Grant Suponchick, a 2017 All-Summit selection, returns from Omaha's 2017 squad.
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann
Omaha Picked Fifth in Preseason Summit League Baseball Poll
Feb 8, 2018 | Baseball
OMAHA, Neb. – The Omaha baseball team was picked fifth in the 2018 Summit League Preseason Coaches Poll, the conference office announced Thursday.
Defending league champion Oral Roberts was tabbed the league favorite and received all five of its possible first-place votes for 25 total points. South Dakota State came in second with 20 points and one first-place vote, and North Dakota State was third with 17 points. Western Illinois garnered 14 points for fourth, followed by Omaha in fifth with nine points and Fort Wayne in sixth with five points.
Junior outfielder Thomas DeBonville was also included on the Summit League's Players to Watch list. The transfer was a two-time all-conference and all-region pick at Eastern Arizona College and ranked fifth nationally among junior college players for stolen bases (39).
Guided by second-year head coach Evan Porter, the Mavericks return 12 letterwinners from the 2017 squad.
Omaha opens the 2018 campaign on Friday, Feb. 16, facing Northwestern at 7 p.m. (CT) in Glendale, Ariz.
2018 SUMMIT LEAGUE BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL
Team (First-Place Votes) -- Points -- 2017 Record
1. Oral Roberts (5) -- 25 -- 43-16 (25-4)
2. South Dakota State (1) -- 20 -- 26-24 (18-12)
3. North Dakota State -- 17 -- 31-25 (19-11)
4. Western Illinois -- 14 -- 18-32 (12-15)
5. Omaha -- 9 -- 12-40 (9-19)
6. Fort Wayne -- 5 -- 9-43 (4-26)
2018 SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brock Logan, Fort Wayne
Logan Busch, North Dakota State
Thomas DeBonville, Omaha
Miguel Ausua, Oral Roberts
Noah Cummings, Oral Roberts
Tony Kjolsing, South Dakota State
Drue Galassi, Western Illinois
Defending league champion Oral Roberts was tabbed the league favorite and received all five of its possible first-place votes for 25 total points. South Dakota State came in second with 20 points and one first-place vote, and North Dakota State was third with 17 points. Western Illinois garnered 14 points for fourth, followed by Omaha in fifth with nine points and Fort Wayne in sixth with five points.
Junior outfielder Thomas DeBonville was also included on the Summit League's Players to Watch list. The transfer was a two-time all-conference and all-region pick at Eastern Arizona College and ranked fifth nationally among junior college players for stolen bases (39).
Guided by second-year head coach Evan Porter, the Mavericks return 12 letterwinners from the 2017 squad.
Omaha opens the 2018 campaign on Friday, Feb. 16, facing Northwestern at 7 p.m. (CT) in Glendale, Ariz.
2018 SUMMIT LEAGUE BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL
Team (First-Place Votes) -- Points -- 2017 Record
1. Oral Roberts (5) -- 25 -- 43-16 (25-4)
2. South Dakota State (1) -- 20 -- 26-24 (18-12)
3. North Dakota State -- 17 -- 31-25 (19-11)
4. Western Illinois -- 14 -- 18-32 (12-15)
5. Omaha -- 9 -- 12-40 (9-19)
6. Fort Wayne -- 5 -- 9-43 (4-26)
2018 SUMMIT LEAGUE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brock Logan, Fort Wayne
Logan Busch, North Dakota State
Thomas DeBonville, Omaha
Miguel Ausua, Oral Roberts
Noah Cummings, Oral Roberts
Tony Kjolsing, South Dakota State
Drue Galassi, Western Illinois
Players Mentioned
OF
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