Wright State Pegged Favorites for 2021 #HLBASE Season
INDIANAPOLIS – After winning the regular season title in 2019 with a 21-8 League record, Wright State has been named the favorite to win the HL championship this season as the 2021 #HLBASE Preseason Poll was released on Wednesday. The poll was voted on by the League’s seven head coaches.
Wright State led the way with 49 points and earned all seven first-place votes with seven. The Raiders are coming off a shortened 2020 season due to COVID-19 that saw them defeat top-10 Louisville in midweek action followed by taking two out of three at Tennessee. 2019 Freshman of the Year Tyler Black returns for the 2021 campaign, while catcher Konnor Piotto will be behind the dish after hitting .333 last season and Gehrig Anglin who registered 11 RBIs and seven extra-base hits in 15 games in 2020.
UIC placed second with 38 votes, welcoming back 2019 Pitcher of the Year Jacob Key back to the mound. UIC also brings back infielder Matt Botcher, who led the team in hits with 15 last season and was tied for first in RBIs.
Youngstown State came in at No. 3, just four points shy of UIC, with 34 and are coming off an abridged 2020 campaign that saw the Penguins finish 7-7. YSU won three of the four Nike #HLBASE Pitcher of the Week awards last season with Collin Floyd, Chad Coles and Colin Clark all set to return to the 2021 roster. Offensively, the Penguins welcome back Phillip Glasser and Steven D'Eusanio who both hit .291 in 2020 combining to score 17 runs and drive in 14 more.
Milwaukee earned the fourth spot in the poll right behind YSU with 31 points welcoming back 2019 #HLBASE All-Tournament Team members Joe Vyskocil and Mike Edwards. MKE also returns outfielder Zach Nogalski who hit .377 in 15 games last season with five doubles and drove in nine runs.
Rounding out the poll were Horizon League newcomer Purdue Fort Wayne with 17 points, Oakland with 14 and Northern Kentucky claiming 13.
The regular season begins on Friday, February 19 and the 2021 Horizon League Championship will take place May 28-29 at the home field of the highest seed that meets facility requirements.
2021 #HLBASE Preseason Poll
Pl. Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1. Wright State – 49 (7)
2. UIC – 38
3. Youngstown State – 34
4. Milwaukee – 31
5. Purdue Fort Wayne – 17
6. Oakland – 14
7. Northern Kentucky 13