Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa – Lawrence University was selected by the Midwest Conference (MWC) baseball head coaches to claim the 2023 regular season title and repeat as champions.
 
The Vikings top the preseason coaches’ poll with six first-place votes and 61 points. Last season, Lawrence swept both the regular season and tournament crowns en route to making its first NCAA Tournament appearance in forty-three years.
 
The University of Chicago earned a first-place vote and 55 points for second place in the poll, while a third-place tie saw Grinnell College and Ripon College each with 44 points. The Pioneers also received the remaining two first-place votes.
 
The Blueboys of Illinois College picked up fifth place with 32 points, ahead of Beloit College and Cornell College who tied for sixth place with 28 points. 
 
Monmouth College and Knox College round out the poll with 23 points and 9 points, respectively.
 
Ripon College will open the season this weekend with non-conference action, while the remaining teams will follow suit over the next two weeks. League play will begin Saturday, March 25.
 
The 2023 MWC Baseball Tournament is scheduled for Friday, May 12, through Saturday, May 13. The double-elimination tournament will feature the league’s top four teams, as determined by winning percentage in MWC competition. The winner will receive the league’s berth into the NCAA Baseball Championship.
 
Full preseason results and quick facts for all nine teams can be found below.
 
2023 MWC Baseball Preseason Poll Results – Team (first-place votes), points
1. Lawrence University (6) - 61 points
2. University of Chicago (1) - 55 points
T3. Grinnell College (2) - 44 points
T3. Ripon College - 44 points
5. Illinois College - 32 points
T6. Beloit College - 28 points
T6. Cornell College - 28 points
8. Monmouth College - 23 points
9. Knox College - 9 points
 
Beloit College Buccaneers
Head Coach: Dave DeGeorge (33^rd Season)
2022 Season: 16-23 Overall; 12-12 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: Garrison Ferone (SR), Matt O'Leary (SR), Aiden Phipps (SO)
 
Cornell College Rams
Head Coach: Robbie Dombrowski (1^st Season)
2022 Season: 17-23 Overall; 11-13 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: Kole Hinrichsen (SR), James Kent (SR)
 
Grinnell College Pioneers
Head Coach: Tim Hollibaugh (30^th Season)
2022 Season: 14-21 Overall; 11-13 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: Mac McCain (SO)
 
Illinois College Blueboys
Head Coach: Jacob Waddle (5^th Season)
2022 Season: 17-24 Overall; 12-12 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: Cullen McBride (SR)

Knox College Prairie Fire
Head Coach: Jami Isaacson (24^th Season)
2022 Season: 8-27 Overall; 6-17 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Lawrence University Vikings
Head Coach: Chris Krepline (5^th Season)
2022 Season: 26-13 Overall; 18-6 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: Quinn Berglin (JR – 2022 MWC Pitcher of the Year), Jacob Charon (SR – 2022 MWC Position Player of the Year), Michael Duttlinger (SR), Taylor Freeman (SO), Parker Knoll (SO – 2022 MWC Newcomer of the Year), Zach Leslie (JR)
 
Monmouth College Scots
Head Coach: Alan Betourne (8^th Season)
2022 Season: 14-25 Overall; 8-16 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: N/A
 
Ripon College Red Hawks
Head Coach: Eric Cruise (10^th Season)
2022 Season: 20-23 Overall; 13-11 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: Mitchell Lukasik (SO), Cormac Madigan (SR), Cam Stampfl (SO)
  
University of Chicago Maroons
Head Coach: Kevin Tyrrell (2^nd Season)
2022 Season: 23-16 Overall, 18-6 MWC
All-Conference Returnees: Drew Bryan (JR), Noah Nelson (JR), Dylan White (SR)