UCM Selected as Baseball Preseason No. 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two-time defending MIAA Champion and NCAA Division II World Series qualifier from the last two years Central Missouri was selected as preseason No. 1 in the 2012 MIAA Baseball Coaches Poll, the conference office announced Thursday.

The Mules received nine first-place votes and a total of 99 points to take the top spot. Central Missouri won the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championship last season to advance to its second consecutive World Series in Cary, N.C., before falling to Winona State and Millersville. UCM was voted preseason No. 3 in the nation by both the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA).

Defending MIAA co-champion Emporia State earned the other two first-place votes and was voted No. 2 in the coaches poll with 92 points. The Hornets advanced to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament last season. ESU is No. 8 in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper preseason poll and No. 13 in the NCBWA poll.

Missouri Western comes in at No. 3 in the coaches poll with 74 points, edging No. 4 Fort Hays State (73 points).

Missouri Southern was selected No. 5 with 63 points, followed by Washburn at No. 6 with 56 points and Northwest Missouri at No. 7 with 49 points.

Pittsburg State comes in at No. 8 with 37 points, while Truman is No. 9 with 31 points, Lincoln is No. 10 with 19 points, and Southwest Baptist is No. 11 with 12 points.

2012 MIAA Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Central Missouri (9) – 99 pts.
2. Emporia State (2) – 92 pts.
3. Missouri Western – 74 pts.
4. Fort Hays State – 73 pts.
5. Missouri Southern – 63 pts.
6. Washburn – 56 pts.
7. Northwest Missouri – 49 pts.
8. Pittsburg State – 37 pts.
9. Truman – 31 pts.
10. Lincoln – 19 pts.
11. Southwest Baptist – 12 pts.