KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Jan. 31, 2019) - Reigning MIAA Tournament Champions Central Missouri Mules Baseball was picked to finish first in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Mules earned 115 and six first-place votes while the other six were dispersed among three other MIAA teams. 

Central Missouri also is ranked nationally by two separate organizations. UCM is 20th in the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association (NCBWA) and 22th in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. 

The Mules went 39-17 overall, winning the MIAA Tournament and clinching a berth in the NCAA Regional where they went 2-2. They finished third in the MIAA regular season standings prior to the tournament. 

Two the Mules biggest holdovers in their lineup occupy two-thirds of the outfield. Juniors Mason Janvrin and Erik Webb return after All-Region seasons in 2018. UCM brings back five of their regular nine in the lineup from last year. In addition to Janvrin and Webb, Harrison Schnurbusch and Zak Whalin made the All-MIAA team.

On the mound, UCM brings back 43 of their 56 games started last year. Their top-three leaders in games started, Luke Lucas, Ben Kelsch and Collin Jones all return this season. Lucas was an All-MIAA performer a year ago and he and Kelsch each only had one loss on their 2018 record. Also returning to the bump in 2019 is All-MIAA closer Luke Mercer who saved nine games, and their top-two set up men Jonathan Sprinkle and Coby Seiz. 

The Mules are under the direction of fifth year head coach Kyle Crookes. He's led the Mules to three MIAA championships in four years (two tournament, one regular season) and NCAA Regional appearances in 2016 and 2018.

Following UCM in the poll is Central Oklahoma just eight points back with three first-place votes. Pittsburg State received two first-place votes to come in at No. 3 with 102 points. Missouri Western and Emporia State round out the top five and are separated by just one point. Missouri Southern, ranked sixth, received the final first-place vote.

Central Missouri starts their season tomorrow afternoon in Houston, Texas at Minute Maid Park, home of the 2017 World Series Champion Houston Astros. They'll play three games in Houston this weekend to open 2019.

2019 MIAA Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll

Place	Team	Points
1.	Central Missouri (6)	115
2.	Central Oklahoma (3)	107
3.	Pittsburg State (2)	102
4.	Missouri Western	81
5.	Emporia State	80
6.	Missouri Southern (1)	67
T7.	Lindenwood	60
T7	Northwest Missouri	60
9.	Northeastern State	38
10.	Washburn	34
11.	Southwest Baptist	26
12.	Fort Hays State	23

*Coaches cannot vote for their own team