2019 GPAC baseball preseason poll
SEWARD, Neb. – Official practices for the Concordia University baseball team got underway this week. On Thursday (Jan. 10), head coach Ryan Dupic’s squad learned it had checked in at No. 5 in the 2019 GPAC Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Bulldogs totaled 64 points in the poll and even picked up one first-place vote.
The 2019 campaign will mark the fifth in Dupic’s tenure as head coach. After capturing a GPAC regular-season title and NAIA national tournament berth in 2017 while breaking the program single-season wins record, Concordia slipped back into a tie for sixth place in the final 2018 conference standings. The Bulldogs finished at 25-22 overall and at 13-13 in GPAC play last spring.
Concordia is optimistic about a rebound in 2019 with the bulk of its top position players back in the fold. Four Bulldogs return who garnered some form of all-conference recognition last season: senior second baseman Christian Meza (first team), junior outfielder/pitcher Wade Council (second team), senior third baseman Thomas Sautel (second team) and junior right-handed pitcher Jake Fosgett (honorable mention). Dupic will look to replace the team’s Nos. 1 and 2 starting pitchers from 2018.
The 2019 season is set to open up Feb. 23 in Oklahoma City, Okla. On that date, Concordia is scheduled to play both MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) and No. 8 Oklahoma City University. The GPAC regular season will consist of 28 games. The Bulldogs will host new GPAC member Jamestown, the league’s preseason favorite, on April 13. The Jimmies were the lone GPAC team to receive votes in the NAIA preseason national poll. The full 2019 schedule can be viewed HERE.
2019 GPAC Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
*First-place votes in parentheses
1. Jamestown – 91 (4)
2. Midland – 83 (2)
3. Northwestern – 77 (4)
4. Doane – 68
5. Concordia – 64 (1)
6. Morningside – 61
7. Mount Marty – 57
8. Hastings – 41
9. Briar Cliff – 34
10. Dakota Wesleyan – 17
11. Dordt – 12