INDIANAPOLIS- The Great Midwest Athletic Conference has released the 2026 Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll, outlining the predicted order of finish as voted on by the league's head coaches.
 
The upcoming 2026 spring season promises another competitive campaign, culminating with the conference tournament at PRASCO Park in Mason, Ohio. Eight playoff qualifiers will make the postseason while competing for an automatic bid to the NCAA Regional.
 
This season, the conference is split into two divisions, a North Division, and a South Division, with each containing six teams.
 
Defending conference champion Northwood is the preseason favorite in the North Division, earning seven first-place votes and 63 total points. The Timberwolves are coming off a historic 2025 season that included a G-MAC title, regional title, and the program's first-ever appearance at the NCAA Division II World Series. Despite the departure of Great Midwest Co-player of the Year Myles Beal, Northwood returns a strong core. Right-handed starter Tyler Sager anchors the pitching staff after throwing 94.2 innings with a 3.61 ERA last season. Offensively , senior Caden Duryea leads the lineup after starting all 62 games and batting .316 in 2025. Northwood enters the season preseason ranked No. 7 nationally in Division II.
 
Ashland was picked second in the North, collecting five first-place votes. Head coach John Schaly will look to replace several All-Conference performers after the Eagles finished 37-19 last season.
 
Hillsdale was voted third in the poll, returning two all-conference selections in Billy Porotsky and Rocco Tenuta. Tenuta returns after starting in all 54 games during his sophomore season. He posted a batting average of 0.286. Porotsky finished a standout freshman season as a middle infielder. He hit .302, including 14 RBIs and scoring 18 runs.

Findlay landed fourth in the poll with 39 points, but the Oilers return 83.4% of their overall production and could be poised for a breakout season in conference play.
 
Tiffin  and Lake Erie round out the remainder of the teams in the North Division, respectively.
 
In the South Division, Walsh was selected as the preseason favorite, also earning seven first-place votes and 63 points. The Cavaliers return key contributor Brodey Acres, who started all 46 games he played in last season and hit .320. Head coach Tim Mead brings back an experienced roster looking to contend for the division title.
 
Kentucky Wesleyan was voted preseason runner-up in the South Division. The Panthers received five first-place votes despite a 22-28 finish last season. The Panthers return Evan Oakley, the reigning 2025 Great Midwest Pitcher of the Year, providing a strong foundation on the mound. The senior racked up 95 strikeouts in 80.1 innings of work on the mound.
 
Ohio Dominican was picked third with 48 points, followed by Cedarville, Malone, and Thomas More rounding out the South Division standings.
 
Conference play is scheduled to begin on March 13, setting the stage for another highly competitive Great Midwest baseball season.