BASEBALL: Bemidji State picked to finish 14th in NSIC preseason poll
Jan. 20—BURNSVILLE — The Bemidji State baseball team was picked to finish 14th of 15 teams in the NSIC in the conference's preseason coaches poll released on Thursday.
Senior first baseman and designated hitter Sam Kalberer was designated as BSU's Position Player to Watch, while sophomore right-hander Will Lavin was named the Beavers' Pitcher to Watch.
Bemidji State received 26 points in the season-opening poll ahead of interim head coach Matt Ellinghuysen's first season in charge. The Beavers finished one spot ahead of 15th-ranked Southwest Minnesota State.
Minnesota State took the top spot in the poll with 190 points and nine first-place votes, with Augustana taking second with 188 points and the remaining six first-place votes.
Augustana junior outfielder Carter Howell was named the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year, and Minnesota State junior right-hander Collin Denk was chosen as the NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
The Beavers start the season on Feb. 19 in Kansas City, Mo., with a doubleheader against Rockhurst. First pitch is at noon.
2022 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll
1-Minnesota State 190; 2-Augustana 188; 3-St. Cloud State 162; 4-Minot State 159; 5-Minnesota Crookston 130; 6-U-Mary 122; 7-Winona State 116; 8-Wayne State 108; 9-Northern State 89; 10-Sioux Falls 73; 11-Concordia-St. Paul 69; 12-Upper Iowa 61; 13-Minnesota Duluth 58; 14-Bemidji State 26; 15-Southwest MN State 24.
