs. Georgia Southwestern
Team Preview
After finishing with a 25-24 record in 2017, Ohio Dominican’s baseball team returns plenty of experience players to build off of last season…Consensus All-American and Midwest Region Player of the Year Justin Childers is back after a campaign in which he led Division II with a .451 batting average and .846 slugging percentage, while ranking fifth with a .526 on-base percentage...The senior first baseman tallied 14 homers, 17 doubles, five triples, 60 RBIs and 18 steals and was the GLIAC and was a finalist for the Tino Martinez Award as the best player in Division II…Junior catcher Colin Kaucher batted .362 with 42 RBIs, junior outfielder Noah Bland hit .320 with 15 steals and three homers, and junior outfielder Genesis Hillard batted .279 and drove in 35...The pitching staff returns plenty of experience as well, paced by junior Brad Wilson (6-3, 3.86 ERA) and senior Matt Kittelberger (5-1, 4.88 ERA)...Other returners to the staff include juniors Garret Sendelbach and Mitchell Bault, while senior Joe Filosa is back after missing most of last season due to injury.
Players to Watch
#37 Justin Childers (1B, 6-2, 205, Sr., Pickerington, OH / Pickerington North HS) #25 Colin Kaucher (C, 6-0, 205, Jr., Toledo, OH / Toledo Central Catholic HS) #38 Brad Wilson (RHP, 6-1, 260, Jr., Alexandria, OH / Johnstown Northridge HS)

 

OHIO VALLEY FIGHTING SCOTS (VIENNA, WV)

2017 Record and Standings	First Game
28-23 Overall, 11-11 G-MAC (4th in G-MAC)	Friday, Feb. 2 vs. Montevallo
Team Preview
Chad Porter is back at the helm of the Fighting Scots for his third year since coming back to Vienna after his first stint in 2004-2008…Porter earned G-MAC Coach of the Year honors last season as he led the team to the most wins it had since the 37-win season of 2006 and had three Scots earn All-Conference distinction…Senior utility-pitcher Charles Emery started all 48 games last season and was tied for the team lead with a 5.90 earned run average with .358 batting average, 23 RBIs, and 40 runs scored…Emery earned a spot on the All-Conference First Team…Sophomore catcher Mitchell Lohr and sophomore pitcher Nicholas Shower also made the G-MAC’s All-Freshman Team…Lohr started 44 games and threw out half (22-44) of potential base stealers, batted .224, led all of Division II with 25 HBPs, and tied for the team lead with two home runs…Shower started 12 games on the mound, registered a 4.75 ERA, struck out 37 batters, and was named both G-MAC Pitcher of the Week and ECAC Rookie of the Week on May 1.
Players to Watch
#13 Charles Emery (SS/RHP, Sr., 6-0, 175, Rockledge, FL / Rockledge HS) #20 Mitchell Lohr (C, So., 6-0, 185, Pataskala, OH / Newark Catholic HS) #6 Nicholas Shower (RHP, So., 5-11, 165, Auburndale, FL / Auburndale Senior HS)

 

TREVECCA TROJANS (NASHVILLE, TN)

2017 Record and Standings	First Game
22-23 Overall, 12-4 G-MAC (1st in G-MAC)	Friday, Feb. 9 vs. Montevallo
Team Preview
The Trojans finished the 2016-17 season in familiar territory, entering the postseason as the top seed after putting together a 20-21 (12-4 G-MAC) regular season record...After defeating rivals Cedarville and Alderson Broaddus, the Trojans were eliminated from postseason play when they lost 7-3, to eventual the G-MAC Champion Kentucky Wesleyan and then to Malone University, 1-0...Leadoff man Ethan Harrison tied for the league lead in home runs last season and was first-team all conference along with ABCA/Rawlings Midwest Region honors...Southpaw starter Jesse Peters absolutely deals as the team's ace, leading the league in K/9 ratio and tying for the league lead in wins; he was also ABCA/Rawlings Midwest Region material...The Trojans four seniors: Tyler Burns, Carter Wiseman, Ethan Hurt and Ryan Shultz are among the 13 players with Trevecca experience and are joined by 16 incoming players to fill out the 29-man roster...Shultz was tagged as a preseason NCBWA All-Midwest Region honoree...New to the Trojans this season is Chase Sain who will act as hitting coach to complete the coaching staff of Ryan Schmalz...Sain served as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Tennessee last season where he functioned as a catching coach.
Players to Watch
#6 Ethan Harrison (OF, 5-11, 180, Jr., Erlanger, KY / Dixie Heights HS) #18 Jesse Peters (LHP, 6-4, 210, Jr., Loveland, OH / Goshen HS) #26 Ryan Shultz (LHP, 6-0, 195, Sr., Murfreesboro, TN / Seigel HS) #14 Ethan Hurt (OF, 6-2, 200, Sr., Pegram, TN / Harpeth HS) #13 Carter Wiseman (OF, 6-0, 200, Sr., Hendersonville, TN / Goodpasture HS)

 

WALSH CAVALIERS (NORTH CANTON, OH)

2017 Record and Standings	First Game
32-18 Overall, 19-11 GLIAC (4th in GLIAC)	Saturday, Feb. 24 vs. Cal (PA)
Team Preview
There will be a lot of new scenery for the Walsh baseball team this season as many new faces will appear on the lineup in its first season in the G-MAC. After a season in which they led the GLIAC in home runs and ranked in the top five in almost all other offensive categories, the Cavs will have to replace a lot, but have some players coming back that look to make this more of a reloading year as opposed to a rebuilding one...On the offensive end, Eric Conner and Marcus Bobb look to keep intact the offensive power the Maroon and Gold have brought to the plate last season. Conner was second on the team last season with 67 hits, 49 runs scored, and 11 home runs...He led the team with 15 doubles and had splits of .353/.416/.605. Bobb wasn’t too far behind and was third on the team with 47 runs scored and fourth with 59 hits...The speedy second baseman was also second in the GLIAC with 22 stolen bases...On the mound, Hyatt Shenefield and Aidan Mlachak look to be a solid 1-2 punch in the rotation...Shenefield had an impressive rookie campaign where he started 10 games and went 5-1 with a 3.99 ERA...He was second on the team with 49.2 innings pitched. Mlachak seven games and picked up a couple wins for the Cavaliers.
Players to Watch
#20 Eric Conner (OF, 6-1, 210, Jr., Cincinnati, OH / Moeller HS) #10 Marcus Bobb (IF, 5-8, 160, Sr., Lake Wales, FL / Lakeland CC) #4 Hyatt Shenefield (RHP, 5-10, 160, So., Powell, OH / Worthington Kilbourne HS) #34 Aidan Mlachak (RHP, 6-1, 180, Jr., Chardon, OH / NDCL)