Contact: Heather Benning, Executive Director, 920-430-0934

The results of the 2018 Midwest Conference (MWC) pre-season baseball poll are tabulated and coaches of the league's nine teams picked an order of finish that closely mirrors the 2017 end-of-season standings. 

North Division
For the third year in a row, St. Norbert College is projected to finish atop the North Division ahead of Beloit College, Ripon College, and Lawrence University, in that order.

St. Norbert, the defending Conference Champion, is a unanimous first-place selection among eligible voters. The Green Knights posted an overall record of 30-13 in 2017 while finishing 15-2 in league play. They return five North Division All-MWC players including Position Player of the Year Griffin Jack (Jr.), Pitcher of the Year Jason Malkowski (Sr.) and Newcomer of the Year Carson Jacques (So.). Also returning are All-MWC selections Sean Ferraro (Jr.) and Hunter Larson (Sr.). St. Norbert is led by nine-time Coach of the Year Tom Winske.

Beloit went 19-19-1 (11-5-1 MWC) a year ago, falling short of the league title losing (6-4, 9-5) to St. Norbert in the Championship finals. Along with All-Region Outfielder Jalen Davis (Jr.), the Bucs will have North Division All-MWC selections Mark Christine (Sr.) and Jeremy Dutton (Sr.) back in the line-up.

Ripon (9-26, 7-10 MWC) and Lawrence (5-29-1, 1-15-1 MWC) round out the North Division Poll. The Red Hawks return two All-MWC selections in infielder Josh Oswald (Sr.) and catcher Michael Barnes (Jr.). Three-time all-league honoree Matthew Holliday (Sr.) returns for the Vikings.

South Division
Grinnell College (20-16, 13-7 MWC) received five first-place votes and just edged Cornell in the poll. The Pioneers look for their fifth consecutive South Division title and tenth consecutive tourney appearance. They are led by South Division Coach of the Year Tim Hollibaugh. Returning to Grinnell are 2017 South Division Newcomer of the Year Sam LaMotte (So.) and Andrew Shults (Jr.) - a 2017 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-Region Third Team selection.

Cornell (19-20, 12-8 MWC) graduated three South Division All-MWC players but will benefit from the return of Walker Breard. Breard is a 2018 D3baseball.com Pre-Season All-America Second Team pick and three-time all-league selection who grabbed all-region honors last spring (ABCA All-Central Region First Team and D3baseball.com All-Central Region Second Team).

Monmouth (16-9, 9-11 MWC), Knox (17-17, 9-11 MWC) and Illinois College (11-23, 6-14 MWC) were picked to finish third, fourth and fifth, respectively. Each returns one 2017 South Division All-MWC honoree: Connor McDonald (Jr., Monmouth), Matt McCaffrey (Sr., Knox) and Dylan Jones (Sr., Illinois College).

Coaches' Poll

NORTH DIVISION		SOUTH DIVISION
St. Norbert	28 (7)	Grinnell	31 (5)
Beloit	20 (1)	Cornell	28 (2)
Ripon	18	Monmouth	24
Lawrence	10	Knox	20 (1)
		Illinois College	12