Mavericks Picked 3rd Preseason Poll While Dick and Curtis Named Players to Watch
Feb 12, 2025 | Baseball
The Mavericks received 18 points overall, including one first place vote. Ahead of them were Oral Roberts (22 points, three first place) and St. Thomas (19 points, one first place). North Dakota State was right behind Omaha with 17 points and one first place vote.
Last year, the Mavericks went 18-32-1 overall, but 16-13-1 in conference play to claim the No. 1 seed in the 2024 Summit League Tournament and will host the 2025 tournament. Of the 41 players on the team, 18 are returners and 23 are newcomers, including nine freshman.
Among the returners are Cardel Dick and Brayden Curtis. Dick, a sophomore catcher from Canada, finished second on the team last year in RBIs with 32, including 24 in league play. He also racked up three home runs, six doubles, and scored 17 runs. He had five games with at least three RBIs last season, including a five-RBI day at Long Beach State when he beat out an inside the park grand slam. Behind the dish, he led the team with seven runners caught stealing and posted a .990 fielding percentage.
As for Curtis, the junior pitcher comes into the season as its No. 1 starter after making 12 appearances and five starts last year. He totaled 28 strikeouts in 26.1 innings for 9.6 K/9. In his final appearance of the season he threw two shutout innings in relief at Creighton with three strikeouts and no hits.
|
2025 Summit League Baseball Preseason Poll |
|||
|
Place |
Team |
Points (1st) |
2024 Record |
|
1. |
Oral Roberts |
22 (3) |
27-32-1 (13-15-1) |
|
2. |
St. Thomas |
19 (1) |
22-24 (16-10) |
|
3. |
Omaha |
18 (1) |
18-32-1 (16-13-1) |
|
4. |
North Dakota State |
17 (1) |
20-30-1 (14-12-1) |
|
5. |
South Dakota State |
8 |
20-29 (11-17) |
|
6. |
Northern Colorado |
6 |
16-38-1 (13-16-1) |
2025 Summit League Players and Pitchers to Watch
Jake Schaffner | North Dakota State | So. | IF
Nolan Johnson | North Dakota State | RJr. | LH
Kai Wagner | Northern Colorado | RSo. | IF
Jake Storey | Northern Colorado | Jr. | RH
Cardel Dick | Omaha | So. |
Brayden Curtis | Omaha | Jr. | RHP
Makani Tanaka | Oral Roberts | Jr. | OF
Weston Rouse | Oral Roberts | RFr. | LHP
Brigs Richartz | St. Thomas | Sr. | O
Evan Esch | St. Thomas | Sr. | LHP
Carter Sintek | South Dakota State | So. | IF
Dylan Driessen | South Dakota State | Jr. | RHP
Note: Players to Watch selected by league's head coaches
