Doane totaled 87 points and is the preseason coaches’ selections to win the 2016 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Baseball Championship.

In a tight vote, the Tigers tallied 2 first place votes. Morningside, tabbed second with 86 points, had the most first place votes (5), while Briar Cliff was picked third with the remaining four first place votes and 84 points.

Doane posted a 33-15 record last spring while posting a 12-8 record to finish second in the GPAC. Briar Cliff, the regular season champion in 2015 had a record of 29-25-1 overall and 14-6 in league play. Dakota Wesleyan, the GPAC tournament champion last year, is picked seventh with 47 points.
The GPAC baseball season will consist of  20 games (10 doubleheaders) and conclude with the GPAC Postseason Tournament featuring two four-team tournaments (Seeds 1,4,5,8 and Seeds 2,3,6,7) (double elimination) on May  5-7 at the sites of the top two seeds. Then the two tournament winners will play on Tuesday, May 10, in the GPAC Championship (one nine inning game) at the highest remaining seed.

 

Points were awarded on an 10-1 basis and coaches’ could not vote for their own team.

 

Here is the complete 2016 GPAC Baseball Preseason Coaches’ Poll:

Place – School – Points (1st Place Votes)
1. Doane – 87 (2)
2. Morningside – 86 (5)
3. Briar Cliff – 84 (4)
4t. Northwestern – 68
4t. Midland – 68
6. Mount Marty – 49
7. Dakota Wesleyan – 47
8. Hastings – 44
9. Concordia – 42
10t. Nebraska Wesleyan – 15
10t. Dordt – 15