MIAA releases preseason polls for four spring sports
The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has released preseason coaches polls for four spring sports – baseball, softball, men’s lacrosse and women’s lacrosse.
ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) has released preseason coaches polls for four spring sports – baseball, softball, men’s lacrosse and women’s lacrosse.
The Comets tied Kalamazoo College for seventh-place in the baseball poll. Both schools received 41 total points. Adrian College, who shared the 2013 MIAA championship with Hope College and won the conference tournament, was picked as the preseason favorite.
In the softball poll, Olivet received 54 points to be picked eighth. Defending conference champion and tournament champion Trine (Ind.) University was chosen as the preseason favorite.
The Comet baseball and softball teams open their seasons March 6 at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Florida. The baseball team plays a nine-inning game against Ohio Northern University at 3 p.m. The softball team plays a seven-inning game against both Wilmington (Ohio) and Alverno (Wis.) colleges at 1 and 3 p.m., respectively.
MIAA Preseason Baseball Poll Results (first-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Adrian (7) 7 pts. 2. Hope (1) 13. 3. Trine 21. 4. Calvin 28. 5. Alma 35. 6. Albion 38. T7. Kalamazoo 41. T7. Olivet 41.
MIAA Preseason Softball Poll Results (first-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Trine (8) 9 pts. 2. Alma (1) 19. 3. Hope 23. 4. Adrian 25. 5. Saint Mary’s 38. 6. Calvin 41. 7. Kalamazoo 52. 8. Olivet 54. 9. Albion 63.
The men’s lacrosse team was picked to finish in fifth-place with 26 points, while the women’s lacrosse team was selected to finish eighth with 56 points. Defending MIAA champion Adrian is the preseason favorite in both polls.
The Comet men have twice had their season-opener postponed due to field conditions and weather. As of now, they are scheduled to host Oberlin (Ohio) College Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. The Olivet women travel to play Hiram (Ohio) College next Tuesday, March 4, in their season-opener, starting at 4 p.m.
MIAA Preseason Men’s Lacrosse Poll Results (first-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Adrian (6) 6 pts. 2. Albion (1) 11. 3. Trine 17. 4. Hope 21. 5. Olivet 26. T6. Alma 33. T6. Calvin 33.
MIAA Preseason Women’s Lacrosse Poll Results (first-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Adrian (7) 9 pts. 2. Alma (2) 15. 3. Hope 22. 4. Albion 34. T5. Calvin 38. T5. Kalamazoo 38. 7. Trine 49. 8. Olivet 56. 9. Saint Mary’s 63.