Perfect Game NAIA Baseball Preview
SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University baseball team is still waiting to crack the official NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, but the program has been touted in another organization’s poll. In the 2020 NAIA preseason top 25 rankings unveiled on Tuesday (Jan. 14) by Perfect Game, the Bulldogs landed at No. 24. Concordia is the lone GPAC team to be included in the top 25.
Head coach Ryan Dupic’s squad was tabbed the conference favorite in the GPAC Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll that came out on Jan. 7. The Bulldogs also received votes in the official NAIA preseason poll. Concordia is coming off a 2019 campaign that saw it win 33 games, capture the GPAC regular-season title and advance to the opening round of the national tournament. The program has won two of the past three conference regular-season championships.
A two-time GPAC Coach of the Year, Dupic welcomes back first team All-GPAC pitchers in Jake Fosgett and Jason Munsch while 2018 GPAC Pitcher of the Year Nick Little has returned to the Bulldogs. Concordia pitchers combined for a sparking 2.31 ERA in 2019 conference games. Senior outfielder Wade Council also garnered first team All-GPAC recognition last season. Meanwhile, infielder Thomas Sautel will try to return to his 2018 all-conference form after being sidelined in 2019 by injury.
The 2020 season is slated to begin with a doubleheader at McPherson College (Kan.) on Feb. 8. For a breakdown of the schedule, click HERE.
2020 Perfect Game NAIA Preseason Top 25
1. Freed-Hardeman, Tenn. (47-17)
2. St. Thomas, Fla. (49-15)
3. Southeastern, Fla. (53-12)
4. USAO (49-12)
5. Oklahoma City (46-14)
6. Faulkner, Ala. (49-12)
7. Texas Wesleyan (46-15)
8. LSU Shreveport, La. (47-13)
9. Georgetown, Ky. (46-16)
10. Tennessee Wesleyan (56-10)
11. Bellevue, Neb. (48-16)
12. Campbellsville, Ky. (32-20)
13. Bryan, Tenn. (36-17)
14. Arizona Christian (39-21)
15. Georgia Gwinnett (48-13)
16. Cumberlands, Ky. (46-10)
17. Oklahoma Wesleyan (45-11)
18. Central Methodist, Mo. (35-16)
19. Benedicine Mesa, Ariz. (44-13)
20. Concordia, Mich. (39-20)
21. Madonna, Mich. (37-22)
22. Lyon, Ark. (40-22)
23. Indiana Southeast, Ind. (37-20)
24. Concordia, Neb. (33-20)
25. Taylor, Ind. (38-18)