INDIANAPOLIS— A favorite by virtue of six first-place votes, Ashland goes into the spring on top of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll presented by Under Armour that was released Thursday.
 
With the addition of Thomas More,13 teams will be competing this season for the eight playoff spots and the postseason tournament at PRASCO Park.
 
The Eagles will look to replace 2023 Pitcher of the Year Brendan Beaver, but return the top Freshman from last season in Chris Franks. Franks, an outfielder from Wooster, Ohio, hit .359 with 23 runs scored during his collegiate debut. Franks totaled 11 doubles, four triples, and seven home runs. The Eagles led the league last year with a high .322 batting average. In addition to Franks, three all-conference second-team selections return for the preseason favorites.
 
In a slim one point deficit, Northwood University was voted the preseason runners-up and earned three first-place votes. The Timberwolves won their first G-MAC title during their conference debut last season. Blake Salamon is the top returner for first-year head coach Brad Baldwin. Salamon was voted a first-team all-conference selection after sporting a .314 batting average, including a league high 65 RBIs.
 
Northwood edged out Trevecca by two points. The Trojans return junior pitcher Jack Keele, a 2023 first-team all-conference honree. Keele pitched 78.1 innings and finished with a record of 7-3. He registered an ERA of 2.87 and had two shutouts on the year.
 
Ohio Dominican and Findlay round out the top five of the preseason poll. The Panthers advanced to the championship game last spring after entering the tournament as the No. 8 seed. Jack Mathey, 2023 Player of the Year, returns for Ohio Dominican after starting in all 53 games as a catcher. Mathey registered a .404 batting average and held the conference’s second-best slugging percentage of .723.
 
The Oilers received one first-place vote as they were polled fifth. All-conference selections Cam Farrar and Casey Maruniak led Findlay to a 32-22 record last season and a postseason run in the conference tournament.
 
Hillsdale and Walsh are tied for sixth with 98 points apiece, followed by Kentucky Wesleyan and Tiffin in a tie for seventh.
 
Malone, Thomas More, Cedarville, and Lake Erie round out the preseason coaches poll, respectively.
 
Teams will begin as early as February 2^nd, with conference play slated for March 15. The Great Midwest Baseball Tournament will take place May 8-11 in Mason, Ohio.

School	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