INDIANAPOLIS- From the perspective of the league’s managers, Ohio Dominican and Trevecca Nazarene were voted as preseason favorites in the Great Midwest heading into the 2023 season.
 
The Wednesday release revealed where the league’s coaches thought all 13 programs may fall into the final conference standings while hoping to qualify for the postseason tournament that will be held at Marathon Diamonds hosted by Findlay.
 
The separation at the top was slim as both Trevecca Nazarene and Ohio Dominican were voted as favorites with Findlay and Hillsdale voted in the No. 3 and No. 4 spot. All four programs received at least one first-place vote in the balloting with only three points separating the first and fourth place teams.
 
The close vote bodes well for the competitive spring standings as teams finalize their non-conference schedules include different Spring Break trips to different destinations around the country.
 
Coming off a 33-17 season, the Trojans reached the 2022 Great Midwest Championship game, where they fell short against Ohio Dominican. Trevecca picked up 124 points and five first-place votes.
 
The Trojans have had a successful run in the Great Midwest as they captured the first four regular season and postseason championship titles, with 2021 being the most recent year they won the regular season.
 
The sport was represented well in the spring of 2022 with four Trojans earning First-Team All-Conference recognition. Three of four of those selections return in Ashlan Sensing, Anna Bennett, and Sydney McCormnick. Sensing was selected as one of four pitchers on the first-team. She posted an ERA of 1.89 and recorded 18 wins, both of which ranked second in the league. Anna Bennett returns for the Trojans as an outfielder after registering the eighth highest batting average in the Great Midwest at .379. McCormick was named First-Team All-Conference at the first base percentage with a .993 fielding percentage last season.
 
There is just a one point discrepancy in first-place votes between Trevecca and Ohio Dominican. The Panthers were crowned 2022 tournament champions after defeating the pre-season favorites Trojan in a thrilling 2-1 victory in extra innings. Ohio Dominican joined Findlay in the NCAA Midwest Regional held in Indianapolis. The Panthers rode the postseason dominance of Pitcher of the Year Sydney Long before falling to Grand Valley followed by Findlay.
 
Ohio Dominican will miss Long this season but return Freshman of the Year in Kaleigh Golden. The Thornville, Ohio native played and started in all 54 contests, collecting 162 at bats and tied the team with 59 hits at a .364 batting average. Golden also earned D2CCA All-Midwest Region Second-Team honors.

Findlay strongly represented The Great Midwest at the NCAA Regionals last season as they advanced to the finals before falling to Grand Valley State.

Hillsdale was voted fourth and received one first-place vote. The Chargers had the best record heading into postseason play at 31-20 overall. 2022 Co-Coach of the Year Kyle Gross will look to repeat as regular season champions this spring. 

Newcomer Northwood rounds out the top five of the Preseason Coaches Poll as they look to make their mark during their debut in the Great Midwest. 

Second year Head Coach Paige McMenemy recorded a 22-win season as the Dragons were voted sixth, followed by Cedarville and Ashland. 

Walsh will look to replace Player of the Year in Jessie Rock as the Cavaliers come in at ninth with Ursuline not far behind at 10th. 

Kentucky Weseyan, Malone, and Lake Erie rounded out the preseason coaches poll, respectively.