Baseball Picked First in the MAC in Preseason Coaches Poll
2/16/2017 10:58:00 AM | Baseball
For the seventh-straight season, Kent State has been tabbed as the favorites to win the Mid-American Conference titles as voted on by all eleven head coaches and released by the conference office on Thursday.
The Golden Flashes received 61 points (nine first place votes) and four votes to win the MAC Tournament, beating out all other ten teams. Ball State was voted to win the West Division with 57 points and five first place votes.
Following Kent State in the East Division was Miami (56 points), Ohio (44 points), Bowling Green (32 points) and Buffalo (27 points). Central Michigan was selected to finish second in the West (29 points) followed by Toledo (36 points), Northern Illinois (32 points), Western Michigan (31 points) and Eastern Michigan (26 points). Ball State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Miami, Northern Illinois, Toledo and Western Michigan all each received one vote to win the MAC Tournament.
The Golden Flashes won the regular season title last season after a 20-4 campaign. They finished 44-14 overall, tying the third most wins in program history. Despite losing some key faces, veterans Eli Kraus and Zach Willeman will anchor the weekend rotation and will be joined by sophomore Joey Murray who threw a complete game shutout in the MAC Tournament his last time out. The bullpen and lineup is full of returning talent that, with a handful of newcomers, will provide a lot of depth.
The 2017 season will begin Friday when Kent State travels to Belmont for a three-game series. MAC play will begin on the road March 24-26 at Ball State. The Flashes home opener is March 14.
East Division Preseason Poll: (1st place votes)
1. Kent State (9) – 61 points
2. Miami (1) – 56 points
3. Ohio – 44 points
4. Bowling Green (1) – 32 points
5. Buffalo – 27 points
West Division Preseason Poll:
1. Ball State (5) – 57 points
2. Central Michigan (2) – 49 points
3. Toledo (1) – 36 points
4. Northern Illinois (2) – 32 points
5. Western Michigan (1) – 31 points
6. Eastern Michigan – 26 points
Tournament Champion:
Kent State (4)
Ball State (1)
Central Michigan (1)
Eastern Michigan (1)
Miami (1)
Northern Illinois (1)
Toledo (1)
Western Michigan (1)
