INDIANAPOLIS – University of Illinois Springfield was voted in the preseason coaches' poll as the choice to win the 2023 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) baseball championship, the league office announced on Monday.
The preseason poll is determined by the league's head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team.
No. 1 Illinois Springfield
- Received 10 first-place votes and 142 total points.
- Ranked ninth in National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) D-II Preseason Poll.
- Top-ranked team in Midwest Region Poll.
- Won Regular Season Blue Division title and first GLVC Championship in program history this past year.
- Won second Midwest Regional #2 title and first Super Regional crown in program history.
- Coached by Ryan Copeland, who enters his fourth season and was named ABCA Regional Coach of the Year after a 48-11 overall and 19-5 GLVC record in 2022.
- Return First Team All-GLVC selections Brandon Bannon and Asher Bradd, as well as Second Team selections Brant Vanaman and Seth Masters.
- Bradd was also named to the NCBWA Midwest Region Preseason First Team.
No. 2 Quincy
- Received two first-place votes and 130 total points.
- Ranked 20th in NCBWA D-II Preseason Poll.
- Second-ranked team in Midwest Region Poll.
- Earned second seed out of the Blue Division, advancing to GLVC Championship title game and finished with 3-2 record.
- Advanced to NCAA Midwest Super Regional after winning NCAA Midwest Regional #1.
- Coached by Matt Schissel, who enters his second year after a 37-25 overall and 15-9 GLVC record in 2022.
- Return First Team All-GLVC selections Luke Napleton and Spencer Walker, along with Second Team selection Jay Hammel.
- Walker was honored as ABCA/Rawlings D-II Gold Glove Pitcher of the Year this past season.
- Napleton and Walker were named to the NCBWA Midwest Region Preseason First Team.
No. 3 Drury
- Received one first-place vote and 114 total points.
- Ranked fifth in NCBWA Midwest Region Poll.
- Won Regular Season Green Division title and earned top divisional seed at 2022 GLVC Championship, going 2-2.
- Coached by reigning GLVC Coach of the Year, Scott Nasby, who enters his 11th season after a 38-16 overall and 21-7 GLVC record in 2022.
No. 4 Maryville
- Received 112 total points.
- Received votes in NCBWA Midwest Region Poll.
- Earned third seed out of the Blue Division at 2022 GLVC Championship, going 1-2.
- Coached by Pat Evers in his fifth season after a 32-20 overall and 20-8 GLVC record in 2022.
- Return First Team All-GLVC selection Ben Prywitch and Second Team selections Elias Stevens and Jacob Kroeger.
- Prywitch was also named to the NCBWA Midwest Region Preseason First Team.
Rounding out the poll respectively in fifth through 13th was Lewis University (100 points), University of Indianapolis (93), Missouri S&T (71), William Jewell College (63), McKendree University (55), University of Missouri-St. Louis (44), Rockhurst University (37), Truman State University (35), and Southwest Baptist University (18).
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
| Place |
School |
Points (1st-Place Votes) |
| 1. |
Illinois Springfield |
142 (10) |
| 2. |
Quincy |
130 (2) |
| 3. |
Drury |
114 (1) |
| 4. |
Maryville |
112 |
| 5. |
Lewis |
100 |
| 6. |
Indianapolis |
93 |
| 7. |
Missouri S&T |
71 |
| 8. |
William Jewell |
63 |
| 9. |
McKendree |
55 |
| 10. |
Missouri-St. Louis |
44 |
| 11. |
Rockhurst |
37 |
| 12. |
Truman State |
35 |
| 13. |
Southwest Baptist |
18 |